He hath hedged me about, that I cannot go out,.... When in prison, or in the dungeon, or during the siege of Jerusalem; though the phrase may only denote in general the greatness of his troubles, with which he was encompassed, and how inextricable they were; like a hedge about a vineyard, or a wall about a city, which could not easily be got over:
he hath made my chain heavy; his affliction intolerable. It is a metaphor taken from malefactors that have heavy chains put upon their legs, that they may not make their escape out of prison: or, "my brass" g; that is, chains, or a chain made of brass; so the Targum,
"he hath made heavy upon my feet fetters of brass.''
g נחשתי χαλκον μου Sept. "aes meum, [vel] chalybem meum", Piscator.