Scourging

Scourging was the practice of flogging with a rod, strap, or multi-thonged whip as a judicial punishment. The Mosaic law regulated flogging, limiting it to a maximum of forty stripes for any offense (Deut. 25:3), a number the Jews customarily reduced to thirty-nine as a safeguard against accidental exceeding of the limit (2 Cor. 11:24 — Paul received the thirty-nine stripes five times from Jewish authorities). Roman scourging (verberatio or flagellatio) was far more severe, using a whip of leather thongs weighted with bone or metal fragments (flagrum) that could tear flesh to the bone, and had no legal maximum. Roman scourging frequently preceded crucifixion: Jesus was scourged by Pilate's soldiers (Matt. 27:26; Mark 15:15; John 19:1) as part of the crucifixion proceedings. Roman citizenship offered protection from scourging (Acts 22:25–29). The New Testament also uses scourging metaphorically for divine discipline: God scourges every son he receives, treating them as legitimate children (Heb. 12:6, quoting Prov. 3:12).