Punishment: 6 definitions

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Punishment means something in Christianity. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. On this page you will also find search and cross-referencing tools.

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In Christianity

General definition (in Christianity)

Source: archive.org: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Punishment definition and references: The New Testament lays down the general principles of good government, but contains no code of laws for the punishment of offenders. Punishment proceeds on the principle that there is an eternal distinction between right and wrong, and that this distinction must be maintained for its own sake. It is not primarily intended for the reformation of criminals, nor for the purpose of deterring others from sin. These results may be gained, but crime in itself demands punishment. (See Murder; Theft.)

Endless, of the impenitent and unbelieving. The rejection of this doctrine “cuts the ground from under the gospel...blots out the attribute of retributive justice; transmutes sin into misfortune instead of guilt; turns all suffering into chastisement; converts the piacular work of Christ into moral influence...The attempt to retain the evangelical theology in connection with it is futile” (Shedd).

Source: archive.org: Smith's Bible Dictionary

Punishments refers to:—The earliest theory of punishment current among mankind is doubtless the one of simple retaliation, “blood for blood.” Viewed historically, the first case of punishment for crime mentioned in Scripture, next to the Fall itself, is that of Cain, the first murderer. That death was regarded as the fitting punishment for murder appears plain from the remark of Lamech. (Genesis 4:24) In the post-diluvian code, if we may so call it, retribution by the hand of man, even in the case of an offending animal, for blood shed, is clearly laid dawn. (Genesis 9:5,6) Passing onward to Mosaic times, we find the sentence of capital punishment, in the case of murder, plainly laid down in the law. The murderer was to be put to death, even if he should have taken refuge at God’s altar or in a refuge city, and the same principle was to be carried out even in the case of an animal. Offences punished with death.— I. The following offences also are mentioned in the law as liable to the punishment of death:

1) Striking, or even reviling, a parent. (Exodus 21:15,17)

2) Blasphemy. (Leviticus 24:14,16,23)

3) Sabbath-breaking. (Exodus 31:14; 35:2; Numbers 15:32-36)

4) Witchcraft, and false pretension to prophecy. (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27; 13:5; 18:20)

5) Adultery. (Leviticus 20:10; 22:22)

6) Unchastity. (Leviticus 21:9; 22:21,23)

7) Rape. (22:25)

8) Incestuous and unnatural connections. (Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 20:11,14,16)

9) Manstealing. (Exodus 21:16; 24:7)

10) Idolatry, actual or virtual, in any shape. (Leviticus 20:2; 13:8,10,15; 17:2-7) see Josh 7:1 ... and Josh 22:20 and Numb 25:8

11) False witness in certain cases. (19:16,19) II. But there is a large number of offences, some of them included in this list, which are named in the law as involving the penalty of “cutting off from the people. On the meaning of this expression some controversy has arisen. There are altogether thirty six or thirty seven cases in the Pentateuch in which this formula is used. We may perhaps conclude that the primary meaning of “cutting off” is a sentence of death to be executed in some cases without remission, but in others voidable— (1) by immediate atonement on the offender’s part; (2) by direct interposition of the Almighty i.e., a sentence of death always “regarded,” but not always executed. Kinds of punishments .—Punishments are twofold, Capital and Secondary. I. Capital. (A) The following only are prescribed by the law:

12) Stoning, which was the ordinary mode of execution. (Exodus 17:4; Luke 20:6; John 10:31; Acts 14:5) In the case of idolatry, and it may be presumed in other cases also, the witnesses, of whom there were to be at least two, were required to cast the first stone. (13:9; Acts 7:58)

13) Hanging is mentioned as a distinct punishment. (Numbers 25:4; 2 Samuel 21:6,9)

14) Burning, in pre-Mosaic times, was the punishment for unchastity. (Genesis 38:24) Under the law it was ordered in the case of a priest’s daughter (Leviticus 21:9)

15) Death by the sword or spear is named in the law, (Exodus 19:13; 32:27; Numbers 25:7) and it occurs frequently in regal and post-Babylonian times. (1 Kings 2:25,34; 19:1; 2 Chronicles 21:4) etc.

16) Strangling is said by the rabbis to have been regarded as the most common but least severe of the capital punishments, and to have been performed by immersing the convict in clay or mud, and then strangling him by a cloth twisted round the neck. (B) Besides these ordinary capital punishments, we read of others, either of foreign introduction or of an irregular kind. Among the former

17) Crucifixion is treated elsewhere.

18) Drowning, though not ordered under the law, was practiced at Rome, and is said by St. Jerome to have been in use among the Jews.

