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'''Flogging''' was a punishment for crimes most common in ancient times.  It involved whipping, usually on the back, with long strands of leather hide sometimes embedded with bone or glass to rip flesh.  In the Jewish custom, 40 lashes was the most that was allowed as anything beyond this was considered to put the life of the recipient in danger. In practice Jews stopped at 39 lashes in case there was a miscount.  Roman flogging knew no such limits and it was not uncommon for prisoners to die from flogging alone.

'''Flogging''' was a punishment for crimes most common in ancient times.  It involved whipping, usually on the back, with long strands of leather hide sometimes embedded with bone or glass to rip flesh.  In the Jewish custom, 40 lashes was the most that was allowed as anything beyond this was considered to put the life of the recipient in danger. {{quotation|Forty stripes may be given him, but not more; lest, if one should go on to beat him with more stripes than these, your brother be degraded in your sight.<br>—Deuteronomy 25:3 ([[Revised Standard Version|RSV]])}} In practice Jews stopped at 39 lashes in case there was a miscount.  Roman flogging knew no such limits and it was not uncommon for prisoners to die from flogging alone.

[[Jesus Christ]] was flogged by the Romans.  The number of lashes received is unknown. Under Roman law, scourging was a preliminary to crucifixion in every case, and its primary purpose was to weaken the prisoner, lessen his resistance, and hasten his death.  The only practical limitation on the number of lashes was that he had to be kept alive for the crucifixion.

[[Jesus Christ]] was flogged by the Romans.  The number of lashes received is unknown. Under Roman law, scourging was a preliminary to crucifixion in every case, and its primary purpose was to weaken the prisoner, lessen his resistance, and hasten his death.  The only practical limitation on the number of lashes was that he had to be kept alive for the crucifixion.