STONING (רָגַם, H8083, to stone, kill by stoning; סָקַל, H6232, stone, put to death by stoning; NT λιθοβολέω, G3344, throw stones at, stone to death; λιθάζω, G3342, stone someone; καταλιθάζω, G2902, stone someone to death). The act of throwing stones at someone, often a means of capital punishment.

The most common form of capital punishment prescribed by Biblical law was stoning. It usually took place outside the city (Lev 24:23; Num 15:35, 36; 1 Kings 21:13). The prosecution witnesses (the law required two or more, Deut 17:6) placed their hands on the offender’s head (Lev 24:14) to transfer the guilt of the whole community to the offender. The witnesses then cast the first stones, and the rest of the people followed (Deut 17:7). All this was done to purge out evil from the community (22:21).

The following ten offenses were punished by stoning: (1) worship of other gods or any heavenly bodies (Deut 17:2-7); (2) enticement to worship other gods (Deut 13:6-11); (3) blasphemy (Lev 24:14-23; 1 Kings 21:10-15); (4) child sacrifice to Molech (Lev 20:2-5); (5) spirit divination (Lev 20:27); (6) breaking the sabbath (Num 15:32-36); 7) adultery (Deut 22:21-24); (8) disobedience of a son (Deut 21:18-21); (9) violation of the ḥerem (Josh 7:25, burning also occurs here); (10) homicide by an ox (Exod 21:28-32). The last case is the only one concerning an animal, though Exodus 19:13 threatens both man and beast with stoning if either touches Mount Sinai. Finally, though stoning is not mentioned, it may be implied when the death penalty is prescribed for the prophet who prophesies in the name of another god (Deut 13:1-5).

The abundance of stones in Pal. made stoning the most common death penalty. It was also a convenient way to express anger or hatred. It was often threatened (Exod 17:4; Num 14:10; 1 Sam 30:6), esp. against Jesus and Paul (John 10:31-33; 11:8; Acts 14:5, 19). Sometimes it went beyond threats to death by stoning (Adoram, 1 Kings 12:18; Zechariah, 2 Chron 24:21; and Stephen, Acts 7:58, 59).

Bibliography TDNT, IV (1967), 267, 268; R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel (1965), 143-163; W. Corswant, A Dictionary of Life in Bible Times (1960), 261; H. E. Goldin, Hebrew Criminal Law and Procedure (1952).