Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5344 imprisonment

5344 imprisonment

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5344 imprisonment

Being confined in prison is used both literally and figuratively in Scripture. Release from prison is used as a picture of freedom from spiritual bondage.

The anticipation or threat of imprisonment

Matthew 5:25-26 pp Luke 12:58 See also Acts 20:23; Revelation 2:10

Imprisonment for law-breaking

Imprisonment while on remand

Numbers 15:33-34 See also Leviticus 24:12; Matthew 27:16 pp Mark 15:7 pp Luke 23:19

Imprisonment of the innocent, often with malicious intent

Jeremiah 38:28; Luke 21:12 See also Genesis 39:20-22; Genesis 40:14-15; Genesis 42:16-17 Joseph planning the welfare of his brothers; 1 Kings 22:27 Ahab orders Micaiah's imprisonment; 2 Chronicles 16:10; Jeremiah 32:2-3; Jeremiah 37:15; Matthew 14:3 John the Baptist imprisoned by Herod; Acts 8:3; Acts 16:23-24 Paul and Silas in prison; Acts 22:4,19; Acts 23:29; Acts 24:27; Acts 26:10,31; 2 Corinthians 6:5; Corinthians 11:23; Hebrews 11:36

Release from imprisonment

By earthly rulers

Genesis 41:14; 2 Kings 25:27 pp Jeremiah 52:31; Jeremiah 39:13-14

By divine intervention

Psalm 146:7 See also Psalm 68:6; Psalm 102:20; Psalm 107:10-14; Psalm 142:7; Isaiah 42:7; Isaiah 49:9; Isaiah 51:14; Isaiah 61:1; Acts 12:1-11

Imprisonment used in a figurative or poetic sense