Comments on: Self-harm in the Bible

By: Jon the freelance theologian

Jon the freelance theologian — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 20:18:13 +0000

That is an interesting reference, although it may have more to do with alleviating pain or cleaning wounds than self-harm.

By: Paul Wheelhouse

Paul Wheelhouse — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:24:47 +0000

Thank you for this. Another interesting one is Job 2:8. It is not entirely clear if the ‘scraping’ was because of the sores or more akin to what we might call self harm. It does seem though that the Bible understands that people who harm themselves are people that are hurting (in a similar sense to your observation on Mark 5). Although Job’s friends are not generally held up as fine examples of pastoral care, they do in 3:13 seem to get it right (initially) by sitting silently alongside Job. This could be a model we should consider.

By: Jon the freelance theologian

Jon the freelance theologian — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 19:40:57 +0000

That’s more of a pastoral issue than a theological one, really. There are examples of Biblical characters who ‘fled’ abusive domestic situations (David fleeing the wrath of King Saul springs to mind when Saul was in a ‘fit of madness’ springs to mind).

By: Rachel

Rachel — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 18:05:03 +0000

i was just curious as to whether someone staying in an abusive relationship would be considered “self harm”. they are not technically harming themselves, but they are staying with someone that they KNOW will harm them.