Lexical Summary mastigoó: To scourge, to whip, to flog Original Word: μαστιγόω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance scourge. From mastix; to flog (literally or figuratively) -- scourge. see GREEK mastix HELPS Word-studies 3146 mastigóō – properly, to whip (scourge) with a mastigos (see 3148 /mástiks, a "whip"); to "flog (scourge) a victim, strapped to a pole or frame" (Souter); (figuratively) God sending severe pain in the best eternal interests of the believer (see Heb 12:6) Reflection: As in the Lord's dealing with Job, God's purifying love is all-wise when we experience temporal suffering. Hence, it always works for our greater eternal gain as we live in faith (Ro 8:18-25,38). For example, God authorized an incredible amount of earthly pain (bringing heavenly gain) in the lives of Jeremiah and John the Baptist. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom mastix Definition to scourge NASB Translation scourge (4), scourged (2), scourges (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3146: μαστιγόωμαστιγόω, μαστίγω, 3 person singular μαστιγοῖ; future μαστιγώσω; 1 aorist ἐμαστιγωσα; (μάστιξ); from Herodotus down; the Sept. chiefly for הִכָּה; to scourge; properly: τινα, Matthew 10:17; Matthew 20:19; Matthew 23:34; Mark 10:34; Luke 18:33; John 19:1; (cf. B. D. under the word Topical Lexicon Overview of Scourging in Biblical Context The term describes the severe whipping administered either by civil authorities or by synagogue leaders. While corporal punishment appears throughout the Ancient Near East, Scripture presents scourging within two chief settings: judicial action carried out by governing powers and corrective discipline designed to reform. Both themes shape its seven New Testament occurrences. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. John 19:1 – the Roman governor scourges Jesus. Prophetic Foretelling and Fulfillment in the Passion of Christ Three Gospel predictions (Matthew 20:19; Mark 10:34; Luke 18:33) culminate in John 19:1: “Then Pilate took Jesus and had Him flogged.” The prophecy–fulfillment pattern underscores divine sovereignty: what the Son declares beforehand occurs exactly as promised. Scourging, therefore, is not an accidental cruelty; it is woven into the redemptive plan. Isaiah had announced, “By His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5), and the Roman flagrum delivered those literal stripes, achieving the atoning purpose. Historical Background of Roman and Jewish Scourging Under Roman law, scourging preceded crucifixion to weaken the condemned. The flagrum, embedded with bone or metal, tore flesh and frequently proved fatal by itself. Jewish synagogues, in contrast, used a triple-thonged leather whip limited to “forty lashes minus one” (Deuteronomy 25:3; applied in 2 Corinthians 11:24). Matthew 10:17 and 23:34 reveal that synagogue scourging became a favored tactic against the early church. Scourging as Persecution of Disciples Jesus’ warnings prepared His followers: “They will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues” (Matthew 10:17). Acts records this prophecy unfolded (Acts 5:40; 22:19), though those passages employ a different Greek verb. The presence of Strong 3146 in Matthew 23:34 shows that persecution is not random but the anticipated cost of bearing witness, linking the messengers’ suffering to their Master’s. Divine Discipline of Believers (Hebrews 12:6) Hebrews applies the imagery to God’s paternal training: “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” In using the same scourging vocabulary, the writer elevates the metaphor: the painful strokes permitted by God are never punitive wrath but corrective love. The text anchors this discipline in Proverbs 3:11-12 and immediately points to Jesus, who “endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2), setting the pattern for persevering under hardship. Theological Implications 1. Substitutionary Atonement – The scourging of Christ fulfills prophecies and conveys the depth of His vicarious suffering. Practical Ministry Applications • Perseverance: Pastors can encourage believers facing hostility that opposition, even violent, is foreseen by Christ and met by His enabling grace. Intertextual Connections with Old Testament • Deuteronomy 25:3 supplies the legal limit on lashes, framing synagogue practice. Christological Significance: “By His Stripes We Are Healed” Scourging serves as a visible sign of the Savior’s substitution. Every lash inflicted on the sinless Lamb secures forgiveness for all who believe, providing not merely an example of endurance but the very means of redemption. Eschatological Outlook and Perseverance Jesus couples the prediction of scourging with the assurance, “and on the third day He will rise again” (Luke 18:33). The pattern—suffering then glory—anchors Christian hope. Present afflictions, whether inflicted by men or ordained as discipline, will give way to resurrection life. Forms and Transliterations εμαστιγώθησαν εμαστίγωσας εμαστίγωσε εμαστιγωσεν ἐμαστίγωσεν μαστιγοι μαστιγοί μαστιγοῖ μαστιγοίς μαστιγουμένου μαστιγωθείς μαστιγωθήσονται μαστιγωσαι μαστιγώσαι μαστιγῶσαι μαστιγωσαντες μαστιγώσαντες μαστιγωσετε μαστιγώσετε μαστιγωσουσιν μαστιγώσουσιν μεμαστιγωμένος μεμαστίγωνται μεμαστίγωσαι emastigosen emastigōsen emastígosen emastígōsen mastigoi mastigoî mastigosai mastigôsai mastigōsai mastigō̂sai mastigosantes mastigōsantes mastigṓsantes mastigosete mastigōsete mastigṓsete mastigosousin mastigōsousin mastigṓsousinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 10:17 V-FIA-3PGRK: συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν μαστιγώσουσιν ὑμᾶς NAS: you over to [the] courts and scourge you in their synagogues; KJV: and they will scourge you INT: synagogues of them they will flog you Matthew 20:19 V-ANA Matthew 23:34 V-FIA-2P Mark 10:34 V-FIA-3P Luke 18:33 V-APA-NMP John 19:1 V-AIA-3S Hebrews 12:6 V-PIA-3S Strong's Greek 3146 |
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