Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Prison?
21 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Prison in the Bible
Explore what the Bible says about prison. This collection of 9 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.
Top 10 Verses About Prison
- 1Genesis 39:20
“And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison , a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison .”
KJV - 2Genesis 42:16
“Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. kept: Heb. bound”
KJV - 3
- 4
- 5Genesis 42:19
“If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:”
KJV - 6Leviticus 24:12
“And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them. that: Heb. to expound unto them according to the mouth of the LORD”
KJV - 7
- 8Ezra 7:26
“And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. to banishment: Chaldee, to rooting out”
KJV - 9
- 10Isaiah 61:1
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted , to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
KJV
Subtopics of Prison
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Prison? (12 Verses)
“And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison , a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison .”
“Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies. kept: Heb. bound”
“And he put them all together into ward three days. put: Heb. gathered”
“And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:”
“If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:”
“And they put him in ward, that the mind of the LORD might be shewed them. that: Heb. to expound unto them according to the mouth of the LORD”
“And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.”
“And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. to banishment: Chaldee, to rooting out”
“For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.”
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted , to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”
“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,”
“Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death. put out: Heb. blinded chains: or, fetters prison: Heb. house of the wards”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Prison? (9 Verses)
“Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.”
“(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)”
“And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.”
“And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.”
“And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. Easter: Gr. Passover quaternions: a file of four soldiers”
“Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. prayer: or, instant and earnest prayer was made”
“Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.”
“Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.”
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Prison
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about prison. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about prison and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about prison is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on prison needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about prison with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about prison, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Prison?
You have studied 21 verses about prison. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.
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Topics Included
This page consolidates Bible verses from 2 related topics: