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What Does the Bible Say About Slavery?
“You shall not compel him to serve as a slave.” (Lev 25:39)
Social justice issues, such as slavery, have long been a hot topic for many people. The Bible indicates its existence. So, why does God allow it, and how should we interpret it in light of today’s social climate?
It is unclear exactly when slavery began. It likely existed for hundreds of years before its first recording, being prevalent and socially acceptable in numerous cultures and societies.
However, in ancient Israelite culture, the institution of slavery differed from what modern cultures envision; It was neither forced labor nor racially motivated. In fact, the Bible often uses the Hebrew word “ebed” when discussing slavery. It means “to work” or “to serve” and usually refers to a type of service that one entered under unfortunate circumstances.
In biblical times, people undergoing financial crises sometimes willingly became indentured servants, where one becomes a slave in exchange for basic necessities (Lev 25:39). Others sometimes entered slavery as restitution for a crime (Ex 22:3). Parents might also reluctantly sell their children after falling on hard times (Neh 5:5).
It does not necessarily mean that others did not nefariously engage in the slave trade. One might be enslaved as a prisoner of war (Num…
