Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Torturing
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In the biblical context, punishments served as a means to uphold justice, deter wrongdoing, and maintain societal order. While capital punishment and primary forms of corporal punishment are more frequently discussed, secondary kinds of torturing also appear in the Scriptures, reflecting the severity with which certain transgressions were addressed.

1. Scourging and Beating: Scourging, a form of whipping, was a common punitive measure. It was often administered with a whip or rod and intended to inflict pain without causing death. In Deuteronomy 25:2-3, the law prescribes a limit to the number of lashes a person could receive, stating, "If the guilty man deserves to be beaten, the judge shall make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with the number of lashes appropriate to his crime. He may receive no more than forty lashes, lest your brother be beaten any more than that and be degraded in your sight." This regulation underscores a concern for human dignity even in punishment.

2. Imprisonment: Although not as prevalent in ancient Israel as in later societies, imprisonment is mentioned in the Bible. Joseph, for instance, was unjustly imprisoned in Egypt (Genesis 39:20). In the New Testament, imprisonment becomes more common, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles, where Paul and Silas were jailed for their faith (Acts 16:23-24).

3. Stocks and Shackles: The use of stocks and shackles is another form of secondary torture. Jeremiah, the prophet, was placed in stocks by Pashhur the priest (Jeremiah 20:2). This method restrained the individual, causing discomfort and humiliation.

4. Blinding: Blinding was a severe form of punishment used to incapacitate and humiliate. The Philistines gouged out Samson's eyes after capturing him (Judges 16:21). This act not only physically impaired Samson but also symbolized his loss of strength and freedom.

5. Mutilation: Although not commonly prescribed in the Mosaic Law, mutilation is mentioned in the context of retribution. In 2 Samuel 4:12, David orders the hands and feet of Rechab and Baanah to be cut off as punishment for murdering Ish-bosheth, Saul's son.

6. Exile and Banishment: Exile served as a form of punishment that removed individuals from their community. Cain, after murdering Abel, was condemned to be a restless wanderer (Genesis 4:12). In the New Testament, John the Apostle was exiled to the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9).

7. Forced Labor: Enslavement or forced labor was sometimes used as a punitive measure. The Gibeonites, for example, were condemned to be woodcutters and water carriers for the Israelites after deceiving Joshua (Joshua 9:27).

These secondary forms of torturing reflect the broader cultural and legal practices of the ancient Near East, where physical punishment was a common response to crime. The biblical narrative often highlights the tension between justice and mercy, emphasizing the need for punishment to be proportionate and humane.
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Matthew 18:34
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due to him.
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Hebrews 11:37
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
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Subtopics

Punishments

Punishments for Murder not to be Commuted

Punishments were Inflicted by Order of Kings

Punishments were Inflicted by Order of Magistrates

Punishments were Inflicted by Soldiers

Punishments were Inflicted by the People

Punishments were Inflicted by the Witnesses

Punishments were Inflicted without Partiality

Punishments were Inflicted without Pity

Punishments were Inflicted: Immediately After Sentence Was Passed

Punishments were Inflicted: On the Guilty

Punishments were Sometimes Commuted

Punishments: Antiquity of

Punishments: Capital Kinds of Beheading

Punishments: Capital Kinds of Bruising in Mortars

Punishments: Capital Kinds of Burning

Punishments: Capital Kinds of Casting Headlong from a Rock

Punishments: Capital Kinds of Casting Into the Sea

Punishments: Capital Kinds of Crucifying

Punishments: Capital Kinds of Cutting in Pieces

Punishments: Capital Kinds of Exposing to Wild Beasts

Punishments: Capital Kinds of Hanging

Punishments: Capital Kinds of Sawing Asunder

Punishments: Capital Kinds of Slaying With the Sword

Punishments: Capital Kinds of Stoning

Punishments: Designed to be a Warning to Others

Punishments: Inflicting of Capital, not Permitted to the Jews by The

Punishments: Power of Inflicting, Given to Magistrates

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Banishment

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Binding With Chains and Fetters

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Confinement in a Dungeon

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Confinement in Stocks

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Confiscating the Property

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Cutting off Hands and Feet

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Cutting off Nose and Ears

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Fine, or Giving of Money

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Imprisonment

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Mutilating the Hands and Feet

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Plucking out the Hair

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Putting out the Eyes

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Restitution

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Retaliation or Injuring According to the Injury Done

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Scourging

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Selling the Criminal

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Torturing

Punishments: Sometimes Deferred for a Considerable Time

Punishments: Sometimes Deferred Until God Was Consulted

Punishments: Strangers not Exempted From

Related Terms

Asunder (37 Occurrences)

Off (5363 Occurrences)

Cutting (178 Occurrences)

Pharisees (86 Occurrences)

Sounds (64 Occurrences)

Diseases (38 Occurrences)

Nero

Hair (135 Occurrences)

Visitation (17 Occurrences)

Vice (2 Occurrences)

Zoroastrianism

Unpeopled (38 Occurrences)

Oath (286 Occurrences)

Longs (11 Occurrences)

Whoredom (58 Occurrences)

Whore (14 Occurrences)

Fears (40 Occurrences)

Furious (28 Occurrences)

Faint (76 Occurrences)

Famine (99 Occurrences)

Travellers (8 Occurrences)

Evilspeaking

Experiences (7 Occurrences)

Evil-speaking (5 Occurrences)

Ended (146 Occurrences)

Dash (30 Occurrences)

Disasters (5 Occurrences)

Divine (39 Occurrences)

Plucking (8 Occurrences)

Paradise (6 Occurrences)

Prophet's (22 Occurrences)

Prostitution (48 Occurrences)

Parent (2 Occurrences)

Punite (1 Occurrence)

Perjury (3 Occurrences)

Bands (130 Occurrences)

Burn (206 Occurrences)

Blinding (2 Occurrences)

Bribery (2 Occurrences)

Chains (100 Occurrences)

Citizenship (4 Occurrences)

Countries (86 Occurrences)

Crucifixion (4 Occurrences)

Chastisements (5 Occurrences)

Consumption (20 Occurrences)

Accountability

Attacks (45 Occurrences)

Assassination (1 Occurrence)

Seducer

Seduce (8 Occurrences)

Stretching (84 Occurrences)

Sodomy

Slander (34 Occurrences)

Swearing (17 Occurrences)

Stretched-out (21 Occurrences)

Restoration (4 Occurrences)

Addition (112 Occurrences)

Cruel (196 Occurrences)

Chain (21 Occurrences)

Stock (16 Occurrences)

Vessels (210 Occurrences)

Hanging (82 Occurrences)

Purity (16 Occurrences)

Curse (211 Occurrences)

Wondered (45 Occurrences)

Egypt (596 Occurrences)

Leviticus (1 Occurrence)

Prisoner (87 Occurrences)

Everlasting (192 Occurrences)

Yoke (79 Occurrences)

Vine-gardens (41 Occurrences)

Vengeance (63 Occurrences)

Imputation

Pontius (4 Occurrences)

Pilate (60 Occurrences)

Execute (83 Occurrences)

Wild (147 Occurrences)

Quite (55 Occurrences)

Future (88 Occurrences)

Punishments: Secondary Kinds of Selling the Criminal
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