Bible Dictionaries
Scourge

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

or WHIP. This punishment was very common among the Jews, Deuteronomy 25:1-3 . There were two ways of giving the lash: one with thongs, or whips, made of ropes' ends, or straps of leather; the other with rods, or twigs. St. Paul informs us, that at five different times he received thirty-nine stripes from the Jews, 2 Corinthians 11:24 , namely, in their synagogues, and before their courts of judgment. For, according to the law, punishment by stripes was restricted to forty at one beating, Deuteronomy 25:3 . But the whip, with which these stripes were given, consisting of three separate cords, and each stroke being accounted as three stripes, thirteen strokes made thirty-nine stripes, beyond which they never went. He adds, that he had been thrice beaten with rods, namely, by the Roman lictors, or beadles, at the command of the superior magistrates.

Bibliography Information
Watson, Richard. Entry for 'Scourge'. Richard Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​wtd/​s/scourge.html. 1831-2.