φραγελλόω (phragelloō)
phragelloō
to whip
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb phragelloō means to whip or scourge with a multi-lashed instrument. It describes a specific act of brutal punishment rather than general beating. The word appears only twice in the New Testament, both in the passion narratives where Roman soldiers inflict this violence on Jesus before his crucifixion (Matthew 27:26; Mark 15:15).
Its etymology traces back to the Latin flagellum, indicating a borrowed term for a distinctively Roman method of execution. This loanword highlights the historical reality of Roman judicial power in Judea. The sources note its ecclesiastical usage in later Christian texts, but its biblical weight lies entirely in these two accounts of suffering.
Translators consistently render phragelloō as "flogged" or "scourged," preserving the severity of the act. Unlike terms for general abuse, this word specifies the use of a whip designed to tear flesh. The text presents this not as a theological abstraction but as a concrete historical event that underscores the physical cost of the crucifixion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word phragelloō refers to the specific act of whipping with a multi-lashed instrument, a brutal punishment used by Roman soldiers against Jesus before his crucifixion. This term appears only twice in the New Testament, highlighting the physical severity of Christ's suffering. It is not a general beating but a calculated infliction of pain designed to break the body.
Understanding this word helps us grasp the depth of Jesus' sacrifice. He endured real, tangible pain for humanity's sake. This concrete historical event underscores the cost of redemption, showing that salvation was not abstract but involved profound physical suffering.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- having flogged [him]1×
- having flogged1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- φραγελλώσας2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 27:26
Then he released Barabbas to them, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.
This verse marks the moment Jesus is flogged after Barabbas is released, emphasizing the substitutionary nature of His suffering.
-
Mark 15:15
Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified.
Here Pilate hands over Jesus to be crucified after flogging Him, showing how political pressure led to this brutal outcome.