Overview
The Bible portrays prisons as places of confinement for criminals and the unjustly accused. God demonstrates concern for prisoners throughout Scripture, calling His people to remember and care for those in captivity. Jesus Himself identified with the imprisoned as part of His redemptive mission.
Key Scriptures
"The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down" (Psalm 142:7, ESV). "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound" (Isaiah 61:1, ESV). "When they had brought them and set them before the council, the high priest questioned them, saying, 'We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching'" (Acts 5:27-28, ESV).
Application
Christians should advocate for justice in the penal system and extend Christ's compassion to the imprisoned through prayer, visitation, and support for their spiritual and physical restoration.
✦ Scripture References 40 references
✦ Topical Scripture Breakdown 78 verses
Antiquity of
Bondage to sin and Satan
Clothed in prison dress
Common
Condemned persons till executed
Confinement in, considered a severe punishment
Confinement in, often awarded as a punishment
Court of the king's house
Debtors till they paid
Deep afflictions
Dungeons attached to
Enemies taken captive
Fed on bread and water
Hell
House of the captain of the guard
House of the king's scribe
Magistrates had power to commit to
Magistrates had power to release from
Might have their condition ameliorated by the king
Often bound with fetters
Often chained to two soldiers
Often executed in
Often fastened in stocks
Often kept to hard labour
Often placed in dungeons
Often subjected to extreme suffering
Often used severity
Persons accused of crimes
Persons accused of heresy
Persons under the king's displeasure
Prisoner's own house, where he was kept bound to a soldier
Put to death if prisoners escaped
Responsible for the prisoners
Said to be in hold
Said to be in ward
Sometimes acted kindly
Sometimes allowed to be visited by their friends
Sometimes entrusted the care of the prison to well-conducted prisoners
State
Strictly guarded the doors
Suspected persons
The king had power to commit to
The king had power to release from
Were under the care of a keeper