13 Bible Verses about Prisons

Most Relevant Verses

Genesis 40:3

So he put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, in the jail, the same place where Joseph was imprisoned.

Numbers 15:34

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

Judges 16:21

Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison.

2 Kings 17:4

But the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea, who had sent messengers to So king of Egypt and had offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; so the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison.

Isaiah 42:22

But this is a people plundered and despoiled;
All of them are trapped in caves,
Or are hidden away in prisons;
They have become a prey with none to deliver them,
And a spoil, with none to say, “Give them back!”

Jeremiah 52:11

Then he blinded the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him with bronze fetters and brought him to Babylon and put him in prison until the day of his death.

Acts 16:26

and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.

Genesis 41:14

Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh.

Acts 12:10

When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

Genesis 40:2-3

Pharaoh was furious with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. So he put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, in the jail, the same place where Joseph was imprisoned.

Genesis 39:20

So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail.

Jeremiah 37:21

Then King Zedekiah gave commandment, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guardhouse and gave him a loaf of bread daily from the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guardhouse.

From Thematic Bible


Gates » Made to » Prisons

Acts 12:10

When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

Prisons » General references to

2 Kings 17:4

But the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea, who had sent messengers to So king of Egypt and had offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; so the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison.

Judges 16:21

Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison.

Genesis 40:3

So he put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, in the jail, the same place where Joseph was imprisoned.

Numbers 15:34

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

Isaiah 42:22

But this is a people plundered and despoiled;
All of them are trapped in caves,
Or are hidden away in prisons;
They have become a prey with none to deliver them,
And a spoil, with none to say, “Give them back!”

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 angry with the seer and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him for this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.

1 Kings 22:27

and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.”’”

Mark 6:17

For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.

Prisons » Used for confining » Enemies taken captive

2 Kings 17:4

But the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea, who had sent messengers to So king of Egypt and had offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; so the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison.

Judges 16:21

Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison.

Jeremiah 52:11

Then he blinded the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him with bronze fetters and brought him to Babylon and put him in prison until the day of his death.

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

Acts 28:16

When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

2 Timothy 1:16-18

The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me-- the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day--and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.

Acts 28:30

And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him,

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

Acts 24:23

Then he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and yet have some freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him.

Matthew 11:2

Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often subjected to extreme suffering

Psalm 105:18

They afflicted his feet with fetters,
He himself was laid in irons;

Psalm 79:11

Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
According to the greatness of Your power preserve those who are doomed to die.

Psalm 102:20

To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
To set free those who were doomed to death,

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often bound with fetters

Mark 6:17

For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.

Genesis 42:19

if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for the rest of you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households,

Ezekiel 19:9

They put him in a cage with hooks
And brought him to the king of Babylon;
They brought him in hunting nets
So that his voice would be heard no more
On the mountains of Israel.

Prisons » Illustrative of » Bondage to sin and satan

Isaiah 42:7

To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the dungeon
And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.

Isaiah 49:9

Saying to those who are bound, ‘Go forth,’
To those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’
Along the roads they will feed,
And their pasture will be on all bare heights.

Prisons » Keepers of » Often used severity

Jeremiah 37:16

For Jeremiah had come into the dungeon, that is, the vaulted cell; and Jeremiah stayed there many days.

Jeremiah 37:20

But now, please listen, O my lord the king; please let my petition come before you and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I may not die there.”

Prisons » Kinds of, mentioned » State

Jeremiah 37:21

Then King Zedekiah gave commandment, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guardhouse and gave him a loaf of bread daily from the bakers’ street, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guardhouse.

Genesis 39:20

So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail.

Prisons » Used for confining » Persons accused of heresy

Acts 8:3

But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Acts 4:3

And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.

Prisons » Dungeons attached to

Zechariah 9:11

As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you,
I have set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

Jeremiah 38:6

Then they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchijah the king’s son, which was in the court of the guardhouse; and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. Now in the cistern there was no water but only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often executed in

Genesis 40:22

but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted to them.

