Topical Bible: Executioners

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Executioners in the biblical context are individuals tasked with carrying out capital punishment, a practice that is evident throughout the Scriptures. The role of the executioner is often associated with the administration of justice, as prescribed by the laws given to the Israelites and observed in various narratives throughout the Bible.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, executioners are not always explicitly mentioned, but their presence is implied in the legal and narrative texts. The Mosaic Law, given to the Israelites, includes numerous offenses that are punishable by death, such as murder (Exodus 21:12), adultery (Leviticus 20:10), and blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16). The execution of these laws would have necessitated individuals to carry out the sentences.

One of the earliest references to execution is found in Genesis 9:6, where God establishes the principle of capital punishment: "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind." This establishes a divine mandate for the execution of justice through human agents.

In 2 Samuel 1:15, David commands one of his young men to execute the Amalekite who claimed to have killed Saul: "Then David summoned one of the young men and said, 'Go, execute him!' So he struck him down, and he died." This passage illustrates the role of an executioner acting under the authority of a king.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, executioners are more explicitly mentioned, particularly in the context of Roman rule. The Roman authorities employed executioners to carry out capital punishment, often by crucifixion, as seen in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Roman soldiers who carried out the crucifixion can be considered executioners, as they were responsible for implementing the death sentence handed down by Pontius Pilate (Matthew 27:27-37).

John the Baptist's execution is another example, where Herod Antipas orders his beheading. Mark 6:27 states, "So without delay, the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went, beheaded him in the prison." This passage highlights the role of executioners in fulfilling the decrees of rulers.

Symbolic and Theological Implications

Executioners in the Bible also serve as symbols of divine justice and judgment. The act of execution is often portrayed as a means of upholding God's holiness and righteousness. In the broader theological narrative, the execution of Jesus is seen as the ultimate act of injustice by human executioners, yet it fulfills God's redemptive plan for humanity.

The presence of executioners in the biblical text underscores the seriousness with which God views sin and the necessity of justice. It also reflects the human responsibility to uphold divine law, even as it points to the ultimate justice and mercy found in Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection.

Strong's Hebrew

6486. pequddah -- oversight, mustering, visitation, store
... Definition oversight, mustering, visitation, store NASB Word Usage administrators
(1), affairs (1), appointed (1), care (1), class (1), executioners (1), fate ...
/hebrew/6486.htm - 6k

Library

The Nailing of Jesus to the Cross.
... to pay the archer anything they might demand if they would allow Jesus to drink
the wine which Veronica had prepared; but the cruel executioners, instead of ...
/.../chapter xxxviii the nailing of.htm

The Scourging of Jesus.
... The pillar where criminals were scourged stood to the north of Pilate's palace,
near the guard-house, and the executioners soon arrived, carrying whips, rods ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xxii the scourging of.htm

Jesus on Mount Golgotha.
... The executioners then ordered the workmen and the boys who had carried the instruments
of the execution to depart, and the Pharisees soon arrived, for they ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xxxvi jesus on mount.htm

Crucifixion of the Thieves.
... When the executioners had finished putting up the cross of Jesus, they ordered the
thieves to rise without delay, and they loosened their fetters in order to ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xl crucifixion of the.htm

Addition to Acts of Philip.
... And he turned in a rage to the executioners who followed him, and said:
Bring me these impostors. And the executioners ran to the ...
/.../unknown/the acts of philip/addition to acts of philip.htm

A Memorable History to Make Clearly Understood in what the Force ...
... But Sapricius continuing in his pride gave him not one word in answer; until the
very executioners, wondering at the perseverance of Nicephorus, said to him ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter viii a memorable history.htm

St. Polycarp (Ad 166)
... Polycarp walked to the place with a calm and cheerful look, and, as the executioners
were going to fasten him to the stake with iron cramps, he begged them to ...
/.../chapter iv st polycarp ad.htm

The Carrying of the Cross.
... Whilst he was on his knees, and still praying, the executioners put the arms of
the crosses, which were a little curbed and not as yet fastened to the centre ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xxx the carrying of.htm

How, by the Contrivance of the Devil, Brother Juniper was ...
... Then the guardian with many tears besought the executioners and all the people for
pity to wait a little space, till he should go and beseech the tyrant to ...
/.../ugolino/the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter iii how by the.htm

