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The death penalty in the Bible refers to cases where death is required as punishment for murder, or some other sin of a very serious nature, such as striking one’s parents, kidnapping, cursing one’s parents, witchcraft and divination, acts of bestiality, worship of other gods, child sacrifice, adultery, and incest.
Yet there are verses that can be interpreted as absolutely opposed to this practice, such as when Cain kills Abel, and GOD protects him from vengeance by condemning him to wander as a fugitive rather than to death. GOD also issued a warning against killing Cain, and similarly it is suggested in Proverbs 28:17. We see from 2 Samuel 14:1-11 that kings granted clemency in extenuating circumstances. In that case, the one who had killed was an only son, and the king allowed him to remain alive under house arrest. The prophets repeatedly plead with the masses to repent so that GOD will not destroy them, and in addition, there are numerous verses condemning revenge, judgment, anger and hatred, as well as those promoting the harmony of peace, forgiveness and acceptance.
So studying the passages that speak of murder and the death penalty can help us greatly in understanding why each and every “Word” of Scripture must be interpreted and taken in the historical context in which we find it.
Genesis 4, 6-12
6 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?
7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.
11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.”
Genesis 9, 4-7
4 “But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it.
5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.
6 “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the Image of GOD has GOD made mankind.
7 As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”
Exodus 20, 13 & Deuteronomy 5, 17
13 You shall not murder
Exodus 21, 12-17
12 “Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death.
13 However, if it is not done intentionally, but GOD lets it happen, they are to flee to a place I will designate.
14 But if anyone schemes and kills someone deliberately, that person is to be taken from my altar and put to death.
15 “Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death.
16 “Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.
17 “Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.
Exodus 23, 7
7 Have nothing to do with a false charge and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.
Leviticus 24, 17-22
17 “And if a man strikes down any human being he shall be put to death. 18 And one who slays an animal shall pay for it [the value of] a life for the life [he took]. 19 And a man who inflicts an injury upon his fellow man just as he did, so shall be done to him [namely,] 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Just as he inflicted an injury upon a person, so shall it be inflicted upon him. 21 And one who injures an animal shall pay for it. And one who strikes a person shall be put to death. 22 One law shall be exacted for you, convert and resident alike, for I am the LORD, your GOD.
Numbers 35, 29-34
29 “ ‘This is to have the force of law for you throughout the generations to come, wherever you live.
30 “ ‘Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
31 “ ‘Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. They are to be put to death.
32 “ ‘Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow them to go back and live on their own land before the death of the high priest.
33 “ ‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.
34 Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the LORD, dwell among the Israelites.’ ”
5 For instance, a man may go into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and as he swings his ax to fell a tree, the head may fly off and hit his neighbor and kill him. That man may flee to one of these cities and save his life.
Deuteronomy 19, 11-15
11 But if out of hate someone lies in wait, assaults and kills a neighbor, and then flees to one of these cities,
12 the killer shall be sent for by the town elders, be brought back from the city, and be handed over to the avenger of blood to die.
13 Show no pity. You must purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you.
14 Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the LORD your GOD is giving you to possess.
15 One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Ezekiel 18, 30-32
30 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.
31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel?
32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!
Ezekiel 33, 8-9
8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.
Proverbs 6, 16-19
16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Hosea 4, 1-3
1 Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of GOD in the land.
2 There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.
3 Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away.
Romans 12, 19
19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for GOD’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the LORD.
Romans 13, 4
4 For the one in authority is GOD’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are GOD’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
Matthew 15, 18-19
18 But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
Matthew 5, 21-26
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 26, 52-54
52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
1 John 3, 11-15
11 For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
Revelation 21, 8
8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”