Bible Dictionaries
Gouging the Eyes
Holman Bible Dictionary
A cruel and degrading punishment sometimes inflicted on conquered peoples in biblical times. The Philistines put out Samson's eyes (Judges 16:21 ). Nahash offered to make peace with the people of Gilead on the condition that he put out the right eye of every man in the city and thus bring disgrace upon all Israel (1 Samuel 11:2 ). After executing King Zedekiah's sons in his sight, the Babylonians put out his eyes (2 Kings 25:7 ). Scripture records such events as cruelty, not as examples to follow.
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from the Holman Bible Dictionary, published by Broadman & Holman, 1991. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman.
Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Gouging the Eyes'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hbd/g/gouging-the-eyes.html. 1991.