### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **rhabdízō**, represented by `{{G4463}}`, means **to strike with a stick, i.e. bastinado** or to **beat (with rods)**. It is derived from the word ῥάβδος (rhábdos). This specific term for punishment appears **2 times** across **2 unique verses** in the Bible.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The use of `{{G4463}}` denotes a severe and official form of physical punishment. In one instance, magistrates in Philippi, after having clothes torn from Paul and Silas, **commanded** them to be **beaten** [[Acts 16:22]]. The second occurrence is found in Paul's own account of his sufferings for the sake of the gospel, where he recounts, "Thrice was I **beaten with rods**" [[2 Corinthians 11:25]], listing it among other life-threatening hardships.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the context of this severe punishment:
* `{{G4048}}` **perirrhḗgnymi** (rend off): This word describes the act of tearing clothes off someone, an action that preceded the beating in [[Acts 16:22]].
* `{{G2753}}` **keleúō** (command): This term highlights the official nature of the punishment. The magistrates did not carry out the beating themselves but **commanded** it to be done [[Acts 16:22]].
* `{{G3034}}` **litházō** (stone): This refers to another form of brutal punishment. Paul lists being **stoned** in the same catalog of sufferings where he mentions being beaten with rods, illustrating the extreme violence he endured [[2 Corinthians 11:25]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{G4463}}` lies in its raw depiction of apostolic suffering. It underscores several key themes:
* **Judicial Punishment:** The use of this term in Acts shows that the persecution faced by the apostles was not just mob violence but could be a formal, legal sentence delivered by Roman magistrates [[Acts 16:22]].
* **Cost of Discipleship:** Paul's testimony in [[2 Corinthians 11:25]] frames being "beaten with rods" as a mark of his authentic ministry and the price he was willing to pay for his faith.
* **Physical Persecution:** The word provides a graphic and specific account of the physical violence endured by early Christians in their mission, moving beyond general descriptions of hardship to a specific, brutal act.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G4463}}` is a precise term for a violent act of punishment by beating with rods. Its two appearances in the New Testament provide a stark picture of the physical cost of early Christian missionary work, showing it to be both a formal sentence from authorities and a recurring hardship in the life of an apostle like Paul.
TRV