Imprisonment

Being confined in prison is used both literally and figuratively in Scripture. Release from prison is used as a picture of freedom from spiritual bondage.

The anticipation or threat of imprisonment

Matthew 5:25–26 parallel Luke 12:58 See also Acts 20:23; Revelation 2:10

Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Imprisonment for law-breaking

Ezra 7:26 See also Genesis 40:3; 2 Kings 17:4; Jeremiah 52:11; Matthew 18:30

If anyone does not keep the law of your God and the law of the king, let a strict judgment be executed against him, whether death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

Imprisonment while on remand

Numbers 15:33–34 See also Leviticus 24:12; Matthew 27:16 parallels Mark 15:7, Luke 23:19

Those who found the man gathering wood brought him to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation, and because it had not been declared what should be done to him, they placed him in custody.

Imprisonment of the innocent, often with malicious intent

Jeremiah 38:28; Luke 21:12 See also Genesis 39:20–22, Genesis 40:14–15, Genesis 42:16–17 Joseph planning the welfare of his brothers; 1 Kings 22:27 Ahab orders Micaiah's imprisonment; 2 Chronicles 16:10; Jeremiah 32:2–3, Jeremiah 37:15; Matthew 14:3 John the Baptist imprisoned by Herod; Acts 8:3, Acts 16:23–24 Paul and Silas in prison; Acts 22:4, Acts 22:19, Acts 23:29, Acts 24:27, Acts 26:10, Acts 26:31; 2 Corinthians 6:5, 2 Corinthians 11:23; Hebrews 11:36

And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured.

But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.

Release from imprisonment

By earthly rulers

Genesis 41:14; 2 Kings 25:27 parallel Jeremiah 52:31; Jeremiah 39:13–14

By divine intervention

Psalm 146:7 See also Psalm 68:6, Psalm 102:20, Psalm 107:10–14, Psalm 142:7; Isaiah 42:7, Isaiah 49:9, Isaiah 51:14, Isaiah 61:1; Acts 12:1–11

He executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free,

Imprisonment used in a figurative or poetic sense

Luke 4:18 See also Isaiah 61:1; Job 11:10, Job 12:14; Psalm 66:11; Ecclesiastes 4:14; Romans 7:23; Galatians 3:22–23; 1 Peter 3:19; Revelation 20:7

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,