CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Scriptures are cited from the King James (Authorized) Version, unless stated otherwise.
Question: Do earthly governments have the right to exercise capital punishment in the case of
murderers?
Answer: Genesis 9: 6 reads: “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.”
Although not a command, this verse seems to support the thought that God would approve of
execution in the case of murderers, however, a number of considerations should be kept in mind.
The Scriptures only support capital punishment in the case of premeditated (“presumptuously”)
murder, sometimes referred to as “first degree murder,” but if the murder was unpremeditated,
such as in the case of manslaughter, God provided a way to escape death (Exodus 21: 12-14)
(Leviticus 24: 17) (Numbers 35: 10-34) (Deuteronomy 19: 1-13) (Joshua 20). He knew that
these regulations would tend to keep life sacred and lessen murder, so that bloodshed would not
pollute the land (Numbers 35: 24).
It is encouraging to see that today, among many, a humane, constructive and merciful spirit seeks
to uplift and rehabilitate those committing crimes rather than to destroy them. (Prisons should be
geared to rehabilitating inmates, in sharp contrast with the treatment often given to them in the
darker past, and even now in many instances.) However, for many reasons, sentences for
murderers are now often too light, pardons are frequently given and paroles are generally
granted too soon.
Any society which permits the taking of human life by the judicial process takes on a great
responsibility. No murderer should be executed unless admitting or being clearly proven guilty
of killing with premeditated, willful, malicious intent (Unfortunately, in a number of cases
individuals have been put to death in which it was later proven that they were innocent.)
Additionally, capital punishment should be administered as humanely as possible, for God
strictly prohibited torture in Israel.
It is comforting to know that, by capital punishment, society does not send criminals into eternal
torment (as some have supposed), but they merely hasten (for the good of all) the death penalty
that is still upon the world. Hopefully, many criminals in their Judgment Day, when conditions
will be much more favorable for reformation of character, will repent, reform and gain eternal
life.