19) Sawing asunder or crushing beneath iron instruments. (2 Samuel 12:31) and perhaps (Proverbs 20:26; Hebrews 11:37)

20) Pounding in a mortar, or beating to death, is alluded to in (Proverbs 27:22) but not as a legal punishment, and cases are described. 2 Maccabees 6:28,30.

21) Precipitation, attempted in the case of our Lord at Nazareth, and carried out in that of captives from the Edomites, and of St. James, who is said to have been cast from “the pinnacle” of the temple. Criminals executed by law were burned outside the city gates, and heaps of stones were flung upon their graves. (Joshua 7:25,26; 2 Samuel 18:17; Jeremiah 22:19) II. Of secondary punishments among the Jews, the original Principles were,

22) Retaliation, “eye for eye,” etc. (Exodus 21:24,25)

23) Compensation, Identical (restitution)or analogous payment for loss of time or of power. (Exodus 21:18-36; Leviticus 24:18-21; 19:21) Slander against a wife’s honor was to be compensated to her parents by a fine of one hundred shekels, and the traducer himself to be punished with stripes (22:18,19)

24) Stripes, whose number was not to exceed forty, (25:3) whence the Jews took care not to exceed thirty-nine. (2 Corinthians 11:24)

25) Scourging with thorns is mentioned (Judges 8:16) The stocks are mentioned (Jeremiah 20:2) passing through fire, (2 Samuel 12:31) mutilation, (Judges 1:6) 2 Maccabees 7:4, and see (2 Samuel 4:12) plucking out hair, (Isaiah 50:6) in later times, imprisonment and confiscation or exile. (Ezra 7:26; Jeremiah 37:15; 38:6; Acts 4:3; 5:18; 12:4)

Source: archive.org: Nave's Topical Bible

Punishment definition and references: –Death Penalty
–Will not be commuted Numbers 35:31
–In the Mosaic law the death penalty was inflicted
–For murder Genesis 9:5,6; Numbers 35:16-21,30-33; Deuteronomy 17:6
–For adultery Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:24
–For incest Leviticus 20:11,12,14
–For bestiality Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 20:15,16
–For sodomy Leviticus 18:22; 20:13
–For sexual immorality Deuteronomy 22:21-24
–For the rape of a betrothed (engaged) virgin Deuteronomy 22:25
–For perjury Zechariah 5:4
–For kidnapping Exodus 21:16; Deuteronomy 24:7
–For the promiscuousness of a priest’ s daughter Leviticus 21:9
–For witchcraft Exodus 22:18
–For offering human sacrifice Leviticus 20:2-5
–For striking or cursing one’ s father or mother Exodus 21:15,17; Leviticus 20:9
–For disobedience to parents Deuteronomy 21:18-21
–For stealing Zechariah 5:3,4
–For blasphemy Leviticus 24:11-14,16,23
–For desecrating the Sabbath day Exodus 35:2; Numbers 15:32-36
–For prophesying falsely, or propagating false doctrines Deuteronomy 13:1-10
–For sacrificing to false gods Exodus 22:20
–For refusing to abide by the decision of the court Deuteronomy 17:12
–For treason 1 Kings 2:25; Esther 2:23
–For sedition Acts 5:36,37
–Modes Of Execution Of Death Penalty
–Burning Genesis 38:24; Leviticus 20:14; 21:9; Jeremiah 29:22; Ezekiel 23:25; Daniel 3:19-23
–Stoning Leviticus 20:2,27; 24:14; Numbers 14:10; 15:33-36; Deuteronomy 13:10; 17:5; 22:21,24; Joshua 7:25; 1 Kings 21:10; Ezekiel 16:40
–Hanging Genesis 40:22; Deuteronomy 21:22,23; Joshua 8:29
–Beheading Matthew 14:10; Mark 6:16,27,28
–Crucifixion Matthew 27:35,38; Mark 15:24,27; Luke 23:33
–The sword Exodus 32:27,28; 1 Kings 2:25,34,46; Acts 12:2
–Executed by the accusing witnesses Deuteronomy 13:9; 17:7; Acts 7:58
–Executed by the entire congregation Numbers 15:35,36; Deuteronomy 13:9
–Not inflicted by the testimony of less than two witnesses Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6; 19:15
–Minor Offenses
–Punishable by
–Scourging Leviticus 19:20; Deuteronomy 22:18; 25:2,3; Proverbs 17:10; 19:29; 20:30; Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15; Luke 23:16; John 19:1; Acts 22:24,29
–Imprisonment Genesis 39:20; 40
–See Prison
–Confinement within limits 1 Kings 2:26,36-38
–Entailed
–Upon children Exodus 34:7; Jeremiah 31:29; Lamentations 5:7; Ezekiel 18:2,3
–See Affliction, Design Of
–See Chastisement
–See Fine
–See Judgments
–See Retaliation
–See Wicked, Punishment Of
–According To Deeds Job 34:11; Psalms 62:12; Proverbs 12:14; 24:12; Isaiah 59:18; Jeremiah 17:10; Ezekiel 7:3,27; 16:59; 39:24; Zechariah 1:6; Matthew 5:22; 16:27; 23:14; Luke 12:47,48; 20:47
–See the parable of the vineyard Isaiah 5:1-7
–See the parable of the farmers Matthew 21:33-41
–See the parable of the talents Matthew 25:14-30
–See Judgment, According To Opportunity And Works
–Delayed Psalms 50:21; 55:19; Proverbs 1:24-30; Ecclesiastes 8:11-13; Habakkuk 1:2-4
–Design Of
–To secure obedience Genesis 2:17; Exodus 20:3-5; Leviticus 26:14-39; Deuteronomy 13:10,11; 17:13; 19:20; 21:21; Proverbs 19:25; 21:11; 26:3
–See Judgments, Design Of
–Divine
–No Escape from Job 11:20; Proverbs 1:24-31; 11:21; 16:5; 29:1; Jeremiah 11:11; 15:1; 25:28,29; Ezekiel 7:19; Amos 2:14-16; Zephaniah 1:18; Matthew 10:28; 23:33; Romans 2:3; Colossians 3:25; Hebrews 2:3; 12:25
–Eternal Isaiah 34:8-10; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 3:12; 10:28; 18:8; 25:41,46; Mark 3:29; Luke 3:17; John 5:29; Hebrews 6:2; 10:28-31; Revelation 14:10,11; 19:3; 20:10
–See Wicked, Punishment Of

