Bible Dictionaries
Scourge

Holman Bible Dictionary

(sscuhuhrge) A severe form of corporal punishment involving whipping and beating, usually was done with the victim tied to a post or bench and administered by a servant of the synagogue (if for religious reasons), or by a slave or soldier. John 19:1 uses this word for the beating given Jesus before His crucifixion. Matthew and Mark use a word meaning “flog” (a lesser punishment), while Luke says that Pilate offered to have Jesus “chastise[d]” ( Luke 23:16 ), which was a still lighter punishment. The number of blows was set in Deuteronomy 25:3 at forty, but later reduced to thirty-nine. There were to be thirteen stokes on the chest and twenty-six on the back. Often the victim died from the beating.