Topical Bible: Prison-house

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical times, the concept of a prison-house was somewhat different from modern understandings of prisons. The term "prison-house" refers to a place of confinement, often used for holding individuals awaiting trial or punishment. The Bible provides several instances and references to prison-houses, illustrating their role in the judicial and social systems of ancient cultures.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, prison-houses are mentioned in various contexts. One notable example is the account of 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." This account highlights the use of prison-houses as places of detention for those accused of crimes, whether justly or unjustly.

Another reference is found in the account of Jeremiah, who was imprisoned for prophesying against Jerusalem. Jeremiah 37:15 records, "The officials were angry with Jeremiah, and they had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it had been made into a prison." This illustrates the use of private homes as makeshift prison-houses, reflecting the lack of formal prison infrastructure in some cases.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, prison-houses continue to play a significant role. The apostles frequently encountered imprisonment as they spread the Gospel. Acts 5:18 describes how the apostles were treated: "They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail." This reflects the opposition faced by early Christians and the use of prison-houses as tools of persecution.

The imprisonment of Paul and Silas in Philippi is another significant account. Acts 16:23-24 states, "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." This passage highlights the harsh conditions often associated with prison-houses, including physical restraints and confinement in inner cells.

Symbolic and Spiritual Implications

Beyond their literal use, prison-houses in the Bible also carry symbolic and spiritual meanings. They often represent spiritual bondage or captivity to sin. Isaiah 42:7 speaks of the mission of the Servant of the Lord "to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house." This prophetic imagery points to the liberation and redemption brought by the Messiah, freeing individuals from spiritual imprisonment.

Conclusion

Prison-houses in the Bible serve as both literal places of confinement and powerful symbols of spiritual bondage and liberation. Through various narratives, they reveal the challenges faced by God's people and the ultimate hope of freedom through divine intervention.

Greek

1201. desmoterion -- a prison
... Word Origin from desmos and -terion (suff. denoting place) Definition a prison
NASB Word Usage imprisoned (1), prison house (3). prison. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1201.htm - 6k

Library

The Prison-House.
... SERMON LII. THE PRISON-HOUSE. (Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity.) Ephesians 4:1. ...
And now what lesson can we learn from the prison-house at Rome? ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon lii the prison-house.htm

February the First the Soul in Prison
... I too, have my prison-house, and only the Lord can deliver me. There is the
prison-house of sin. ... And there is the prison-house of sorrow. ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/february the first the soul.htm

Strength Profaned and Lost
... Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound
him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house.22, Howbeit ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/strength profaned and lost.htm

When Celsus Adds, "We must Therefore Believe that Men are ...
... When Celsus adds, "We must therefore believe that men are entrusted to certain beings
who are the keepers of this prison-house," our answer is, that the souls ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter liv when celsus adds.htm

Christ the Breaker
... of Scripture, and to begin with, I ask you to think of that great work of our Divine
Redeemer by which He has broken for the captives the prison-house of their ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/christ the breaker.htm

Chapter xl
... dream in one night, each man a dream with its own particular meaning, the butler
and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were lying bound in the prison house. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xl.htm

The Arts by which Origen Studies to Keep Gregory and his Brother ...
... For the soul is free, and cannot be coerced by any means, not even though one should
confine it and keep guard over it in some secret prison-house. ...
/.../the oration and panegyric addressed to origen/argument vi the arts by which.htm

Letter Xliv Concerning the Maccabees but to whom Written is ...
... the Death of Christ, especially since before that saving Passion those who died,
instead of entering into joy and glory endured the darkness of the prison-house ...
/.../letter xliv concerning the maccabees.htm

Colossians iv. 12, 13
... Again, is thine heart set upon self-indulgence? Picture to thy mind Paul's
prison-house; thou art his disciple, his fellow-soldier. ...
/.../homily xii colossians iv 12.htm

Human Soot
... Truly, and too truly, alas! he goes on to say". "Shades of the
prison-house begin to close Upon the growing boy.". Will you let ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxxiii human soot.htm

Thesaurus

Prison-house (29 Occurrences)
Prison-house. Prisoners, Prison-house. Prison-houses . Multi-Version
Concordance Prison-house (29 Occurrences). Acts ...
/p/prison-house.htm - 15k

Overturning (14 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Isaiah 14:17 Who made the world a waste, overturning its towns; who
did not let his prisoners loose from the prison-house. (BBE). ...
/o/overturning.htm - 10k

Journeys (12 Occurrences)
... Joshua 24:17 For it is the Lord our God who has taken us and our fathers out of
the land of Egypt, out of the prison-house, and who did all those great signs ...
/j/journeys.htm - 10k

Grind (12 Occurrences)
... 21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza,
and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prisonhouse. ...
/g/grind.htm - 11k

Grinder (1 Occurrence)
... Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to
Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house...
/g/grinder.htm - 7k

Grinding (13 Occurrences)
... And the Philistines seize him, and pick out his eyes, and bring him down to Gaza,
and bind him with two brazen fetters; and he is grinding in the prison-house. ...
/g/grinding.htm - 10k

Gaza (22 Occurrences)
... Its gates were carried away by Samson (Judges 16:1-3). Here he was afterwards a
prisoner, and "did grind in the prisonhouse." Here he also pulled down the ...
/g/gaza.htm - 19k

