Slavery in the Bible
(Writer’s comments are in parentheses and italics.)
(Links to biblehub.com are provided for each passage, biblehub.com was chosen as several translations are listed for each passage. Links open new windows, this page stays open underneath.)
(Note that some translations of some passages state “servant”, others state “slave”)
http://biblehub.com/genesis/9-25.htm
Genesis 9:25-27
25) he said, “Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.”
26) He also said, “Praise be to the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem.
27) May God extend Japheth’s territory; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be the slave of Japheth.”
http://biblehub.com/genesis/17-12.htm
Genesis 17:12
For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner–those who are not your offspring.
http://biblehub.com/exodus/12-43.htm
Exodus 12:43-44
43) The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “These are the regulations for the Passover meal: “No foreigner may eat it.
44) but every man’s slave purchased with money, after you have circumcised him, then he may eat of it.…
http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-2.htm
Exodus 21:2-6
2) “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything.
3) If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him.
4) If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.
5) “But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’
6) then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.
http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-7.htm
Exodus 21:7
“If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do.
http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-20.htm
Exodus 21:20-21
20) “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result,
21) but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property.
http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-26.htm
Exodus 21:26-27
26) “An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye.
27) And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.
http://biblehub.com/leviticus/19-20.htm
Leviticus 19:20
“‘If a man sleeps with a female slave who is promised to another man but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, there must be due punishment. Yet they are not to be put to death, because she had not been freed.
http://biblehub.com/leviticus/25-44.htm
Leviticus 25:44-46
44) “‘Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.
45) You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property.
46) You can bequeath them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.
http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/15-12.htm
Deuteronomy 15:12-17
12) 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.
13) And when you release them, do not send them away empty-handed.
14) Supply them liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to them as the LORD your God has blessed you.
15) Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.
16) 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,
17) 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.
http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/20-10.htm
Deuteronomy 20:10-14
10) When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace.
11) If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labor and shall work for you.
12) If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city.
13) When the LORD your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it.
14) As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the LORD your God gives you from your enemies.
http://biblehub.com/proverbs/29-21.htm
Proverbs 29:21
A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent.
http://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-10.htm
Proverbs 30:10
“Do not slander a servant to their master, or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.
http://biblehub.com/jeremiah/34-14.htm
Jeremiah 34:14
Every seventh year each of you must free any fellow Hebrews who have sold themselves to you. After they have served you six years, you must let them go free.’ Your ancestors, however, did not listen to me or pay attention to me.
http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/27-13.htm
Ezekiel 27:13
“‘Greece, Tubal and Meshek did business with you; they traded human beings and articles of bronze for your wares.
http://biblehub.com/matthew/18-25.htm
Matthew 18:25
Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
(Three comments on this one;
1) Jesus is telling a parable about a man settling accounts with his servants, no translation I’ve found mentions slaves
2) A servant, as he’s not a slave we might assume he’s a free man and his family are to be SOLD to settle outstanding debts.
3) In context, a few verses later the debt is forgiven, no sale is made.)
http://biblehub.com/matthew/24-50.htm
Matthew 24:50-51
50) The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.
51) He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(Comment;
To be fair, this one might best be read with additional context beginning at or around Matthew 24:34 http://biblehub.com/matthew/24-34.htm )
http://biblehub.com/luke/12-46.htm
Luke 12:46-47
46) The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
47) “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.
http://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-5.htm
Ephesians 6:5-9
5) Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
6) Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
7) Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people,
8) because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
9) And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
http://biblehub.com/colossians/3-22.htm
Colossians 3:22
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
http://biblehub.com/colossians/4-1.htm
Colossians 4:1
Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/6-1.htm
1 Timothy 6:1
All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered.
http://biblehub.com/titus/2-9.htm
Titus 2:9, 10
9) Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10) Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
http://biblehub.com/1_peter/2-18.htm
1 Peter 2:18
Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
Counter slavery passages;
http://biblehub.com/exodus/21-16.htm
Exodus 21:16
“Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.
http://biblehub.com/deuteronomy/24-7.htm
Deuteronomy 24:7
If someone is caught kidnapping a fellow Israelite and treating or selling them as a slave, the kidnapper must die. You must purge the evil from among you.
http://biblehub.com/1_timothy/1-10.htm
1 Timothy 1:10
for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers–and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine