13 Bible Verses about Prisons
Most Relevant Verses
And he put them in custody in the house of the chief of the guard, into the prison where Joseph was confined.
And they put him under watch because it was not made clear what should be done to him.
And [the] Philistines seized him, gouged his eyes, and brought him to Gaza. They tied him up with bronze shackles, and he became a grinder {in the prison}.
But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and he did not offer tribute to the king of Assyria as [he had] year after year; so the king of Assyria arrested him, and confined him [in] a house of imprisonment.
But this [is] a people plundered and looted; all of them are trapped in holes, and they are kept hidden in houses of imprisonment. They have become like plunder, and there is no one who saves; [like] booty, and there is no one who says, "Restore!"
Then he made blind the eyes of Zedekiah, and they tied him up with bronze fetters, and the king of Babylon brought him [to] Babylon. And he put him in {prison} until the day of his death.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and all the bonds were unfastened.
Then Pharaoh sent and called [for] Joseph, and they brought him quickly from the prison. And he shaved and changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them [out] [and] said,
And [after they] had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened for them by itself, and they went out [and] went forward [along] one narrow street, and at once the angel departed from him.
And Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, with the chief cupbearer and chief baker. And he put them in custody in the house of the chief of the guard, into the prison where Joseph was confined.
And Joseph's master took him and put him into prison, the place that the king's prisoners were confined. And he was there in prison.
So King Zedekiah commanded, and they handed Jeremiah over in the courtyard of the guard, and they gave to him a round loaf of bread from the street of the bakers {every day} until the finishing of all the bread from the city. And Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard.
From Thematic Bible
Gates » Made to » Prisons
And [after they] had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened for them by itself, and they went out [and] went forward [along] one narrow street, and at once the angel departed from him.
Prisons » General references to
But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and he did not offer tribute to the king of Assyria as [he had] year after year; so the king of Assyria arrested him, and confined him [in] a house of imprisonment.
And [the] Philistines seized him, gouged his eyes, and brought him to Gaza. They tied him up with bronze shackles, and he became a grinder {in the prison}.
And he put them in custody in the house of the chief of the guard, into the prison where Joseph was confined.
And they put him under watch because it was not made clear what should be done to him.
But this [is] a people plundered and looted; all of them are trapped in holes, and they are kept hidden in houses of imprisonment. They have become like plunder, and there is no one who saves; [like] booty, and there is no one who says, "Restore!"
Prisons » Used for confining » Persons under the king's displeasure
Then Asa was angry with the seer and put him in {the prison}, for he was enraged with him concerning this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time.
and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this [fellow in] the house of imprisonment and feed him reduced rations of food and water until I come in peace." '"
For Herod himself had sent [and] arrested John and bound him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.
Prisons » Used for confining » Enemies taken captive
But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt, and he did not offer tribute to the king of Assyria as [he had] year after year; so the king of Assyria arrested him, and confined him [in] a house of imprisonment.
And [the] Philistines seized him, gouged his eyes, and brought him to Gaza. They tied him up with bronze shackles, and he became a grinder {in the prison}.
Then he made blind the eyes of Zedekiah, and they tied him up with bronze fetters, and the king of Babylon brought him [to] Babylon. And he 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
And when we entered into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.
May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he refreshed me many times, and was not ashamed of my imprisonment, but [when he] was in Rome, he diligently sought me and found [me]. May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord in that day! And how much he served [me] in Ephesus you know very well.
So he stayed two whole years in his own rented house, and welcomed all who came to him,
Prisons » Persons confined in » Sometimes allowed to be visited by their friends
[He] ordered the centurion [for] him to be guarded and to have some freedom, and in no way to prevent any of his own [people] [from] serving him.
I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you came to me.'
Prisons » Persons confined in » Often subjected to extreme suffering
They clamped his feet in fetters. His neck went into irons.
Let the groaning of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your {power}, spare [the] children [appointed to] death.
to hear [the] groaning of [the] prisoner, to liberate {those destined to die},
Prisons » Persons confined in » Often bound with fetters
For Herod himself had sent [and] arrested John and bound him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.
