Mark 15:15

The term φραγελλώσας is derived from the verb φραγελλῶ, which suggests the idea of "barricading" or "blocking," rather than "scourging."

Although it might appear similar to φραγελλόω (the verb for "to scourge" or "to whip"), which would refer to the act of whipping or punishing with a scourge, the form φραγελλώσας reflects an action of obstruction rather than physical punishment. This distinction highlights the importance of context when interpreting verb forms, especially when there are similar-looking roots that may convey very different meanings. Scholars have linked the Greek φραγελλόω to the Latin verb flagellare (meaning "to whip" or "to scourge"), based on phonetic similarity and shared meaning in the context of punishment. However, φραγελλώσας is more likely to refer to a different concept, such as "blocking" or "barricading."

A related word φραγμός (meaning "fencing in" or "blocking up") provides further insight into the semantic range of the root φραγ-. This word appears in contexts such as a fence or paling (e.g., Xenophon's Cyn. 11.4), intestinal obstruction (Cael. Aur. CP 3.17), and fortifications (e.g., Herodotus 7.36), as well as metaphorical uses such as "partition" (Ephesians 2:14). The connection to φραγμός suggests that the root of φραγελλώσας could primarily be understood in terms of obstruction or enclosure rather than physical punishment.