'Public' in the Bible

“When someone sins in any of these ways: If he has seen, heard, or known about something he has witnessed, and did not respond to a public call to testify, he is responsible for his sin.

he went and got the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the leaders of Jabesh-gilead. They had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan where the Philistines had hung the bodies the day the Philistines killed Saul at Gilboa.

Then he brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them in the eastern public square.

For the queen’s action will become public knowledge to all the women and cause them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti brought before him, but she did not come.’

When the king’s command and edict became public knowledge, many young women gathered at the fortress of Susa under Hegai’s care. Esther was also taken to the palace and placed under the care of Hegai, who was in charge of the women.

In full view of the public,He strikes them for their wickedness,

Our cattle will be well fed.There will be no breach in the walls,no going into captivity,and no cry of lament in our public squares.

Wisdom calls out in the street;she raises her voice in the public squares.

Should your springs flow in the streets,streams of water in the public squares?

The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road—a lion in the public square!”

If only I could treat you like my brother,one who nursed at my mother’s breasts,I would find you in public and kiss you,and no one would scorn me.

In its streets they wear sackcloth;on its rooftops and in its public squares everyone wails,falling down and weeping.

Justice is turned back,and righteousness stands far off.For truth has stumbled in the public square,and honesty cannot enter.

On all the rooftops of Moab and in her public squares, everyone is mourning because I have shattered Moab like a jar no one wants.” This is the Lord’s declaration.

Once the priests have entered, they must not go out from the holy area to the outer court until they have removed the clothes they minister in, for these are holy. They are to put on other clothes before they approach the public area.”

Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but this day public shame belongs to us: the men of Judah, the residents of Jerusalem, and all Israel—those who are near and those who are far, in all the countries where You have dispersed them because of the disloyalty they have shown toward You.

Lord, public shame belongs to us, our kings, our leaders, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.

Therefore Yahweh, the God of Hosts, the Lord, says:There will be wailing in all the public squares;they will cry out in anguish in all the streets.The farmer will be called on to mourn,and professional mourners to wail.