If you [are] honest, let one of your brothers be kept in prison {where you are now being kept}, but [the rest of] you go, carry grain for the famine for your households.
And they put him in a collar with hooks, and they brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into a prison, so that his voice [would] not be heard {any longer} on the mountains of Israel.
Prisons » Illustrative of » Bondage to sin and satan
[The] Spirit of the Lord Yahweh [is] upon me, because Yahweh has anointed me, he has sent me to bring good news [to the] oppressed, to bind up {the brokenhearted}, to {proclaim} release to [the] captives and liberation to those who are bound,
to open [the] blind eyes, to bring [the] prisoner out from [the] dungeon, those who sit [in] darkness from [the] house of imprisonment.
saying to the {prisoners}, "Come out!" to those who [are] in darkness, "Show yourselves!" they shall feed {along} [the] ways, and their pasturage [shall be] on all [the] barren heights.
Prisons » Keepers of » Often used severity
So Jeremiah came to the {dungeon}, even to the vaulted cells, and Jeremiah stayed there many days.
Now then, my lord the king, please let my plea fall {before you}. You must not send me back [to] the house of Jonathan the secretary, so that I will not die there."
Prisons » Kinds of, mentioned » State
So King Zedekiah commanded, and they handed Jeremiah over in the courtyard of the guard, and they gave to him a round loaf of bread from the street of the bakers {every day} until the finishing of all the bread from the city. And Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard.
And Joseph's master took him and put him into prison, the place that the king's prisoners were confined. And he was there in prison.
Prisons » Used for confining » Persons accused of heresy
But Saul was attempting to destroy the church. Entering {house after house}, he dragged off both men and women [and] delivered [them] to prison.
And they laid hands on them and put [them] in custody until the next day, because it was already evening.
Prisons » Dungeons attached to
[As for] you also, because of the blood of your covenant, I will release your prisoners from {the waterless pit}.
So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the pit [of] Malchiah, the son of the king, which [was] in the courtyard of the guard. And they let Jeremiah down by ropes. Now in the pit there was no water, {but only} mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.
Prisons » Persons confined in » Often executed in
And he sent [orders] [and] had John beheaded in the prison,
Prisons » Used for confining » Condemned criminals till executed
[After he] had arrested {him}, he also put [him] in prison, handing [him] over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending to bring him {out for public trial} after the Passover. Thus Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer was fervently being made to God by the church for him.
Then they put him in custody {so that} [the matter] might be made clear to them in accordance with the mouth of Yahweh.
Prisons » Keepers of » Sometimes acted kindly
And he took them at that [very] hour of the night [and] washed [their] wounds, and he himself was baptized at once, and all those of his [household]. And he brought them up into [his] house [and] set a meal before [them], and rejoiced greatly that he had believed in God with his whole household.
And Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed loyal love to him, and gave him favor in the eyes of the chief of the prison.
Prisons » Used for confining » Debtors till they paid
Truly I say to you, you will never come out of there until you have paid back the last penny!
But he did not want to, but rather he went [and] threw him into prison until he would repay what was owed.
Prisons » Persons confined in » Often fastened in stocks
"Yahweh made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, so that there are overseers [in] the house of Yahweh over any mad man [who] exhibits the behavior of a prophet, and you must put him into the stocks and into the neck iron,
Having received such an order, {he} put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Prisons » Persons confined in » Often placed in dungeons
Having received such an order, {he} put them in the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
And the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah at Riblah before his eyes. The king of Babylon also slaughtered all the nobles of Judah.
Prisons » Keepers of » Responsible for the prisoners
And [after they] had inflicted many blows on them, they threw [them] into prison, giving orders to the jailer to guard them securely.
And [after] the jailer was awake and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew [his] sword [and] was about to kill himself, [because he] thought the prisoners had escaped.
Prisons » Persons confined in » Might have their condition ameliorated by the king
Now then, my lord the king, please let my plea fall {before you}. You must not send me back [to] the house of Jonathan the secretary, so that I will not die there." So King Zedekiah commanded, and they handed Jeremiah over in the courtyard of the guard, and they gave to him a round loaf of bread from the street of the bakers {every day} until the finishing of all the bread from the city. And Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard.
