Deuteronomy 25:3

KJV

Forty stripes he may give him, [and] not exceed: lest, [if] he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.

KJV (with Strong's)

Forty {H705} stripes {H5221} he may give him, and not exceed {H3254}: lest, if he should exceed {H3254}, and beat {H5221} him above these with many {H7227} stripes {H4347}, then thy brother {H251} should seem vile {H7034}{H5869} unto thee.

Complete Jewish Bible

but the maximum number is forty. He is not to exceed this; if he goes over this limit and beats him more than this, your brother will be humiliated before your eyes.

Berean Standard Bible

He may receive no more than forty lashes, lest your brother be beaten any more than that and be degraded in your sight.

American Standard Version

Forty stripes he may give him, he shall not exceed; lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Deuteronomy 25:3 establishes a crucial legal boundary for judicial corporal punishment within ancient Israel, mandating a strict maximum of forty stripes. This divine regulation underscores God's profound concern for the preservation of human dignity, even for an offender, ensuring that punishment remains proportionate, humane, and never results in the individual being utterly degraded or "vile" in the eyes of their community.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Deuteronomy 25:3 is situated within a broader section of the Deuteronomic Law, specifically addressing various aspects of civil and criminal justice that Moses delivers to the Israelites on the plains of Moab before their entry into the Promised Land. This particular chapter, [Deuteronomy 25](/deuteronomy/25 "Deuteronomy 25 - Laws of Justice and Compassion"), deals with a diverse range of legal matters, including fair weights and measures, levirate marriage, and the treatment of offenders. The immediate preceding verse, [Deuteronomy 25:2](/deuteronomy/25-2 "Deuteronomy 25:2 - The Judicial Beating"), outlines the process by which a guilty party is brought before a judge and sentenced to a beating. Verse 3 then immediately follows, providing the critical limitation to this punishment, highlighting the divine insistence on restraint and the prevention of excessive cruelty, thereby serving as a direct continuation and crucial qualifier to the judicial process just described.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, corporal punishment was a common form of judicial discipline, often administered without clear limits, leading to severe brutality, disfigurement, or even death. Cultures like the Assyrians and Babylonians were known for their harsh and often sadistic punishments. Against this backdrop, the Mosaic Law, as presented in Deuteronomy, stands out for its remarkably humane and compassionate approach. The explicit limitation of "forty stripes" was revolutionary, reflecting a unique divine standard that prioritized the life and dignity of the individual, even a convicted criminal. This law served as a protective measure against the abuse of power by judges or those administering the punishment, distinguishing Israel's legal system significantly from its pagan neighbors.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Deuteronomy and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it exemplifies **Divine Justice and Mercy**, demonstrating that God's justice is not merely retributive but also restorative and tempered with compassion, seeking to uphold the dignity of all people. Secondly, it reinforces the theme of **Holiness and Separation**, as Israel's legal practices were to reflect God's character and distinguish them from the cruel practices of surrounding nations. Thirdly, the emphasis on preventing the offender from becoming "vile" underscores the theme of **Covenantal Brotherhood and Community Preservation**. Even a criminal remains a "brother" within the covenant community, and their inherent worth, created in God's image, must be respected. This concern for human dignity is foundational to the entire Law, as seen in commands related to the poor, the vulnerable, and even the treatment of animals (e.g., [Deuteronomy 22:6-7](/deuteronomy/22-6 "Deuteronomy 22:6-7 - Do Not Take the Mother Bird")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Forty (Hebrew, _arba'im'_):** This numerical term, "forty," is presented as an absolute maximum, not a target. In biblical numerology, "forty" often symbolizes a period of testing, judgment, completion, or a generation (e.g., [the forty days of the flood](/genesis/7-12 "Genesis 7:12 - The Forty Days of the Flood"), [Israel's forty years in the wilderness](/exodus/16-35 "Exodus 16:35 - Israel's Forty Years in the Wilderness")). Here, it signifies a divinely ordained limit, marking the boundary beyond which punishment becomes excessive and unjust. It is a precise, non-negotiable ceiling.
* **Exceed (Hebrew, _yasaph'_):** The verb "yasaph" means "to add," "to increase," or "to do again." Its repetition in the verse ("not exceed," "if he should exceed") strongly emphasizes the strictness of the prohibition. It's not merely about the number of stripes but the *act* of going beyond the prescribed limit, highlighting the severe consequences of judicial overreach and the importance of adhering to divine boundaries.
* **Vile (Hebrew, _qalal'_):** This crucial word means "to be light," "trifling," "despised," or "treated with contempt." When applied to a person, as here, it signifies a profound loss of honor, respect, and inherent worth. The law's ultimate purpose is to prevent this outcome, ensuring that even after punishment, the offender retains their standing as a "brother" within the community and does not become utterly dehumanized or worthless in the eyes of others. It speaks to the preservation of their God-given dignity.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed:"** This clause establishes the explicit maximum for judicial corporal punishment. The number "forty" is a divinely mandated ceiling, not a fixed amount. The phrase "not exceed" immediately follows, reinforcing the absolute nature of this limit and emphasizing that any additional stripe beyond this number is forbidden. This demonstrates God's concern for proportionate justice and the prevention of arbitrary cruelty.
* **"lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes,"** This segment explains the rationale behind the strict limit, framing it as a warning against the negative consequences of over-punishment. The repetition of "exceed" underscores the danger of going beyond the prescribed boundary. "Many stripes" implies a degree of beating that would be excessive, causing undue suffering and humiliation, and going against the spirit of the law. This highlights the potential for abuse of power if such limits were not in place.
* **"then thy brother should seem vile unto thee."** This is the profound theological and ethical heart of the verse. The ultimate reason for the limitation is the preservation of the offender's human dignity. To make someone "vile" is to strip them of their honor, respect, and sense of worth, reducing them to an object of contempt. The term "thy brother" is significant, reminding the community that even a convicted criminal remains a fellow member of the covenant people, deserving of a basic level of respect and dignity, even in punishment. This clause reveals God's deep concern for the inherent value of every individual.

