SCOURGING

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 7
(Corporal punishment by stripes)
Prescribed in the Mosaic law for committing the sin of fornication
And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free. (Leviticus 19:2020And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman, that is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her; she shall be scourged; they shall not be put to death, because she was not free. (Leviticus 19:20))
Prescribed for other offenses
And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. (Deuteronomy 25:22And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. (Deuteronomy 25:2))
40 Stripes was the maximum number
Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee. (Deuteronomy 25:33Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed: lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee. (Deuteronomy 25:3))
Fatal
If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. (Job 9:2323If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. (Job 9:23))
Of servants could be avenged
And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. (Exodus 21:2020And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. (Exodus 21:20))
Foretold by Jesus as a persecution of future Christians
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; (Matthew 10:1717But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; (Matthew 10:17))
Of children
See CHILDREN, CORRECTION OF PUNISHMEMT
INSTANCES OF
Of Jesus
And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. (Matthew 20:1919And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. (Matthew 20:19))
Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Matthew 27:2626Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Matthew 27:26))
And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. (Mark 15:1515And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. (Mark 15:15))
Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. (John 19:11Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. (John 19:1))
Of Paul and Silas
And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: (Acts 16:2323And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: (Acts 16:23))
Of Paul
Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. (Acts 21:3232Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran down unto them: and when they saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they left beating of Paul. (Acts 21:32))
The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. (Acts 22:2424The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him. (Acts 22:24))
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (2 Corinthians 11:24-2524Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (2 Corinthians 11:24‑25))
Of Sosthenes
Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. (Acts 18:1717Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. (Acts 18:17))
FIGURATIVE
Of the oppressions of rulers
And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. (1 Kings 12:1111And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. (1 Kings 12:11))
Of the evil tongue
Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. (Job 5:2121Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. (Job 5:21))
See ASSAULT AND BATTERY