Jesus Condemned to be Crucified.
... being, who was nevertheless puffed up with pride at his important position, almost
overcame me, and the ferocious joy of the executioners"the triumphant ...
/.../chapter xxix jesus condemned to.htm

Thesaurus

Executioners (32 Occurrences)
...Executioners (32 Occurrences). Genesis 37:36 And the Medanites have sold him unto
Egypt, to Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, head of the executioners. (YLT). ...
/e/executioners.htm - 16k

Nebu'zarad'an (14 Occurrences)
... in the city, and those falling who have fallen to him, and the remnant of the people
who are left, hath Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, removed 'to ...
/n/nebu'zarad'an.htm - 10k

Captain (167 Occurrences)
... 18:13, etc.), the "captain of the body-guard" (Genesis 37:36; 39:1; 41:10; Jeremiah
40:1), or, as the word may be rendered, "chief of the executioners" (marg ...
/c/captain.htm - 53k

Executioner (1 Occurrence)
... They were sometimes employed as executioners, but this was a mere accident of
their office. (See Mark, GOSPEL OF.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/e/executioner.htm - 9k

Runners (21 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 11:4 And in the seventh year hath Jehoiada sent and taketh the heads of
the hundreds, of the executioners and of the runners, and bringeth them in unto ...
/r/runners.htm - 13k

Ahi'kam (19 Occurrences)
... of Judah, and dwell with him in the midst of the people, or whithersoever it is
right in thine eyes to go -- go.' And the chief of the executioners giveth to ...
/a/ahi'kam.htm - 12k

Guard (185 Occurrences)
... At the courts of Egypt and Babylon the members of the guard were known as
"slaughterers," "executioners" (Genesis 37:36 King James Version margin, the American ...
/g/guard.htm - 55k

Nebuchadrez'zar (31 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 39:11 And Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon giveth a charge concerning Jeremiah,
by the hand of Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, saying, (See RSV ...
/n/nebuchadrez'zar.htm - 16k

Gedali'ah (28 Occurrences)
... of Judah, and dwell with him in the midst of the people, or whithersoever it is
right in thine eyes to go -- go.' And the chief of the executioners giveth to ...
/g/gedali'ah.htm - 15k

Eunuch (20 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Genesis 37:36 And the Medanites have
sold him unto Egypt, to Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, head of the executioners. ...
/e/eunuch.htm - 22k

Resources

What is the Swoon Theory? Did Jesus survive the crucifixion? | GotQuestions.org

What is the story of Joseph and Potiphar? | GotQuestions.org

What is the history of crucifixion? What was crucifixion like? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Executioners (32 Occurrences)

Genesis 37:36
And the Medanites have sold him unto Egypt, to Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, head of the executioners.
(YLT)

Genesis 39:1
And Joseph hath been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, head of the executioners, an Egyptian man, buyeth him out of the hands of the Ishmaelites who have brought him thither.
(YLT)

Genesis 40:3
and giveth them in charge in the house of the chief of the executioners, unto the round-house, the place where Joseph 'is' a prisoner,
(YLT)

Genesis 40:4
and the chief of the executioners chargeth Joseph with them, and he serveth them; and they are days in charge.
(YLT)

Genesis 41:10
Pharaoh hath been wroth against his servants, and giveth me into charge in the house of the chief of the executioners, me and the chief of the bakers;
(YLT)

Genesis 41:12
And there 'is' with us a youth, a Hebrew, servant to the chief of the executioners, and we recount to him, and he interpreteth to us our dreams, 'to' each according to his dream hath he interpreted,
(YLT)

2 Kings 11:4
And in the seventh year hath Jehoiada sent and taketh the heads of the hundreds, of the executioners and of the runners, and bringeth them in unto him, to the house of Jehovah, and maketh with them a covenant, and causeth them to swear in the house of Jehovah, and sheweth them the son of the king,
(YLT)

2 Kings 11:19
and taketh the heads of the hundreds, and the executioners, and the runners, and all the people of the land, and they bring down the king from the house of Jehovah, and come by the way of the gate of the runners, to the house of the king, and he sitteth on the throne of the kings.
(YLT)