Prisons » Used for confining » Condemned criminals till executed

Acts 12:4-5

When he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people. So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.

Leviticus 24:12

They put him in custody so that the command of the Lord might be made clear to them.

Prisons » Keepers of » Sometimes acted kindly

Acts 16:33-34

And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

Genesis 39:21

But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.

Prisons » Used for confining » Debtors till they paid

Matthew 5:26

Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

Matthew 18:30

But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often fastened in stocks

Jeremiah 29:26

“The Lord has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, to be the overseer in the house of the Lord over every madman who prophesies, to put him in the stocks and in the iron collar,

Acts 16:24

and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often placed in dungeons

Acts 16:24

and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Jeremiah 39:6

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

Prisons » Keepers of » Responsible for the prisoners

Acts 16:23

When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely;

Acts 16:27

When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

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

Jeremiah 37:20-21

"But now, please listen, O my lord the king; please let my petition come before you and do not make me return to the house of Jonathan the scribe, that I may not die there." Then King Zedekiah gave commandment, and they committed Jeremiah to the court of the guardhouse and gave him a loaf of bread daily from the bakers' street, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the court of the guardhouse.

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

Genesis 39:22-23

The chief jailer committed to Joseph's charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it. The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Said to be in ward

Leviticus 24:12

They put him in custody so that the command of the Lord might be made clear to them.

Prisons » Illustrative of » Hell

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

Jeremiah 37:15

Then the officials were angry at Jeremiah and beat him, and they put him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, which they had made into the prison.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Clothed in prison dress

2 Kings 25:29

Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes and had his meals in the king’s presence regularly all the days of his life;

Prisons » Persons confined in » Fed on bread and water

1 Kings 22:27

and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.”’”

Prisons » Used for confining » Suspected persons

Genesis 42:19

if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for the rest of you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households,

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

Jeremiah 32:2

Now at that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the house of the king of Judah,

Prisons » Opened » Joseph's

Genesis 41:14

Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh.

Prisons » Magistrates had power to release from

Acts 16:35-36

Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, "Release those men." And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, "The chief magistrates have sent to release you Therefore come out now and go in peace."

Prisons » The king had power to release from

Genesis 40:21

He restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand;

Prisons » The king had power to commit to

1 Kings 22:27

and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this man in prison and feed him sparingly with bread and water until I return safely.”’”

Prisons » Were under the care of a keeper

Genesis 39:21

But the Lord was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.

Prisons » Antiquity of

Genesis 39:20

So Joseph’s master took him and put him into the jail, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined; and he was there in the jail.

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often kept to hard labor

Judges 16:21

Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze chains, and he was a grinder in the prison.

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

Genesis 40:3

So he put them in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, in the jail, the same place where Joseph was imprisoned.

Prisons » Magistrates had power to commit to

Matthew 5:25

Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

Prisons » Illustrative of » Deep afflictions

Psalm 142:7

Bring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name;
The righteous will surround me,
For You will deal bountifully with me.”

Prisons » Used for confining » Persons accused of crimes

Luke 23:19

(He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.)

Prisons » Keepers of » Put to death if prisoners escaped

Acts 12:19

When Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away to execution. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there.

Prisons » Opened » Paul and silas

Acts 16:26

and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.

Prisons » Opened » Peter's

Acts 12:10

When they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel departed from him.

Prisons » Confinement

Prisons » Persons confined in » Often chained to two soldiers

Acts 12:6

On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.

Prisons » Kinds of, mentioned » Common

Prisons » Keepers of » Strictly guarded the doors

Acts 12:6

On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.

Prisons » Opened » The apostles'

Prisons » Punishment » Confinement

Ezra 7:26

Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods or for imprisonment.”

Prisons » Persons confined in » Said to be in hold

Acts 4:3

And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening.

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