13 Bible Verses about Prisons

Most Relevant Verses

Genesis 40:3

And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

Numbers 15:34

And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

Judges 16:21

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

2 Kings 17:4

And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

Isaiah 42:22

But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

Jeremiah 52:11

Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

Acts 16:26

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

Genesis 41:14

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

Acts 12:10

When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

Genesis 40:2-3

And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

Genesis 39:20

And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

Jeremiah 37:21

Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

From Thematic Bible


Gates » Made to » Prisons

Acts 12:10

When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

Prisons » General references to

2 Kings 17:4

And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

Judges 16:21

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

Genesis 40:3

And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

Numbers 15:34

And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.

Isaiah 42:22

But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.

More verses: Jeremiah 52:11 Acts 16:26

Prisons » Used for confining » Persons under the king's displeasure

2 Chronicles 16:10

Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.

1 Kings 22:27

And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

Mark 6:17

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

Prisons » Used for confining » Enemies taken captive

2 Kings 17:4

And the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea: for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and brought no present to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year: therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.

Judges 16:21

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

Jeremiah 52:11

Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.

Prisons » Places used as » Prisoner's own house, where he was kept bound to a soldier

Acts 28:16

And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

2 Timothy 1:16-18

The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

Acts 28:30

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him,

Prisons » Persons confined in » Sometimes allowed to be visited by their friends

Acts 24:23

And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him.

Matthew 11:2

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often subjected to extreme suffering

Psalm 105:18

Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:

Psalm 79:11

Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

Psalm 102:20

To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often bound with fetters

Mark 6:17

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

Genesis 42:19

If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:

Ezekiel 19:9

And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.

Prisons » Illustrative of » Bondage to sin and satan

Isaiah 42:7

To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Isaiah 49:9

That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.

Prisons » Keepers of » Often used severity

Jeremiah 37:16

When Jeremiah was entered into the dungeon, and into the cabins, and Jeremiah had remained there many days;

Jeremiah 37:20

Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there.

Prisons » Kinds of, mentioned » State

Jeremiah 37:21

Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

Genesis 39:20

And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

Prisons » Used for confining » Persons accused of heresy

Acts 8:3

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Acts 4:3

And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

Prisons » Dungeons attached to

Zechariah 9:11

As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

Jeremiah 38:6

Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often executed in

Genesis 40:22

But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.

Prisons » Used for confining » Condemned criminals till executed

Acts 12:4-5

And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Leviticus 24:12

And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.

Prisons » Keepers of » Sometimes acted kindly

Acts 16:33-34

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.

Genesis 39:21

But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Prisons » Used for confining » Debtors till they paid

Matthew 5:26

Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Matthew 18:30

And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often fastened in stocks

Jeremiah 29:26

The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.

Acts 16:24

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often placed in dungeons

Acts 16:24

Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

Jeremiah 39:6

Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.

Prisons » Keepers of » Responsible for the prisoners

Acts 16:23

And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

Acts 16:27

And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Might have their condition ameliorated by the king

Jeremiah 37:20-21

Therefore hear now, I pray thee, O my lord the king: let my supplication, I pray thee, be accepted before thee; that thou cause me not to return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, lest I die there. Then Zedekiah the king commanded that they should commit Jeremiah into the court of the prison, and that they should give him daily a piece of bread out of the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city were spent. Thus Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

Prisons » Keepers of » Sometimes entrusted the care of the prison to well-conducted prisoners

Genesis 39:22-23

And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Said to be in ward

Leviticus 24:12

And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them.

Prisons » Illustrative of » Hell

Prisons » Places used as » House of the king's scribe

Jeremiah 37:15

Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Clothed in prison dress

2 Kings 25:29

And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Fed on bread and water

1 Kings 22:27

And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

Prisons » Used for confining » Suspected persons

Genesis 42:19

If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:

Prisons » Places used as » Court of the king's house

Jeremiah 32:2

For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.

Prisons » Opened » Joseph's

Genesis 41:14

Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

Prisons » Magistrates had power to release from

Acts 16:35-36

And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go. And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.

Prisons » The king had power to release from

Genesis 40:21

And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:

Prisons » The king had power to commit to

1 Kings 22:27

And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace.

Prisons » Were under the care of a keeper

Genesis 39:21

But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Prisons » Antiquity of

Genesis 39:20

And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often kept to hard labor

Judges 16:21

But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

Prisons » Places used as » House of the captain of the guard

Genesis 40:3

And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

Prisons » Magistrates had power to commit to

Matthew 5:25

Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

Prisons » Illustrative of » Deep afflictions

Psalm 142:7

Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Prisons » Used for confining » Persons accused of crimes

Luke 23:19

(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

Prisons » Keepers of » Put to death if prisoners escaped

Acts 12:19

And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode.

Prisons » Opened » Paul and silas

Acts 16:26

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

Prisons » Opened » Peter's

Acts 12:10

When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

Prisons » Confinement

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often chained to two soldiers

Acts 12:6

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

Prisons » Kinds of, mentioned » Common

Prisons » Keepers of » Strictly guarded the doors

Acts 12:6

And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

Prisons » Opened » The apostles'

Prisons » Punishment » Confinement

Ezra 7:26

And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Said to be in hold

Acts 4:3

And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.

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King James Version Public Domain