Capital punishment in the Bible

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Capital punishment in the Bible refers to instances in the Bible where death is called for as a punishment and also instances where it is proscribed or prohibited. A case against capital punishment in Christianity, specifically, may be made from John 8, where Jesus speaks words that can be construed as condemning the practice.^[1] In that chapter, Jesus disallows the stoning of a woman who has committed adultery, which is the traditional punishment as given in the Torah. There are many other Bible verses that condone or even command capital punishment, and there are examples of it being carried out. Sins that were traditionally punishable by death include homicide, striking one's parents, kidnapping, cursing one's parents, witchcraft and divination, bestiality, worshiping other gods, violating the Sabbath, child sacrifice, adultery, incest, and male homosexual intercourse (there is no biblical legal punishment for lesbians mentioned).^[2]