Jesus Suffered More Than 39 Stripes (Lashes)
Jesus suffered far more than the 39 stripes often mentioned in casual conversations. For a long time, I unknowingly repeated the common claim that Jesus received exactly 39 lashes at the whipping post — a number supposedly representing payment for 39 types of sickness and disease. It was only after sharing this with large audiences that a brother in Christ corrected me and pointed me to Rick Renner’s book Sparkling Gems from the Greek.That correction led me to study both Renner’s book and his related teachings on the scourging. I now feel a responsibility to set the record straight — not only for those who heard me previously, but as part of a growing effort to correct this widespread misconception.
My error was not in listening to others, but in accepting what I heard without verifying it against Scripture, the only reliable Truth. We have the freedom to believe whatever we choose, but believing something contrary to God’s Word carries real consequences. When we pass on unverified information, the inaccuracy spreads. Plausible-sounding statements still need to be tested against the Bible.
The biblical reality is far more sobering. Isaiah 52:14 foretold that the Messiah’s appearance would be “marred more than any man”:
“Just as many were astonished at you, My people, so His appearance was marred more than any man and His form more than the sons of men.” (Isaiah 52:14 NASB)
The scourging was not a standard flogging. As one brother explained, the Romans often used a cat-o’-nine-tails — a whip with multiple strands embedded with bone, metal, or glass — designed to tear flesh and disfigure the body. The beating was so severe that Jesus was disfigured beyond recognition. Disfigurement of this magnitude is typically visible from the front, not merely the back.Even more significant is the wording in Isaiah 53:5. Modern translations say “by His stripes we are healed,” but in the original Greek, the word (mōlōpi) is singular. The language is so precise that if multiple separate wounds were visible, the plural would have been required.
Christ was beaten so brutally that His entire body was effectively covered by one continuous wound. Jesus endured this horrific suffering at the whipping post so we could be healed — before He ever carried the cross to pay for our sins. He was marred beyond recognition so that we would not have to suffer the same fate.
The least we can do is speak accurately about what He endured. Let us be careful to verify what we believe and share against God’s Word rather than repeating hearsay.
Resources:
Rick Renner’s book Sparkling Gems from the Greek and his teachings on the scourging of Jesus:
Jesus Christ died because of our sin, now we have to worship him through prayers. We sinned everyday but he forgive our sin when we confess them. He deliver us from temptation. Thank u Jesus.
oh my Jesus my sins have put you to go through this pain and suffering. I am very sorry please forgive me
Comment my jesus am sorry you died for my sins.forgive me everything i have done i want to live a righteous life
“At the whipping post” … isn’t this yet another instance of passing on an inaccuracy ? Deuteronomy stipulates that the person to be so punished would LIE DOWN in the presence of the judge and receive the lashes. The Whipping Post may be a modern description based on later methods … including recent Pirate films (movies) … and not consistent with the Bible’s stipulation for administering punishment by lashes.
The Romans don’t follow the Jewish law. This is more reason the writer believed that Jesus received more than 39 lashes because 40 less 1 lashes is the law for the Jews but there was no limit to the numbers of lashes the Roman can dish out to a person.
To lie down to be whipped is in the law of the Jews but not the Romans’. So they can do as they do wish.
There’s also a possibility that the lashes were limited to 39 because the governor appointed over Jews by the Roman emperor also tried as much as possible to allow the Jews to have their ways a times by allowing them to practice their laws, customs and traditions just to avoid uproar, riot or protest from the jews which would result to the governor being removed for lack of control over the people.
Good morning John. Movies aside, from well respected teachers on the topic of divine healing based on scripture (for example John G Lake (Curry Blake) we have heard teachings on the ‘whipping post’ . The well respected Greek scholar Rick Renner goes into great detail on what would have happened to Jesus. I will include the link below. I do not believe the Deuteronomy verse is related to the way the Romans did their own scourgings which is what Jesus was subjected to. Hence the misinformed count of 39 stripes in the church today.
https://www.renner.org/article/scourged/
But your comments are appreciated with sincerity.
Marc
Would appreciate seeing your research results.
Heard many years back about no 39 lashes and it is not true, and have forgotten what reasons I read.
Thank you
Lester
Hello Lester, besides the information in the article the main source for the research was Rick Renner’s online version of Scouraging. The link is
https://renner.org/article/scourged/
Let me know if you have any followup thoughts or questions. Thanks for your note.
Thank you Rick Renner’s name rings a bell??
Sent from my iPhone
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Yes. Google him.
Who is Rick Renner?
Rick Renner, author of more than 30 books, is well known for his top-selling classics Sparkling Gems From the Greek and Dressed To Kill, which have sold more than a million copies combined.
The scripture does not tell us how many stripes Jesus received and apparently it was not for us to know. However we do know that He was severely beaten where some died from the beatings before their crucifiction. We must realize that Jesus suffered through this for ALL to have forgiveness of our sins. Jesus said in Mark 16:16 “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins”
So you base your claim of more than 39 stripe on a verse that says he will be marred more than any man? You are adding to the misinformation that you are preaching against. Those stripe’s Jesus received were not typical of stripes received. They came from a cat of nine tails and it had many things that would cause the tearing of flesh and marring of the body. But your case for more than 39 stripes is not biblical.
Thank you for pointing out this lack of clarity, Tim. You are absolutely correct. We have updated the article to reference not only your statement, but also Rick Renner’s online article to provide the fuller picture. Thank you for reaching out.