Many assume that since since Christian nations like the US and Britain had slavery in the past, that the Bible must allow for it or even whole-heartedly endorse slavery like the quran does. However nothing can be further from the truth. Kidnapping a person to sell as a slave was punishable by DEATH and nowhere in Scripture does God condone slavery because the color of someone’s skin. Many people forget that it was Christians who worked to free slaves and insist all men and women are EQUAL.
To drive the point home the Old Testament Bible required the DEATH of the slave-traders. In the New Testament, the Bible puts slave-traders in the same category as muderers.
To drive the point home the Old Testament Bible required the DEATH of the slave-traders. In the New Testament, the Bible puts slave-traders in the same category as muderers.
Exodus 21:16
And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to DEATH. Deuteronomy 24:7 If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall DIE; and thou shalt put evil away from among you. 1 Timothy 1:9-10 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 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 Leviticus 25:39-40 39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: 40 But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile. |
The word for slave is not used since RIGHTS are afforded.
Would it surprise anyone that the word for slave only appears once, in the original Old Testament Hebrew, at Jer 2:14 and nowhere else in the entire Old Testament. In the original Greek of the New Testament the word for slaves only appears in Rev 18:33 describing the merchandise the false religious city of Babylon buys and sells. What we do see however is the term for bondservant, עֶבֶד`ebed, used. The definition may be a slave or the lowest servant, but slaves have no rights and can be abused and beaten to the master's content. However the RIGHTS the Bible affords these bond-servants makes it clear they are not TREATED like a slave at all.
Would it surprise anyone that the word for slave only appears once, in the original Old Testament Hebrew, at Jer 2:14 and nowhere else in the entire Old Testament. In the original Greek of the New Testament the word for slaves only appears in Rev 18:33 describing the merchandise the false religious city of Babylon buys and sells. What we do see however is the term for bondservant, עֶבֶד`ebed, used. The definition may be a slave or the lowest servant, but slaves have no rights and can be abused and beaten to the master's content. However the RIGHTS the Bible affords these bond-servants makes it clear they are not TREATED like a slave at all.
Slave's RIGHTS
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Verses
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Exodus 21:2 (KJV)
2 If thou buy an Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in THE SEVENTH HE SHALL GO OUT FREE for nothing. |
Note to the skeptics this applies to ALL SLAVES/BOND SERVANTS irregardless of gender.
Captives and Sex slavery??
Captives and Sex slavery??
Deut. 21:10-14
When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the LORD thy God hath delivered them into thine hands, and thou hast taken them captive, And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou WOULDEST HAVE HER TO THY WIFE; Then thou shalt bring her home to thine house; and she shall shave her head, and pare her nails; And she shall put the raiment of her captivity from off her, and shall remain in thine house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month: and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife. And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money, thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her. |
Sex slavery/rape was NOT ALLOWED even among the captured virgin girls which made slaves (foreign).
- Note you MUST FREE the captive virgin first, and then MARRY HER with a marriage contract(Ketuba) that both man & woman sign onto.
- Her raiment of captivity is removed (aka she is no longer a slave nor captive)
- Note if later you don't like her as a wife anymore you CAN NOT sell her cuz she is damaged goods. Full rights of a Hebrew citizen. No sex slavery allowed by my awesome loving God.
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This opposed to other religions in the quran that allow rape of slave, where it says sex is allowed for those you marry and what your right hand possesses, which are slaves.
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Single verse with a seemingly unjust requirement.
We find a single verse in Exodus 21 talking about selling a daughter into servitude that says she is NOT to go free like other men servants, that seems strangely out of of joint. However upon inspecting the following verses for context we see that the daughter is NOT A SERVANT BUT RATHER SOLD AS A BRIDE (for dowry).
We find a single verse in Exodus 21 talking about selling a daughter into servitude that says she is NOT to go free like other men servants, that seems strangely out of of joint. However upon inspecting the following verses for context we see that the daughter is NOT A SERVANT BUT RATHER SOLD AS A BRIDE (for dowry).
Exodus 21:7-9 (KJV)
7 And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do. 8 If she please not her master, who hath BETROTHED her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her. 9 And if he have BETROTHED her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters. Exodus 21:7-9 (NIV) 7 “If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do. 8 If she does not please the master who has SELECTED her for himself, he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to foreigners, because he has broken faith with her. 9 If he SELECTS her for his son, he must grant her the rights of a daughter. |
When you compare the versions you see instead that the NIV mistranslated several critical words that indicate that the maidservant sold is actually sold as a BRIDE to be BETROTHED, instead of a servant for field work. This is why the original text states she is not to go out as the menservants do. For she is married woman and should NOT be treated as a servant or a slave. This correct translation completely torpedoes any notion that women can be sold as sex slaves or even servants.
Conclusion
It is very clear that the Bible CONDEMNS SLAVERY, while making PROVISIONS for the existence of slavery KNOWING SLAVERY DOES HAPPEN. It allows for VOLUNTARY servitude for the destitute with a clear ending point of every seven years and REQUIRES full protection and rights for these slaves. Unlike the slavery where the slaves did not even have decent treatment, the Bible requires masters to treat their slaves and servants well and FREE THEM every 7th year with generous provisions and pay.
Also we see the simple fact that everywhere slavery has been abolished, it has been Bible believing CHRISTIANS who had led the efforts to free the enslaved and many times paid with their lives. Christians do this because the God of the Bible, Yahweh, condemns man owning other men. Meanwhile nonChristian countries are the ones that have all sorts of slavery. Even the so called religion of peace has slavery to this very day with absolutely disgusting things like organ harvesting of Nigerian slaves in Libya.
Won't you join this Yahweh who encourages equality among all men, REGARDLESS OF COLOR, male and female, bond or free, by believing in the Messiah Yahweh sent to FREE us from our own sin debt, so that we can be once and for all RIGHT with the God of the universe?
It is very clear that the Bible CONDEMNS SLAVERY, while making PROVISIONS for the existence of slavery KNOWING SLAVERY DOES HAPPEN. It allows for VOLUNTARY servitude for the destitute with a clear ending point of every seven years and REQUIRES full protection and rights for these slaves. Unlike the slavery where the slaves did not even have decent treatment, the Bible requires masters to treat their slaves and servants well and FREE THEM every 7th year with generous provisions and pay.
Also we see the simple fact that everywhere slavery has been abolished, it has been Bible believing CHRISTIANS who had led the efforts to free the enslaved and many times paid with their lives. Christians do this because the God of the Bible, Yahweh, condemns man owning other men. Meanwhile nonChristian countries are the ones that have all sorts of slavery. Even the so called religion of peace has slavery to this very day with absolutely disgusting things like organ harvesting of Nigerian slaves in Libya.
Won't you join this Yahweh who encourages equality among all men, REGARDLESS OF COLOR, male and female, bond or free, by believing in the Messiah Yahweh sent to FREE us from our own sin debt, so that we can be once and for all RIGHT with the God of the universe?
Dear Lord God. I know I am a sinner and need your gift of salvation from my sins. I BELIEVE IN JESUS, the Son of God, as my personal Savior. I believe that His death on the cross and resurrection provides forgiveness for ALL my sins past, present, & future. Please forgive all my sins and come into my heart and life. I hereby trust in Jesus FINISHED WORK alone, and NOT upon me & my "good works", as sufficient to make me right with you and fit for Heaven. Please forgive ALL my sins and come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Seal me with your Holy Spirit until the day you come to take me home. In your Son Jesus’ name. Amen.
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