Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7300 Institutions and culture of OT  »  7346 death penalty

The lawful taking of human life by the civil or military authorities. The death penalty was inflicted by all nations in the ancient world. In Israel, the main method was stoning, amongst other nations, other forms such as hanging, beheading and crucifixion were used.

The ultimate authority for the death penalty lies with God alone

Examples of God taking human life

Exodus 12:29 See also Numbers 16:35; 1 Samuel 6:19; Samuel 25:38; 2 Samuel 6:7 pp 1 Chronicles 13:10; Acts 12:23

God may delegate his authority to human beings

Genesis 9:6; Joshua 7:15,25; 1 Samuel 15:3,32-33

The role of the civil authority

Acts 25:11; Romans 13:1,3-4

Causes of the death penalty

Sacrilege

Exodus 19:12-13

Serious abuse of one's parents

Exodus 21:15,17; Deuteronomy 21:18-21; Matthew 15:4

Adultery

Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22; John 8:5

Blasphemy

Leviticus 24:16; John 19:7

Idolatry

Leviticus 20:2

Immorality

Leviticus 20:11-16; Deuteronomy 22:21-25

Kidnapping

Exodus 21:16

Murder

Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:12

Rebellion

Deuteronomy 17:12

Sabbath-breaking

Exodus 31:14-15; Numbers 15:32-36

Witchcraft

Leviticus 20:27; 1 Samuel 28:9

Rape of a betrothed virgin

Deuteronomy 22:23-29

Bestiality

Exodus 22:19

Child sacrifice

Leviticus 20:2-5

Means of executing the death penalty

Beheading

Genesis 40:19; Mark 6:27 pp Matthew 14:9-10

Burning

Daniel 3:6

Crucifixion

Matthew 27:26 pp Mark 15:15 pp John 19:16; Matthew 27:38 pp Mark 15:27 pp Luke 23:33

Hanging

Genesis 40:22; Deuteronomy 21:22-23; Acts 5:30; Galatians 3:13

Impalement

Ezra 6:11; Esther 2:23 fn; Esther 5:14; Esther 7:9-10; Esther 9:12-13

Stoning

Leviticus 24:23; Deuteronomy 21:18-21

Stoning was the duty of the whole community:

Leviticus 20:2; Leviticus 24:14; Numbers 15:35

Stoning carried out lawfully:

Leviticus 24:23; Numbers 15:36; Joshua 7:25

Stoning carried out unlawfully:

1 Kings 21:11-13; 2 Chronicles 24:21; Acts 7:54-59

The attempted stoning of Jesus Christ:

John 8:58-59; John 10:31-33 John 8:3-11 Jesus Christ refuses to carry out a stoning.

The sword

Exodus 32:27; 1 Samuel 15:33; Samuel 22:18-19; 1 Kings 2:29,46; 2 Chronicles 23:14-15; Daniel 2:5; Acts 12:2; Hebrews 11:37

Wild beasts

Daniel 6:16

The commutation of the death penalty

Genesis 4:15; Exodus 21:13,29-30; Numbers 35:6; Deuteronomy 4:42; Deuteronomy 19:1-10

See also

5025  killing
5040  murder
5276  crime
5281  crucifixion
5322  gallows
5331  hanging
5361  justice, human
5557  stoning
5572  sword
8450  martyrdom
9020  death