Bible verses about Prisons
(From Torrey's Topical Textbook)
- Antiquity of
Genesis 39:20- KINDS OF, MENTIONED
- State
Jeremiah 37:21; Genesis 39:20
- Common
Acts 5:18- Dungeons attached to
Jeremiah 38:6; Zechariah 9:11- Were under the care of a keeper
Genesis 39:21- USED FOR CONFINING
- Persons accused of crimes
Luke 23:19
- Suspected persons
Genesis 42:19
- Condemned persons till executed
Leviticus 24:12; Acts 12:4,5
- Enemies taken captive
Judges 16:21; II Kings 17:4; Jeremiah 52:11
- Debtors till they paid
Matthew 5:26; 18:30
- Persons under the king's displeasure
I Kings 22:27; II Chronicles 16:10; Mark 6:17- Confinement in, often awarded as a punishment
Ezra 7:26- Confinement in, considered a severe punishment
Luke 22:33- PLACES USED AS
- Court of the king's house
Jeremiah 32:2
- House of the king's scribe
Jeremiah 37:15
- House of the captain of the guard
Genesis 40:3
- Prisoner's own house, where he was kept bound to a soldier
Acts 28:16,30; II Timothy 1:16-18- The king had power to commit to
I Kings 22:27- Magistrates had power to commit to
Matthew 5:25- PERSONS CONFINED IN
- Said to be in ward
Leviticus 24:12
- Said to be in hold
Acts 4:3
- Often placed in dungeons
Jeremiah 39:6; Acts 16:24
- Often bound with fetters
Genesis 42:19; Ezekiel 19:9; Mark 6:17
- Often chained to two soldiers
Acts 12:6
- Often fastened in stocks
Jeremiah 29:26; Acts 16:24
- Often kept to hard labour
Judges 16:21
- Often subjected to extreme suffering
Psalms 79:11; 102:20; 105:18
- Fed on bread and water
I Kings 22:27
- Clothed in prison dress
II Kings 25:29
- Sometimes allowed to be visited by their friends
Matthew 11:2; 25:36; Acts 24:23
- Might have their condition ameliorated by the king
Jeremiah 37:20,21
- Often executed in
Genesis 40:22; Matthew 14:10- The king had power to release from
Genesis 40:21- Magistrates had power to release from
Acts 16:35,36- KEEPERS OF
- Strictly guarded the doors
Acts 12:6
- Responsible for the prisoners
Acts 16:23,27
- Put to death if prisoners escaped
Acts 12:19
- Often used severity
Jeremiah 37:16,20; Acts 16:24
- Sometimes acted kindly
Genesis 39:21; Acts 16:33,34
- Sometimes entrusted the care of the prison to well-conducted prisoners
Genesis 39:22,23- ILLUSTRATIVE OF
- Deep afflictions
Psalms 142:7
- Bondage to sin and Satan
Isaiah 42:7; 49:9; 61:1