Definition and Context:
In biblical times, a jail was a place of confinement for individuals awaiting trial or punishment. The concept of imprisonment is present throughout the Bible, serving as both a literal and metaphorical element in the narrative of God's people. Jails were often rudimentary, consisting of pits, dungeons, or guarded rooms within a larger structure.

Old Testament References:
The Old Testament provides several instances of imprisonment. One notable example is Joseph, who was unjustly imprisoned in Egypt. Genesis 39:20 states, "So Joseph’s master took him and had him thrown into the prison where the king’s prisoners were confined. So Joseph was there in the prison." Despite his circumstances, Joseph found favor with God, who used his time in jail to elevate him to a position of power.

Another significant mention is the prophet Jeremiah, who was imprisoned for prophesying against Jerusalem. Jeremiah 37:15-16 records, "The officials were angry with Jeremiah, and they beat him and put him in jail in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it had been made into a prison. So Jeremiah went into a cell in the dungeon and remained there a long time."

New Testament References:
The New Testament also contains numerous accounts of imprisonment, often involving the apostles and early Christians. The Apostle Paul frequently found himself in jail due to his missionary activities. In Acts 16:23-24, Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Philippi: "And after striking them with many blows, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to guard them securely. On receiving this order, he placed them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks."

The imprisonment of Peter is another key event, highlighting the power of prayer and divine intervention. Acts 12:5-7 describes, "So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was fervently praying to God for him. On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, 'Get up quickly!' And the chains fell off his wrists."

Symbolism and Themes:
Jail in the Bible often symbolizes spiritual bondage and the trials faced by believers. It serves as a backdrop for demonstrating God's power to deliver and redeem. The accounts of imprisonment highlight themes of faith, perseverance, and divine intervention. They remind believers of the importance of maintaining faith in God's promises, even in the face of adversity.

Theological Implications:
The accounts of imprisonment in the Bible underscore the reality of suffering and persecution for righteousness' sake. They illustrate the cost of discipleship and the call to remain steadfast in faith. The deliverance of biblical figures from jail serves as a testament to God's sovereignty and His ability to work through difficult circumstances for His purposes.

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to draw strength from the examples of those who endured imprisonment for their faith. The accounts of Joseph, Jeremiah, Paul, and Peter serve as reminders of God's faithfulness and the power of prayer. Christians are called to support those who suffer for their beliefs and to trust in God's ultimate deliverance and justice.1. (n.) A kind of prison; a building for the confinement of persons held in lawful custody, especially for minor offenses or with reference to some future judicial proceeding.

2. (v. t.) To imprison.

4887. sundeo -- to bind together
... prisoners in chains. Cognate: 4887 -- properly, to bind (closely) together,
like prisoners are in jail. See 4886 (). Word Origin ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4887.htm - 6k

3612. oikema -- a dwelling
... Word Origin from oikeo Definition a dwelling NASB Word Usage cell (1). prison cell.
From oikeo; a tenement, ie (specially), a jail -- prison. see GREEK oikeo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3612.htm - 6k

5084. teresis -- a watching, hence imprisonment, a keeping
... 18.]. Word Origin from tereo Definition a watching, hence imprisonment,
a keeping NASB Word Usage jail (2), keeping (1). hold. From ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5084.htm - 7k

4929. mishmar -- place of confinement, jail, prison, guard, watch ...
... mishmar. 4930 . place of confinement, jail, prison, guard, watch, observance.
Transliteration: mishmar Phonetic Spelling: (mish-mawr') Short Definition: guard ...
/hebrew/4929.htm - 6k

5470. sohar -- perhaps roundness
... 5469, 5470. sohar. 5471 . perhaps roundness. Transliteration: sohar Phonetic
Spelling: (so'-har) Short Definition: jail. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/5470.htm - 6k

4307. mattara -- a guard, ward, prison, target, mark
... mark, prison. Or mattarah {mat-taw-raw'}; from natar; a jail (as a guard-house);
also an aim (as being closely watched) -- mark, prison. see HEBREW natar. ...
/hebrew/4307.htm - 6k

6495. peqach-qoach -- an opening
... opening of the prison. From paqach redoubled; opening (of a dungeon), ie Jail-delivery
(figuratively, salvation for sin) -- opening of the prison. ...
/hebrew/6495.htm - 6k

612. esur -- a band, bond
... Definition: bonds. Word Origin from asar Definition a band, bond NASB Word
Usage bonds (1), chains (1), jail* (1). band, prison. From ...
/hebrew/612.htm - 6k

