I hope you’re having a blessed Easter weekend!
Just some thoughts here about something that’s so often misunderstood, and if it really matters.
We hear each Easter that Jesus was whipped/flogged/scourged 39 times before being crucified; that the maximum number of strokes allowed was 40; and that they would stop at 39 just in case they miscounted one and might go over, in which case the flogger could be punished even with being flogged himself for breaking God’s Law.
The limitation of 40 comes from Jewish law in Deuteronomy 25:3, where the limit is set to prevent the person from being publicly degraded. Josephus records that there were 13 strokes on the chest and 26 on the back. However, the ROMANS WERE NOT JEWISH and did not have such limit. In fact, many people died from the flogging before they ever got to the crucifixion. Even Emperor Domitian was horrified by it. Paul said he was whipped 5 times with 39 stripes, but again that was by the Jews (2 Corinthians 11:24). Often a Roman whipping (verberatio) wouldn’t stop until enough flesh hung down in bloody shreds. Yuck!
Now, it was commonly held that a person could not survive more than 40 lashes, though even the Code of Hammurabi allowed 60, and later the Koran allowed up to 100. Even with the Romans, more severe criminals were punished more severely. The Romans typically wanted those to be crucified to be strong enough to carry their own cross to the execution site. But we find that even Jesus was not strong enough to go all the way (John 19:17), and they conscripted Simon of Cyrene to help (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26). And even those who have studied the famous Shroud of Turin have counted over 100 lashes on the body, indicating the past understanding of more than 40 lashes.
Some people have made the 39 more symbolic, representing the 39 common diseases at the time of Christ to indicate that full physical healing is included in our Salvation. And there’s debate over what device was actually used to scourge Jesus. Some have said he only received 13 strokes from the 3-stranded Roman scourge, equaling 39 stripes. Others say it was the cat-of-nine-tails that was used to heighten the agony regardless of the number of strokes. Luke 23:16 uses a word that indicates Pilate wanted disciplinary punishment rather than the usual torturous flagging because he knew Jesus was innocent. When the whipping finally takes place, the Gospel writers seem to refer to the horrible Roman lash/flagellum/flagrum, which usually had two or three strands intertwined with pieces of bone and metal. As for the number of actual strokes given, the Bible is completely silent.
So, okay, does it really matter how many times Christ was flogged? Well, yes and no. It might not matter so much with regard to Salvation itself. We aren’t saved by how many times the whip came down. But it does maybe matter as a caution about doctrine formed beyond what the Bible actually says. It may also matter to think that Christ’s physical suffering could have been a whole lot worse than we even realize, tied to a whipping post and wondering if the lashes would ever stop when perhaps there was no limit.
This isn’t meant to try to split hairs over details, but I do encourage you to read again from the Bible itself what happened on that day when Salvation came through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Reflect on it. Spend some time in prayer. Don’t miss the significance of this time. Without it, we are all hopelessly lost. God bless you!
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God bless you, Kevin, for always making these easy to understand instead of using heavy theologics. In all honesty, this is not something that had ever occurred to me. When I watched “The Passion of Christ” I couldn’t bear watching that scene knowing He took that punishment for me.
I hope you and Angie have a wonderful Easter!
The number of strokes never occurred to me and doesn’t matter. When I saw “The Passion of Christ” at the theater I could hardly bear to watch that scene knowing He took that abuse for me.
I hope you and Angela have a wonderful and blessed Easter.
39 is the number that was taught to me I. My early Christianity. Now looking back I’m surprised to find that it’s not even mentioned!
It goes to show how bible teachers need to be very clear on how they teach and what they teach. Perhaps as a young believer I heard only half the story?
Or maybe you heard the whole story with some extra added in. At least the number of lashes isn’t critical for Salvation. Thank you for sharing! Blessings to you!
Thank you so much for your article. It is now Oct. of 2019. I was thinking about our Lord’s crucifixion, and was actually trying to find what a scourge whip looked like in the days of Jesus on Earth. Even that is not clear. (Yesterday I was studying photos of the Shroud of Turin, and the many areas that look like blood from wounds. ((Almost 200, according to one count)) I’m not sure the Shroud is real, but I’ve always believed there was one at one time)
I think I try to tell myself it wasn’t quite as awful as I feared, so as to lessen the horror of it in my mind. In the end, I realize however many lashes or the instrument used, it isn’t important that I know everything. It is enough that I know He went through this horrible death for my Salvation ! God Bless you all !
Amen! Thank you for sharing. There are many fascinating things to consider, and the Shroud of Turin is always alluring. But yes, however bad Christ’s suffering was, we are so thankful He did it for us and pray we never take it lightly regardless. Blessings!
In Leviticus 16 is the requirement of the high priest when celebrating the Day of Atonement. He is to enter the most holy place of the temple and sprinkle blood of a bullock for himself, his household and the priesthood and the blood of a sacrificial goat for the people, thus cleansing the temple and making atonement for the nation. That the temple, the high priest and the goat represented Christ and his atoning works is well accepted. The number of times blood was sprinkled in the most holy place and on the alter of incense was 43 times. Seeing he was bruised for our iniquities, and by his stripes (bruises) we are healed, (Isaiah 53:5; 2Peter 2:24) might it be these sprinklings of blood represent his shedding of blood indicating how many time he was beaten. Further, sprinkling blood on the four corners of the alter of incense might indicate the four points Jesus was wounded while on the cross – his head, hands and feet.
Thank you for your great input and research! You’ve answered your own question by saying “might it be” and “might indicate”. Your guess, albeit a better one than most, is still just a guess according to the silence of the Gospels and even subsequent writings. I don’t disagree with you either, but it would be by the manipulation of God’s hand to orchestrate it and not simply by the obedience of the Romans to the Jewish Law. That’s the point I’m making in the article. So many people treat it like we know for a fact, and we don’t. Your great references, however, offer high probabilities and are well worth consideration!
What bible version are the scriptures from?
Most verses mentioned can be read in any reputable translation. When talking about specific word meanings, I’m referring to the original Greek text. Thanks for asking!
Thanks this is what I needed to know
So glad it was helpful!