Source: archive.org: Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature

Punishments refers to:—This subject is properly restricted to the penalty imposed on the commission of some crime or offence against law. It is thus distinguished from private retaliation or revenge, cruelty, torture, popular violence, certain customs of war, etc. Human punishments are such as are indicted immediately on the person of the offender, or indirectly upon his goods, etc. For the leading points in the literature of the question concerning future and divine punishment see Soul. Capital punishment is usually supposed to have been instituted at the deluge. Arnheim, however, thus explains the precept: if one stranger slay another, the kinsmen of the murdered man are the avengers of blood; but if he be slain by one of his own kindred, the other kinsmen must not spare the murderer, for if they do, then divine providence will require the blood—that is, will avenge it. This interpretation would account for the custom of blood-revenge among all the ancient and Asiatic nations. The extensive prescription of capital punishment by the Mosaic law, which we cannot consider as a dead letter, may be accounted for by the peculiar circumstances of the people.

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Source: archive.org: Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Punishments refers to:—(See CROSS, etc.) Death was the punishment of striking or even reviling a parent (Exodus 21:15; Exodus 21:17); blasphemy (Leviticus 24:14; Leviticus 24:16; Leviticus 24:23); Sabbath-breaking (Numbers 15:32-36); witchcraft (Exodus 22:18); adultery (Leviticus 20:10); rape (Deuteronomy 22:25); incestuous and unnatural connection (Leviticus 20:11; Leviticus 20:14; Leviticus 20:16); man stealing (Exodus 21:16); idolatry (Leviticus 20:2). "Cutting off from the people" is ipso facto excommunication or outlawry, forfeiture of the privileges of the covenant people (Leviticus 18:29). The hand of God executed the sentence in some cases (Genesis 17:14; Leviticus 23:30; Leviticus 20:3; Leviticus 20:6; Numbers 4:15; Numbers 4:18; Numbers 4:20). Capital punishments were stoning (Exodus 17:4); burning (Leviticus 20:14); the sword (Exodus 32:27); and strangulation, not in Scripture, but in rabbinical writings.

The command (Numbers 25:4-5) was that the Baal-peor sinners should be slain first, then impaled or nailed to crosses; the Hebrew there (hoqa ) means dislocated, and is different from that in Deuteronomy 21:22 (thalitha toli ), Deuteronomy 21:23. The hanged were accounted accursed; so were buried at evening, as the hanging body defiled the land; so Christ (Galatians 3:13). The malefactor was to be removed by burial from off the face of the earth speedily, that the curse might be removed off the land (Leviticus 18:25; Leviticus 18:28; 2 Samuel 21:6; 2 Samuel 21:9).

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Source: archive.org: Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Punishments refers to:—See Crimes and Punishments, Â§Â§ 8 11,

Relevant text

Search found 370 books and stories containing Punishment, Punishments, The punishment; (plurals include: Punishments, Punishmentses, The punishments). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Chapter 11 - Whether It is Just that the Punishments of Sins Last Longer Than the Sins Themselves Lasted < [City of God]

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