1004. bayith -- a house
... 125), household was inside (1), households (73), houses (101), houses while house
(1), inner (2), inside* (13), inward (5), inward* (1), jail* (6), jailer* (3 ...
/hebrew/1004.htm - 7k

Calcutta and the Mission Centres from Delhi to Amboyna
... Birmingham. The first is about a mile south of the city; at nearly the same
distance are the public jail and the general hospital. ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter vii calcutta and the.htm

A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification, by Faith in Jesus ...
... Bunyan was at that time suffering his tedious imprisonment for conscience sake in
Bedford jail; and having refused to expatriate himself, was in daily fear ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a defence of the doctrine.htm

Christ and the Dog
... There is a jailer in Chicago who, when a man has served his term in jail, gives
him a letter of recommendation so that he can get a job. ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/christ and the dog.htm

Psalm LXXVII.
... If a jail be the cause of tribulation, thou seekest to get forth from jail: if fever
be the cause of tribulation, thou seekest health: if hunger be the cause ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxvii.htm

How we Don't Get In, and How we Do.
... Rather striking that; intensely significant for us moderns. Peter hadn't
enough influence with the authorities to keep out of jail. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/how we dont get in.htm

The Introduction of the Gospel into Europe, and the Ministry of ...
... and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them."
[94:2] What must have been the wonder of the other inmates of the jail, as these ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter vi the introduction of.htm

A Relation of My Imprisonment in the Month of November 1660
... meetings. Bun. I said, It may be so. Then he wished me to get sureties to
be bound for me, or else he would send me to the jail. My ...
/.../grace abounding to the chief of sinners/a relation of my imprisonment.htm

Goodness in a Dungeon
... Paul the prisoner, John in Patmos, Bunyan in Bedford jail, George Fox in Lancaster
Castle, Rutherford in Aberdeen, and many more, have found the Lord with them ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/goodness in a dungeon.htm

A Relaton of the Imprisonment of Mr. John Bunyan, Minister of the ...
... meetings. Bun. I said, it may be so. Then he wished me to get sureties to
be bound for me, or else he would send me to the jail. My ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a relaton of the imprisonment.htm

The Riot at Philippi
... requirement of safe keeping too leniently. One would not look for much human
kindness in a Philippian jail. So it was natural that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the riot at philippi.htm

Jail (15 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Jail (15 Occurrences). ... (See NAS NIV). Acts 5:18 and laid
hands upon the Apostles, and put them into the public jail. (WEY NAS NIV). ...
/j/jail.htm - 10k

Jailer (8 Occurrences)
... and power. Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) The keeper of a jail or prison.
Multi-Version Concordance Jailer (8 Occurrences). Acts ...
/j/jailer.htm - 9k

Jug (11 Occurrences)
... one side. 2. (n.) A pitcher; a ewer. 3. (n.) A prison; a jail; a lockup.
4. (vt ... a hare. 5. (vt) To commit to jail; to imprison. 6. (vi ...
/j/jug.htm - 10k

Quite (55 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Acts 5:23 saying, "The jail we found quite safely locked, and the warders
were on guard at the doors, but upon going in we found no one there." (WEY NAS) ...
/q/quite.htm - 22k

Killing (41 Occurrences)
... Acts 16:27 Starting up from sleep and seeing the doors of the jail wide open, the
jailer drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing that ...
/k/killing.htm - 19k

Jah'zi-el (1 Occurrence)
Jah'zi-el. Jahziel, Jah'zi-el. Jail . Multi-Version Concordance Jah'zi-el
(1 Occurrence). ... (See RSV). Jahziel, Jah'zi-el. Jail . Reference Bible.
/j/jah'zi-el.htm - 6k

Lock (6 Occurrences)
... (vt) To prevent ingress or access to, or exit from, by fastening the lock or locks
of; -- often with up; as, to lock or lock up, a house, jail, room, trunk. ...
/l/lock.htm - 11k

Lodged (35 Occurrences)
... Acts 12:4 He had him arrested and lodged in jail, handing him over to the care of
sixteen soldiers; and intended after the Passover to bring him out again to ...
/l/lodged.htm - 16k

Warders (1 Occurrence)
... Acts 5:23 saying, "The jail we found quite safely locked, and the warders were on
guard at the doors, but upon going in we found no one there." (WEY). ...
/w/warders.htm - 6k

Wide (206 Occurrences)
... Acts 16:27 Starting up from sleep and seeing the doors of the jail wide open, the
jailer drew his sword and was on the point of killing himself, supposing that ...
/w/wide.htm - 37k

What does the Bible say about being in jail or prison? | GotQuestions.org

Who was John Bunyan? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Book of Common Prayer? | GotQuestions.org

Jail: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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