See PRISON.

One having in his custody persons accused of breaking the law; a prison keeper. Two Greek words are translated in the Scriptures as jailer: ba·sa·ni·stesʹ, meaning “tormentor,” and de·smo·phyʹlax, a compound of de·smosʹ (band, fetter) and phyʹlax (guard).

Jailers often inflicted cruel tortures on prisoners, hence were called ba·sa·ni·stesʹ. For example, debtors were sometimes thrown into prison for failing to pay what they owed. There the jailer might scourge and torture them, and they would not be released until, as Jesus said, they “paid over the last coin of very little value.” (Mt 5:25, 26) This also was the point of Jesus’ illustration about the unmerciful slave. When the master learned what his ungrateful slave had done, he “delivered him to the jailers [ba·sa·ni·staisʹ], until he should pay back all that was owing.”​—Mt 18:34, 35; compare Re 14:11, where “torment” is translated from ba·sa·ni·smouʹ.

If the prisoners escaped, jailers were held liable for the penalty imposed on the escapee, according to Roman custom. Hence, when Peter was set free from prison by an angel, we read that Herod “examined the guards and commanded them to be led off to punishment.”​—Ac 12:19.

In Philippi, Paul and Silas were dragged before the civil magistrates, who commanded that they be beaten with rods, and “after they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer [de·smo·phyʹla·ki] to keep them securely. Because he got such an order, he threw them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks.” (Ac 16:22-24) Then in the middle of the night a great earthquake opened all the prison doors. This caused the jailer to imagine the prisoners had escaped, and realizing what severe punishment would be meted out to him if this were so, he was about to kill himself when Paul informed him that they were all there. These events, together with Paul’s instructions, caused this jailer to exercise faith, and he and his household became baptized believers.​—Ac 16:25-36.

(Jaʹir).

1. A descendant of Judah through his grandson Hezron. Hezron married a woman from the tribe of Manasseh. (1Ch 2:21, 22) Jair is reckoned as a descendant of Manasseh rather than Judah, likely because of his exploits in the territory of Manasseh, where he captured a number of tent cities and named them after himself, which name they kept for many generations.​—Nu 32:41; De 3:14; Jos 13:30; 1Ki 4:13; see HAVVOTH-JAIR.

2. The seventh judge of Israel. Since he was a Gileadite of high standing and each of his 30 sons is connected with one of the above-mentioned tent cities of Jair, he was likely a descendant of No. 1 above. Jair judged Israel for 22 years, after which he died and was buried in Kamon.​—Jg 10:3-5.

3. Father of Mordecai; tribe of Benjamin.​—Es 2:5.

4. Father of the Elhanan who slew Goliath’s brother Lahmi. (1Ch 20:5) The corresponding passage at 2 Samuel 21:19 evidently contains a copyist’s error.​—See LAHMI.

(Jaʹir·ite) [Of (Belonging to) Jair].

The designation of Ira the “priest of David.” (2Sa 20:26) Perhaps Ira was a descendant of the Manassite Jair. But if the Syriac Peshitta is correct, he may have been a priest from the Levite city of Jattir.​—See IRA No. 1.

(Jaʹi·rus).

A presiding officer of the synagogue (probably in Capernaum) whose only daughter Jesus resurrected.​—Mt 9:18; Mr 5:22; Lu 8:41, 42.

When, in late 31 or early 32 C.E., Jairus’ 12-year-old daughter became so ill that she was expected to die, her father sought out Jesus, fell at his feet, and implored him to come and cure her before it was too late. While leading Jesus to his home, Jairus surely must have been greatly encouraged by witnessing Jesus heal a woman subject for 12 years to a flow of blood. But how disheartening to receive word from messengers that his own little daughter had already died! Nonetheless, Jesus urged Jairus not to fear, but to exercise faith. Passing amid the noisy mourners who scorned and ridiculed Jesus’ remark that the child was only sleeping, Jairus, his wife, and three apostles accompanied Jesus inside, where Jesus restored the girl to life. As might be expected, Jairus and his wife were “beside themselves with great ecstasy.”​—Mr 5:21-43; Mt 9:18-26; Lu 8:41-56.

(Jaʹkeh).

Father of Agur, the writer of what is recorded in Proverbs 30.​—Pr 30:1.

(Jaʹkim) [shortened form of Jekamiah, meaning “Jah Has Raised Up”].

1. A descendant of Benjamin through Shimei, included in a list of heads of fathers’ houses residing in Jerusalem.​—1Ch 8:1, 19-21, 28.