#### Literary Devices
Deuteronomy 25:3 employs several powerful literary devices. The most prominent is **Legal Prescription**, characteristic of the Deuteronomic code, which sets forth clear, divinely ordained laws for Israelite society. The specific numerical limit of "forty stripes" functions as **Numerical Symbolism**, where the number forty, often associated with periods of testing or completion in biblical narratives, here signifies a definitive and non-negotiable boundary. The repetition of the verb "exceed" (Hebrew, _yasaph_) creates **Emphasis**, underscoring the absolute necessity of adhering to the limit and the dire consequences of overstepping it. Finally, the phrase "thy brother should seem vile unto thee" employs **Anthropological Insight** into the human condition and the importance of dignity. It also uses **Metonymy** where "vile unto thee" represents the community's perception and the individual's loss of standing, rather than merely a personal feeling. The use of "thy brother" is a powerful **Covenantal Term** that reinforces the shared identity and inherent worth of all Israelites, even those who have transgressed.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Deuteronomy 25:3 profoundly illustrates the distinctiveness of God's Law, which, unlike the often brutal codes of surrounding nations, is infused with compassion and a deep respect for human dignity. It teaches that justice must always be tempered with mercy and that punishment, while necessary, should never dehumanize the offender. This principle resonates throughout Scripture, emphasizing that all humanity, created in God's image, possesses inherent worth that must be preserved, even in the face of sin and judgment. The law's concern for preventing an individual from becoming "vile" speaks to the divine desire for reconciliation and the possibility of reintegration into the community, rather than permanent degradation.

* [Leviticus 19:18](/leviticus/19-18 "Leviticus 19:18 - Love Your Neighbor as Yourself")
* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction")
* [2 Corinthians 11:24](/2_corinthians/11-24 "2 Corinthians 11:24 - Paul's Sufferings")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Deuteronomy 25:3 offers timeless wisdom for contemporary societies and individual believers. It challenges us to reflect on the nature of justice, urging systems of law and punishment to prioritize rehabilitation and the preservation of human dignity over punitive excess. It reminds us that even those who have erred are still fellow human beings, deserving of respect and humane treatment. For believers, this verse calls us to cultivate a heart that values every individual, recognizing their inherent worth in God's eyes, regardless of their actions or social standing. It encourages us to advocate for justice that is both firm and compassionate, seeking to restore rather than merely to destroy, and to ensure that our own attitudes and actions never contribute to making another "vile" or contemptible.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the principle of "not exceeding" in punishment apply to modern justice systems, and what implications does it have for sentencing and prison reform?**
* **In what ways might we, as individuals or communities, inadvertently make others "seem vile" through our judgments, words, or actions, and how can we counter this tendency?**
* **How does the biblical emphasis on human dignity, even for offenders, challenge our natural inclinations towards retribution or vengeance?**

### FAQ
**Why was the maximum set at forty stripes, and not, for example, fifty or thirty?**
Answer: The specific number "forty" is presented as a divinely ordained maximum, reflecting a precise boundary for judicial corporal punishment. While the Bible does not explicitly state *why* forty, this number frequently appears in Scripture as a period associated with testing, judgment, or a significant duration (e.g., [Israel's forty years in the wilderness](/numbers/14-33 "Numbers 14:33 - Israel's Forty Years in the Wilderness"), [Jesus' forty days in the wilderness](/matthew/4-2 "Matthew 4:2 - Jesus' Forty Days in the Wilderness")). Here, it serves as a definitive limit, ensuring that punishment was severe enough to deter crime but never so excessive as to dehumanize the offender. Jewish tradition, out of an abundance of caution to never exceed the divine command, often administered only thirty-nine stripes (as mentioned in [2 Corinthians 11:24](/2_corinthians/11-24 "2 Corinthians 11:24 - Paul's Sufferings"), where Paul recounts receiving "forty stripes save one"). This practice underscores the profound respect for this specific divine injunction.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Deuteronomy 25:3, with its emphasis on preserving human dignity even in punishment, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus. While the Law limited the physical degradation of an offender, Jesus, the innocent Lamb of God, willingly endured the very "many stripes" that the Law sought to prevent, becoming "vile" in the eyes of humanity so that we might be made righteous. The prophet Isaiah foretold that by His "stripes we are healed" ([Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - By His Wounds We Are Healed")), a prophecy vividly fulfilled in the scourging Jesus received before His crucifixion ([Matthew 27:26](/matthew/27-26 "Matthew 27:26 - Jesus Scourged")). He bore the full weight of humanity's sin, enduring the ultimate humiliation and degradation, so that we, who were truly "vile" in our sin before a holy God, could be reconciled and restored to dignity as God's beloved children ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")). His sacrifice ensures that through faith in Him, we are never again seen as contemptible in God's sight, but rather as co-heirs with Christ, clothed in His righteousness ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Made Sin for Us")). The Law's concern for a brother's dignity foreshadows the ultimate act of brotherhood by Christ, who laid down His life to restore our broken dignity and make us truly valuable in the eyes of God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 18:3

Wherefore are we counted as beasts, [and] reputed vile in your sight?

James 2:2

For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;

James 2:3

And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

2 Corinthians 11:24

Of the Jews five times received I forty [stripes] save one.

2 Corinthians 11:25

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

Luke 15:30

But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

Luke 18:9

¶ And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: