Gallows
ArtifactsWhat is the meaning of Gallows in the Bible?
The gallows refers to the specific apparatus employed for execution by hanging, distinct from the general act of hanging itself. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, particularly within the Hebrew Bible, it denotes a constructed frame or tree used for public display of executed bodies.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding the physical nature of the gallows clarifies the severity and public nature of capital punishment in biblical narratives, such as the execution of Haman's ten sons in Esther, where the structure serves as a symbol of divine justice and the reversal of fortune.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Gallows in this passage?
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.