In the context of biblical law and society, the concept of being "fined" refers to the imposition of a monetary penalty as a form of punishment or restitution for wrongdoing. While the term "fined" as used in modern legal systems is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, the principles underlying fines can be found in various passages that discuss restitution and compensation.

Old Testament Context

The Mosaic Law, given to the Israelites, includes several instances where financial restitution is required for certain offenses. These laws are primarily found in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. The purpose of these fines was to provide justice and restore what was lost or damaged.

1. Restitution for Theft: In Exodus 22:1-4 , the law prescribes specific restitution for theft: "If a man steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it, he must repay five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep." This passage illustrates the principle of compensatory fines, where the offender must repay more than what was taken to account for the loss and the act of theft itself.

2. Property Damage: Exodus 22:5-6 addresses the issue of property damage: "If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and allows them to stray so that they graze in someone else’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard." Here, the fine serves as compensation for the damage caused by negligence.

3. Personal Injury: In cases of personal injury, the law also required financial compensation. Exodus 21:18-19 states, "If men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or his fist, and he does not die but is confined to bed, the one who struck him must pay for the lost time and see that he is completely healed."

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not explicitly discuss fines in the same legalistic manner as the Old Testament, the principles of justice, restitution, and reconciliation are evident in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.

1. Zacchaeus' Restitution: In Luke 19:8 , Zacchaeus, a tax collector, demonstrates the principle of restitution voluntarily: "But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will repay it fourfold.'" This reflects the heart of repentance and the desire to make amends for wrongdoing.

2. Christian Ethics: The New Testament emphasizes love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. While it does not prescribe specific fines, it encourages believers to act justly and to seek peace with others. Romans 12:17-18 advises, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone."

Theological Implications

The concept of fines in the Bible underscores the importance of justice and restitution in maintaining social order and harmony. It reflects God's character as just and righteous, emphasizing the need for accountability and the restoration of relationships. The biblical approach to fines and restitution serves as a reminder of the moral and ethical responsibilities individuals have toward one another in a community.(imp. & p. p.) of Fine.6064. anash -- to fine, mulct
... Word Origin denominative verb from onesh Definition to fine, mulct NASB Word Usage
fine (3), fined (1), imposed (1), pay the penalty (1), punished (2), surely ...
/hebrew/6064.htm - 6k

Appendix A: Alleged Perfidy of Mary of Guise
... He rode off (to Perth), and she had him put to the horn (as a fact, he was only
fined in his recognisances as bail for one of the preachers). ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/appendix a alleged perfidy of.htm

The First victory for Dissent
... years. Even as late as 1748, the Episcopalians of Reading were fined for
reading the Prayer-book and for working on public fast-days. ...
/.../chapter viii the first victory.htm

Law and Grace.
... Isaac T. Hopper, the Quaker, that he once encountered a profane colored man, named
Cain, in Philadelphia, and took him before a magistrate, who fined him for ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sovereign grace/chapter v law and grace.htm

Baxter -- Making Light of Christ and Salvation
... The Acts of Indulgence enabled him to return to London, where he remained until
Judge Jeffreys imprisoned and fined him on a charge of sedition. ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/baxter making light of.htm

Toleration
... the chichane of law, far more easy than either convincing their opponents or allowing
themselves to be convinced by them, they have fined, imprisoned, tortured ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon xxii toleration.htm

A Holy Life the Beauty of Christianity: Or, an Exhortation to ...
... The virtuous Lord William Russel, and the illustrious Sydney, fell by the hands
of the executioner: John Hampden was fined forty thousand pounds. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a holy life the beauty.htm

A Burning, Fiery Furnace
... of terror went on, and not only multitudes of men, but of women also"many a monk,
and many a virgin, and many a deaconess"were fined, scourged, imprisoned ...
/.../chapter lv a burning fiery.htm

To Amphilochius the Younger. Ep. Ix.
... alone of men deprived of the kindness of the time and the privilege granted by the
Emperor to the Clergy, and would even be insulted and fined, possibly on ...
/.../select letters of saint gregory nazianzen/section 5 to amphilochius the.htm

John Clarke.
... He was tried before the Court of Assistants, and fined twenty pounds; in case
of failure in the payment of which sum he was to be whipped. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/john clarke.htm

William Penn.
... the national forms of worship with other students, who, like himself, had listened
to the preaching of Thomas Loe, a Quaker of eminence, who was fined for Non ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/william penn.htm

Fined (4 Occurrences)
...Fined (4 Occurrences). ... 2 Chronicles 36:3 The king of Egypt deposed him at Jerusalem,
and fined the land one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. ...
/f/fined.htm - 7k

Condemn (43 Occurrences)
... the King James Version margin "mulcted"; the Revised Version (British and American)
"amerced"; the American Standard Revised Version "fined"); "wine of the ...
/c/condemn.htm - 24k

Condemnation (30 Occurrences)
... the King James Version margin "mulcted"; the Revised Version (British and American)
"amerced"; the American Standard Revised Version "fined"); "wine of the ...
/c/condemnation.htm - 20k

Offender (6 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:22 "If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth
prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the ...
/o/offender.htm - 8k

Woman's (20 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:22 "If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth
prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the ...
/w/woman's.htm - 12k

Impose (12 Occurrences)
... 21:22 And if men strive together, and strike a woman with child, so that she be
delivered, and no mischief happen, he shall in any case be fined, according as ...
/i/impose.htm - 10k

Injury (21 Occurrences)
... Exodus 21:22 "If men fight and hurt a pregnant woman so that she gives birth
prematurely, and yet no harm follows, he shall be surely fined as much as the ...
/i/injury.htm - 13k

Fine-looking (3 Occurrences)
Fine-looking. Fined, Fine-looking. Finely . Multi-Version Concordance
Fine-looking (3 Occurrences). ... Fined, Fine-looking. Finely . Reference Bible.
/f/fine-looking.htm - 7k

Forfeit (12 Occurrences)
... for "lose himself or be cast away" (Luke 9:25, heauton de apolesas e zemiotheis;
zemioo is the Septuagint for `anash, "to be mulcted," or "fined," Exodus 21:22 ...
/f/forfeit.htm - 13k

Fines (1 Occurrence)
... Amos 2:8 And on pledged garments they stretch themselves near every altar, And the
wine of fined ones they drink 'in' the house of their gods. (See NIV). ...
/f/fines.htm - 6k

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