Prisons » Keepers of » Sometimes entrusted the care of the prison to well-conducted prisoners
And the chief of the prison put all the prisoners that [were] in the prison into the hand of Joseph. And everything that was done there, he [was] the one who did [it]. The chief of the prison {did not worry about} anything in his hand, since Yahweh [was] with him. And whatever he did Yahweh made [it] successful.
Prisons » Persons confined in » Said to be in ward
Then they put him in custody {so that} [the matter] might be made clear to them in accordance with the mouth of Yahweh.
Prisons » Illustrative of » Hell
Prisons » Places used as » House of the king's scribe
And the officials were angry at Jeremiah and they struck him. And they put him [in] {prison}, [in] the house of Jonathan the secretary, for they had converted it to the {prison}.
Prisons » Persons confined in » Clothed in prison dress
So he changed the clothes of his imprisonment, and he ate food continually in his presence all the days of his life.
Prisons » Persons confined in » Fed on bread and water
and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this [fellow in] the house of imprisonment and feed him reduced rations of food and water until I come in peace." '"
Prisons » Used for confining » Suspected persons
If you [are] honest, let one of your brothers be kept in prison {where you are now being kept}, but [the rest of] you go, carry grain for the famine for your households.
Prisons » Places used as » Court of the king's house
Now at that time the army of the king of Babylon [was] laying siege to Jerusalem and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard that [was in] the palace of the king of Judah,
Prisons » Opened » Joseph's
Then Pharaoh sent and called [for] Joseph, and they brought him quickly from the prison. And he shaved and changed his clothing, and came to Pharaoh.
Prisons » Magistrates had power to release from
And [when it] was day, the chief magistrates sent the police officers, saying, "Release those men." And the jailer reported these words to Paul: "The chief magistrates have sent [an order] that you should be released. So come out now [and] go in peace!"
Prisons » The king had power to release from
And he restored the chief cupbearer to his cupbearing [position]. And he placed the cup in the hand of Pharaoh.
Prisons » The king had power to commit to
and say, 'Thus says the king: "Put this [fellow in] the house of imprisonment and feed him reduced rations of food and water until I come in peace." '"
Prisons » Were under the care of a keeper
And Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed loyal love to him, and gave him favor in the eyes of the chief of the prison.
Prisons » Antiquity of
And Joseph's master took him and put him into prison, the place that the king's prisoners were confined. And he was there in prison.
Prisons » Persons confined in » Often kept to hard labor
And [the] Philistines seized him, gouged his eyes, and brought him to Gaza. They tied him up with bronze shackles, and he became a grinder {in the prison}.
Prisons » Places used as » House of the captain of the guard
And he put them in custody in the house of the chief of the guard, into the prison where Joseph was confined.
Prisons » Magistrates had power to commit to
{Settle the case quickly with your accuser} while you are with him on the way, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
Prisons » Illustrative of » Deep afflictions
Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name. [The] righteous will encircle me, because you will deal bountifully with me.
Prisons » Used for confining » Persons accused of crimes
(who had been thrown in prison because of a certain insurrection that had taken place in the city, and [for] murder)
Prisons » Keepers of » Put to death if prisoners escaped
And [when] Herod had searched for him and did not find [him], he questioned the guards [and] ordered [that they] be led away to execution. And he came down from Judea to Caesarea [and] stayed [there].
Prisons » Opened » Paul and silas
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened and all the bonds were unfastened.
Prisons » Opened » Peter's
And [after they] had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened for them by itself, and they went out [and] went forward [along] one narrow street, and at once the angel departed from him.
Prisons » Confinement
Prisons » Persons confined in » Often chained to two soldiers
Now when Herod was about to bring him [out], on that [very] night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door were watching the prison.
Prisons » Kinds of, mentioned » Common
Prisons » Keepers of » Strictly guarded the doors
Now when Herod was about to bring him [out], on that [very] night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards before the door were watching the prison.
Prisons » Opened » The apostles'
But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them [out] [and] said,
Prisons » Punishment » Confinement
All who do not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with diligence, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods and for imprisonment."
Prisons » Persons confined in » Said to be in hold
And they laid hands on them and put [them] in custody until the next day, because it was already evening.