What does the Bible say about stoning to death?
Stoning is a form of capital punishment and it is still used today in some places. While things like being a rebellious child and being involved in witchcraft are still sins we are not to stone others to death because we are under a new covenant.
While stoning does seem harsh it helped prevent a lot of crimes and evilness. The death penalty was instituted by God and the government has the authority to determine when it is to be used.
People would get stoned for working on the Sabbath.
1. Exodus 31:15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.
2. Numbers 15:32-36 While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation. They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him. And the LORD said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, as the LORD commanded Moses.
Those who were caught doing sorcery were stoned.
3. Leviticus 20:27 “Men and women among you who act as mediums or who consult the spirits of the dead must be put to death by stoning. They are guilty of a capital offense.”
Rebellious children were stoned to death
4. Deuteronomy 21:18-21 If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. They shall say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid.
Kidnapping: punishable by stoning
5. Exodus 21:16 Whoever steals a man and sells him, and anyone found in possession of him, shall be put to death.
Homosexuality was punishable by death
6. Leviticus 20:13 If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense. (Homosexuality Bible verses)
Blaspheming God was punishable by death
7. Leviticus 24:16 Anyone who blasphemes the Name of the LORD must be stoned to death by the whole community of Israel. Any native-born Israelite or foreigner among you who blasphemes the Name of the LORD must be put to death.
Bestiality resulted in stoning
8. Exodus 22:19 Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death.
Idolatry: Punishable by stoning
9. Leviticus 20:2 Say to the Israelites: Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death. The members of the community are to stone him.
Adultery: Punishable by stoning
10. Leviticus 20:10 If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
In the Old Testament murder resulted in stoning
11. Leviticus 24:17-20 Anyone who takes another person’s life must be put to death. Anyone who kills another person’s animal must pay for it in full a live animal for the animal that was killed. Anyone who injures another person must be dealt with according to the injury inflicted a fracture for a fracture, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Whatever anyone does to injure another person must be paid back in kind.
Examples of stoning in the Bible
12. Acts 7:58-60 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
13. Hebrews 11:37-38 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
14. John 10:32-33 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” “We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”
15. 1 Kings 12:18 King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was in charge of the labor force, to restore order, but the people of Israel stoned him to death. When this news reached King Rehoboam, he quickly jumped into his chariot and fled to Jerusalem.
Bonus
Romans 3:23-25 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