Forcing (25 Occurrences)
... were said with the purpose of turning you away from the Lord your God, who took
you out of the land of Egypt and made you free from the prison-house; and of ...
/f/forcing.htm - 15k

Prison-houses (1 Occurrence)
Prison-houses. Prison-house, Prison-houses. Prisoning . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(See JPS ASV DBY WBS). Prison-house, Prison-houses. Prisoning . ...
/p/prison-houses.htm - 6k

Playeth (5 Occurrences)
... to pass, when their heart 'is' glad, that they say, 'Call for Samson, and he doth
play before us;' and they call for Samson out of the prison-house, and he ...
/p/playeth.htm - 7k

Resources

How long was Joseph in prison? | GotQuestions.org

What are the prison epistles? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the account of Potiphar's wife? | GotQuestions.org

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Concordance

Prison-house (29 Occurrences)

Acts 5:21
And when they heard 'this', they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison-house to have them brought.
(ASV)

Acts 5:23
saying, The prison-house we found shut in all safety, and the keepers standing at the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.
(ASV)

Acts 16:26
and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison-house were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
(ASV)

Genesis 39:20
And Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, in the place where the king's prisoners were kept in chains, and he was there in the prison-house.
(BBE)

Genesis 42:19
if ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in your prison-house; but go ye, carry grain for the famine of your houses:
(See JPS ASV)

Exodus 12:29
And it cometh to pass, at midnight, that Jehovah hath smitten every first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh who is sitting on his throne, unto the first-born of the captive who 'is' in the prison-house, and every first-born of beasts.
(YLT)

Exodus 13:3
And Moses said to the people, Let this day, on which you came out of Egypt, out of your prison-house, be kept for ever in memory; for by the strength of his hand the Lord has taken you out from this place; let no leavened bread be used.
(BBE)

Exodus 13:14
And when your son says to you in time to come, What is the reason for this? say to him, By the strength of his hand the Lord took us out of Egypt, out of the prison-house:
(BBE)

Exodus 20:2
I am the Lord your God who took you out of the land of Egypt, out of the prison-house.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 5:6
I am the Lord your God, who took you out of the land of Egypt, out of the prison-house.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 6:12
Then take care that you keep your hearts true to the Lord, who took you out of the land of Egypt, out of the prison-house.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 7:8
But because of his love for you, and in order to keep his oath to your fathers, the Lord took you out with the strength of his hand, making you free from the prison-house and from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 8:14
Take care that your hearts are not lifted up in pride, giving no thought to the Lord your God who took you out of the land of Egypt, out of the prison-house;
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 13:5
And that prophet or that dreamer of dreams is to be put to death; for his words were said with the purpose of turning you away from the Lord your God, who took you out of the land of Egypt and made you free from the prison-house; and of forcing you out of the way in which the Lord your God has given you orders to go. So you are to put away the evil from among you.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 13:10
Let him be stoned with stones till he is dead; because it was his purpose to make you false to the Lord your God, who took you out of the land of Egypt, out of the prison-house.
(BBE)

Joshua 24:17
For it is the Lord our God who has taken us and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, out of the prison-house, and who did all those great signs before our eyes, and kept us safe on all our journeys, and among all the peoples through whom we went:
(BBE)

Judges 6:8
The Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, The Lord the God of Israel, has said, I took you up from Egypt, out of the prison-house;
(BBE)

Judges 16:21
And the Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house.
(See JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT)

Judges 16:25
And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the prison-house; and he made sport before them. And they set him between the pillars:
(See JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT)

2 Chronicles 16:10
Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in the prison-house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people at the same time.
(See JPS ASV)

Ecclesiastes 4:14
For out of the prison-house he came forth to reign, although he was born poor in his kingdom.
(DBY)

Isaiah 14:17
Who made the world a waste, overturning its towns; who did not let his prisoners loose from the prison-house.
(BBE)

Isaiah 24:22
And they will be got together, like prisoners in the prison-house; and after a long time they will have their punishment.
(BBE)

Isaiah 42:7
to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house.
(See JPS ASV WBS)

Jeremiah 34:13
The Lord, the God of Israel, has said, I made an agreement with your fathers on the day when I took them out of Egypt, out of the prison-house, saying,
(BBE)

Jeremiah 37:4
And Jeremiah is coming in and going out in the midst of the people, (and they have not put him in the prison-house),
(YLT)

Jeremiah 37:15
and the heads are wroth against Jeremiah, and have smitten him, and put him in the prison-house -- the house of Jonathan the scribe, for it they had made for a prison-house.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 37:18
And Jeremiah saith unto the king Zedekiah, 'What have I sinned against thee, and against thy servants, and against this people, that ye have given me unto a prison-house?
(YLT)

Micah 6:4
For I took you up out of the land of Egypt and made you free from the prison-house; I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Prison-house

Related Terms

Prison-house (29 Occurrences)

Prisoning (1 Occurrence)

Pillaged (4 Occurrences)

Snare (69 Occurrences)

Delivereth (49 Occurrences)

Spoiled (69 Occurrences)

Rescue (92 Occurrences)