Slavery in the Bible

Many people mistakenly claim that the Bible supports slavery. The intention of this article is to show that the claim is not true. (I will be using several passages from a very enlightening book by Paul Copan titled “Is God a Moral Monster.” I would encourage you to get that book for an in-depth study on this subject)

First of all, we normally think of the word slavery as we have seen in the antebellum South (prewar). We hear horrible stories of this wretched practice and we know deep in our hearts that “slavery” is evil. But the big question is this – when the Bible uses the word “slavery,” what is its meaning? Does it equate with the meaning of slavery that we know today? As we all agree, it’s very important to interpret any ancient writings in their proper context. Having said that, let us analyze slavery in the Bible.

What we find in the Bible is not slavery like we had in the antebellum South; rather, it is indentured service. Hebrew servanthood could be compared to similar conditions in colonial America. Paying fares for passage to America was too costly for many individuals to afford, so they’d contract themselves out to craftsmen, working in apprentice-like positions until they had paid back their debts. One-half to two-thirds of white immigrants to Britain’s American colonies were indentured servants.

Likewise, an Israelite strapped for shekels might become an indentured servant to pay off his debt to a “boss” or “employer.” Calling him a “master” is often way too strong of a term, just as the term ‘ebed’ (“servant, employee”) typically shouldn’t be translated “slave.” There is nothing inherently lowly or undignified about being an ‘ebed.”  Indeed, it is an honorable, dignified term. Even when the terms buy, sell or acquire are used of servants /employees, they don’t meant the person in question if “just property.” Think of a sports player today who gets “traded” to another team, to which he “belongs.” Yes, teams have “owners,” but we’re hardly talking about slavery here! Rather, these are formal contractual agreements, which is what we find in Old Testament servanthood/employee arrangements. One example of this contracted employer/employee relationship was Jacob’s working for Laban for seven years so that he might marry his daughter Rachel. In Israel, becoming a voluntary servant was commonly a starvation-prevention measure; a person had no collateral other than himself, which meant either service or death. While most people worked in the family business, servants would contribute to it as domestic workers. Contrary to the critics, this servanthood wasn’t much different property.” Think of a sports player today who gets “traded” to another team, to which he “belongs.” Yes, teams have “owners,” but we’re hardly talking about slavery here! Rather, these are formal contractual agreements, which is what we find in Old Testament servanthood/employee arrangements. One example of this contracted employer/employee relationship was Jacob’s working for Laban for seven years so that he might marry his daughter Rachel. In Israel, becoming a voluntary servant was commonly a starvation-prevention measure; a person had no collateral other than himself, which meant either service or death. While most people worked in the family business, servants would contribute to it as domestic workers. Contrary to the critics, this servanthood wasn’t much different experientially from paid employment in a cash economy like ours.

Another very important point about Hebrew serventhood is that this servanthood wasn’t imposed by outsiders, as it was by slave traders and plantation owners in the antebellum South. Also, this indentured service wasn’t unusual in other parts of the ancient Near East either (though conditions were often worse). Unavoidable lifelong servanthood was prohibited, unless someone loved the master and wanted to attach himself to him (Exodus 21:5). Servants – even if they hadn’t paid off their debts – were granted release every seventh year with all debts forgiven (Deut 15). The Hebrew language has no vocabulary for slavery, only for sevanthood. Serventhood existed in Israel precisely because poverty existed. Israel’s servant laws were concerned about controlling or regulating – not idealizing – an inferior work arrangement. Israelite servitude was induced by poverty, was entered into voluntarily, and was far from optimal. The intent of these laws was to combat potential abuses, not to institutionalize servitude.

To see the ultimate goal, one just needs to glance at Deut 15:1-18 which is quoted below.

“At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the Lord’s time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. You may require payment from a foreigner, but you must cancel any debt your fellow Israelite owes you. However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. For the Lord your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.

 If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

If any of your people—Hebrew men or women—sell themselves to you and serve you six years, in the seventh year you must let them go free. And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed. Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the Lord your God has blessed you. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.

But if your servant says to you, “I do not want to leave you,” because he loves you and your family and is well off with you,  then take an awl and push it through his earlobe into the door, and he will become your servant for life. Do the same for your female servant.

Do not consider it a hardship to set your servant free, because their service to you these six years has been worth twice as much as that of a hired hand. And the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.”

So as you can clearly see, the Bible doesn’t support the practice of slavery.