Prison; Prisoner
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Prison; Prisoner in the Bible?
The Hebrew Bible employs distinct terms for confinement, including 'cohar' (pit or dungeon), 'kele'' (vessel or prison), 'maTTarah' (house of confinement), 'mahaphekheth' (house of judgment or prison), and 'ecur' (house of the king's prison). Unlike modern penal systems, ancient Israel lacked dedicated correctional facilities; detention occurred in private residences, palace complexes, or subterranean pits, reflecting a system where imprisonment served administrative, judicial, or punitive functions rather than long-term rehabilitation.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding these varied confinement methods clarifies the social and legal mechanisms of authority in the biblical world, revealing how rulers and judges exercised control over individuals through physical restriction in domestic or royal settings rather than through a standardized state prison system.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
- Why did the biblical author mention Prison; Prisoner 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.