DOES GOD APPROVE OF SLAVERY?

Critics of the Bible say that God approved of slavery in the Old Testament. True? Well, sort of, but not exactly. The word “slave” is used in the Old Testament and there are rules governing it, but it is not the same type of “slavery” that we experienced in the United States.


The words for “slave” and “servant” are not distinguished in most biblical usage. So, in some instances the word slave could be switched to servant. Now, let’s see what the Bible actually says about “slaves.” The Bible mandated a more humane form of slavery than what we had in the United States and elsewhere. 


Here are some points to keep in mind concerning slavery in the Old Testament:

Debt was the main factor in transforming a peasant farmer or artisan into a slave (Ex 22:2; 2 Kings 4:1). 


Once the debt was paid off, the slave was free. Slaves were also freed at the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25:13, 40).


When a slave is set free he is not to go empty handed. The master is to provide for him so that he can start a new life (Deut 15:13-14).


The only reason to allow for the sale of a person into slavery against his will was to force restitution for stolen goods (Ex 22:2).


The slave must not be made to perform any humiliating task (Lev 25:39). 


The slave must be fed, clothed, and otherwise provided for the same as the master. A person who allows himself to become a slave in order to pay a debt can choose to remain a slave longer than six years. This provided him with a sense of security, a form of permanent employment (Ex 21:1-11).


A master who beat his slave to death was himself punished with death (Ex 21:20).

Runaway slaves must not be returned to his owner, this suggests that the slave ran away because of maltreatment (Deut 23:16).



Slave trading was a capital offense. Anyone who kidnaps and sells another person is to be killed (Ex 21:16).


So there was slavery in the Old Testament, but not as we experienced it in the United States. The slavery in the Old Testament was much like the slavery we have TODAY in the United States. 


What? Well, think of it. If you are at retirement age and want to retire, but you can’t because of debts, are you not a slave in the Old Testament sense and aren’t your creditors your modern day masters?

Recent Articles

Isaiah 11 - 16

April 25, 2025
Isaiah’s Prophecies

Isaiah 8 - 10

April 25, 2025
Assyria Will be Used by God and Then Punished by God

Isaiah 6 - 7

March 12, 2025
The Call of Isaiah

Lent

March 6, 2025
What is Lent?

Isaiah 3 - 5

March 6, 2025
The Messianic Age and The Song of the Vineyard

Prophets of the Old Testament

March 6, 2025
Who are the prophets of God in the Old Testament?

Isaiah 1 - 2

February 27, 2025
The Indictment and Judgment of Judah!

Introduction to Isaiah

February 24, 2025
Introduction to the Book of Isaiah

Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)

December 25, 2024
December 25, 2024 - January 2, 2025, is Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)

Song of Solomon

November 29, 2024
Sex and the Bible
Show More

Share this:

Start Here...

Why Study the Bible?


Don’t many consider the Bible to be just a book of myths? Why do we read the Bible rather than the sacred literature of other religions?


How do we know that it is from God? How do we know that what we have today is an accurate translation from the original? Is the Bible complete or have there been some books that have been lost?


We should be able to answer these questions, and there are answers! So start here!

Learn More

Answers to Common Bible Questions

WHAT ARE YOU GIVING UP FOR LENT?

December 17, 2021
Lent is a six week period of spiritual devotion starting on Ash Wednesday and ending at Easter. Those who observe Lent usually give up something for Lent. Some might give up coffee, or soda pop, or alcohol, or chocolate. May I suggest that you give up something that will really impress God and make this season of Lent one of the most memorable and meaningful seasons of your life?  May I suggest that if you are giving up something, why not give up some of the acts of our sinful nature mentioned in Gal. 5:19? Why don’t we give up lying about others? Do you think you can give up the hate you feel towards others? How about envy, can we work on putting envy aside this year? How about giving up on the naïve idea that all pastors are mature Christian leaders whose word should always be accepted, rather than wolfs in sheep’s clothing (Matt 7:15). How about giving up the idea that everyone in church is a real Christian (Matt 7:21-23). How about giving up your desire to seek revenge on those who have hurt you (Matt 18:21-22)? If you are insecure and feel threatened when you see the success of others in ministry, how about giving up efforts to hinder others who have been called to minister (Rom 12:4-8)? Of course it is easier to give up something like chocolate, etc. and make yourself feel like you are doing something that is pleasing to God. If you are not willing to give up unchristian behavior, might I suggest something that will really please God this Lent? Give up all evidence of your profession of Christian faith, such as books, pictures and jewelry. Don’t talk about God, Jesus or the Church. I think God would appreciate it if you would stop giving HIM a bad name by the way you live. Let’s give up what hinders our witness and become a better ambassador for Christ (2 Cor 5:20) this Lenten season.

WHAT WAS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM?

December 17, 2021
In Matthew 2:1-2 is says that the magi saw "His star in the east." What was this star that guided these men to Jesus? Some have suggested that it could have been a comet, an asteroid, or perhaps a meteor or an especially bright star. The problem with these suggestions is that these physical things either quickly move across the sky and then disappear or are too far away to provide directions with any precision. It would be hard to get directions from such objects. The "star" had to move constantly or intermittently at the same pace as the magi. Then it says that it hovered over the house where Mary and Joseph had moved to with Jesus. It hardly sounds like a comet or meteor or a star as we know them. Can you think of another time that people in the Bible were guided by some form of light? How about the time when Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt? He didn't have a global positioning system with him. He did have a pillar of fire that led him at night (Ex 13:21-22). We see this light in Solomon's Temple (2 Chron 7:1-3) and when the Jews were about to go into Babylonian captivity, we see it leaving the Temple (Ezek 9-11). In the New Testament we see it at the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:9) at His transfiguration (Matt 17:5) and His ascension (Acts 1:9).  What exactly was this guiding light? The word "star" can also be translated as "radiance." It appears that it was this "radiance" that guided Moses and the magi. The Jews call this the "Shekinah", a physical manifestation of the glory of God in the form of a supernatural radiance. This, I believe, is what the Star of Bethlehem was.

CAN WE BELIEVE EVERYTHING WE HEAR?

December 17, 2021
Imagine that you are the pastor of a church. A young married couple is having some difficulties in their relationship and they seek counsel from you. On Monday the wife comes in to give her assessment of their marriage. What do you think she will say? She might say that she is a hardworking, caring and supportive wife and that it is her husband who is the neglectful, insensitive brute and the source of all problems in the marriage. You feel so sorry for this wife and when you see her husband in the hallway, you think to yourself, "What a jerk." On Friday the husband comes in and gives his assessment of the marriage. He tells you that he is hard working and very generous and that she is the major problem in the relationship. As the pastor, you are wondering if they both are talking about the same marriage. Each person tells you what makes them look best and their spouse the worst. Where is the truth? The truth is probably somewhere in between  Proverbs 18:17 says, "The first to present his case seems right, til another comes forward and questions him." There are conflicts in all relationships, between spouses, parents and children, employees and employers. When you hear one side of a story, don’t assume that what you hear is the complete truth. And don’t pass on to someone else what you have heard. Probably, at least some of what you heard is untrue to gain your support in a conflict.
More Posts