Deuteronomy 25 provides a catch-all principle: punishment is to be 'in proportion to the offense,' explicitly grounding proportional justice in God's law.

Deuteronomy 25 instructs judges to impose stripes proportional to the offense, capped at forty to prevent abuse. The phrase 'in proportion to his offense' directly implies that some offenses are greater or lesser than others. This principle supports the broader conclusion that adultery is not morally equivalent to stealing a pencil, and murder is not the same as pirating music.