2 Kings 25:8
And in the fifth month, on the seventh of the month (it 'is' the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), hath Nebuzaradan chief of the executioners, servant of the king of Babylon, come to Jerusalem,
(YLT)

2 Kings 25:10
and the walls of Jerusalem round about have all the forces of the Chaldeans, who 'are' with the chief of the executioners, broken down.
(YLT)

2 Kings 25:11
And the rest of the people, those left in the city, and those falling who have fallen to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude, hath Nebuzaradan chief of the executioners removed;
(YLT)

2 Kings 25:12
and of the poor of the land hath the chief of the executioners left for vine-dressers and for husbandmen.
(YLT)

2 Kings 25:15
and the fire-pans, and the bowls that 'are' wholly of silver, hath the chief of the executioners taken.
(YLT)

2 Kings 25:18
And the chief of the executioners taketh Seraiah the head priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold,
(YLT)

2 Kings 25:20
and Nebuzaradan chief of the executioners taketh them, and causeth them to go unto the king of Babylon, to Libnah,
(YLT)

Jeremiah 39:9
And the remnant of the people who are left in the city, and those falling who have fallen to him, and the remnant of the people who are left, hath Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, removed 'to' Babylon.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 39:10
And of the poor people, who have nothing, hath Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, left in the land of Judah, and he giveth to them vineyards and fields on the same day.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 39:11
And Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon giveth a charge concerning Jeremiah, by the hand of Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, saying,
(YLT)

Jeremiah 39:13
And Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners sendeth, and Nebushazban, chief of the eunuchs, and Nergal-Sharezer, chief of the Mages, and all the chiefs of the king of Babylon;
(YLT)

Jeremiah 40:1
The word that hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, after Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, hath sent him from Ramah, in his taking him -- and he a prisoner in chains -- in the midst of all the removal of Jerusalem and of Judah, who are removed to Babylon.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 40:2
And the chief of the executioners taketh Jeremiah, and saith unto him, 'Jehovah thy God hath spoken this evil concerning this place,
(YLT)

Jeremiah 40:5
and while he doth not reply -- 'Or turn back unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath appointed over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him in the midst of the people, or whithersoever it is right in thine eyes to go -- go.' And the chief of the executioners giveth to him for the way, and a gift, and sendeth him away,
(YLT)

Jeremiah 41:10
And Ishmael taketh captive all the remnant of the people who 'are' in Mizpah, the daughters of the king, and all the people who are left in Mizpah, whom Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, hath committed 'to' Gedaliah son of Ahikam, and Ishmael son of Nethaniah taketh them captive, and goeth to pass over unto the sons of Ammon.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 52:12
And in the fifth month, in the tenth of the month -- it 'is' the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon -- come hath Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners; he hath stood before the king of Babylon in Jerusalem,
(YLT)

Jeremiah 52:14
and all the walls of Jerusalem round about broken down have all the forces of the Chaldeans that 'are' with the chief of the executioners.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 52:15
And of the poor of the people, and the remnant of the people who are left in the city, and those who are falling away, who have fallen unto the king of Babylon, and the remnant of the multitude, hath Nebuzar-Adan chief of the executioners, removed;
(YLT)

Jeremiah 52:16
and of the poor of the land hath Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, left for vine-dressers and for husbandmen.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 52:19
and the basins, and the fire-pans, and the bowls, and the pots, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the cups, the gold of that which 'is' gold, and the silver of that which 'is' silver, hath the chief of the executioners taken.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 52:24
And the chief of the executioners taketh Seraiah the head priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the threshold,
(YLT)

Jeremiah 52:26
and Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, taketh them, and bringeth them unto the king of Babylon to Riblah,
(YLT)

Ezekiel 9:1
Then he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause those who are in charge of the city to draw near, every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
(See NAS RSV)

Daniel 2:14
Then Daniel hath replied 'with' counsel and discretion to Arioch chief of the executioners of the king, who hath gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Executioners

Related Terms

Allegory (6 Occurrences)

Theology

Biblical

Talmud

Hebrew (37 Occurrences)

Commentaries

Executioners (32 Occurrences)

Interpretation (45 Occurrences)

Kenosis