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What does the Bible say about prison?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible portrays prison as a place of suffering and injustice, yet also as a setting where God sees the afflicted, sustains faithful witnesses, and calls his people to mercy. Jesus identifies himself with those in prison and commends those who visit them in Matthew 25:36, while Hebrews 13:3 urges believers to remember prisoners as though imprisoned with them. Isaiah 61:1 proclaims the Lord’s good news and liberty for captives, fulfilled supremely in Christ’s saving work. Some imprisonment in Scripture follows lawful judgment, as in Ezra 7:26, but believers may also suffer for righteousness, as Paul did in 2 Timothy 2:9 and as Christ warns in Revelation 2:10. God hears the needy and does not despise his prisoners (Psalm 69:33).

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Matthew 25:36

    naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me.'

  • Isaiah 61:1

    The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to those who are bound;

  • Hebrews 13:3

    Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body.

  • Ezra 7:26

    Whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

  • Psalms 69:33

    For Yahweh hears the needy, And doesn't despise his captive people.

  • Leviticus 24:12

    They put him in custody, until the will of Yahweh should be declared to them.

  • 2 Timothy 2:9

    in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God's word isn't chained.

  • Revelation 2:10

    Don't be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.

  • Numbers 15:34

    They put him in custody, because it had not been declared what should be done to him.

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