What type of slavery was in the Bible?

To understand what type of slavery is described in the Bible, it is important to consider the historical context, the forms it took, and the regulations and limitations that biblical law imposed on it.

Slavery in the Ancient Near East

Slavery was a widespread institution in the ancient world, including the societies that surrounded Israel. In Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, and other nations, slavery took various forms—some brutal and lifelong, others more akin to indentured servitude. The Bible, written in this context, reflects many of the norms and realities of its time while also introducing unique regulations and ethical considerations.

Forms of Slavery in the Old Testament

The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) refers to several types of slavery. The most common was debt slavery, where individuals or families sold themselves into servitude to repay debts or avoid starvation (Leviticus 25:39). This form of slavery was often temporary, lasting up to six years, with release in the seventh year (the Sabbath year), as commanded in Exodus 21:2 and Deuteronomy 15:12. During the Year of Jubilee, which occurred every fifty years, Hebrew slaves were to be set free and their land returned (Leviticus 25:10).

Another form was slavery as a result of war. Prisoners or captives from other nations could be taken as slaves, a common practice among ancient peoples (Numbers 31:9-11). These non-Hebrew slaves did not always have the same protections as Israelite slaves, but the law did prescribe some limits, such as prohibiting the brutal treatment or murder of slaves (Exodus 21:20-21).

Slavery could also result from poverty, where parents sometimes sold their children into servitude to ensure their survival (2 Kings 4:1). In some cases, women became slaves through marriage arrangements or as concubines. These situations, while harsh by modern standards, were often seen as last-resort survival strategies in times of economic distress.

Regulations and Rights of Slaves

While the existence of slavery in the Bible can be troubling, it is important to note that biblical law sought to humanize and regulate the institution. Hebrew slaves were to be treated as hired workers and not be ruled over harshly (Leviticus 25:39-43). Masters were required to provide for their slaves’ basic needs, and physical abuse resulting in serious injury or death was punishable (Exodus 21:26-27).

Runaway slaves were not to be returned to their masters but allowed to live freely among the Israelites (Deuteronomy 23:15-16). Some slaves, after serving their term, could choose to remain with their masters out of loyalty or for security, undergoing a ritual to symbolize their permanent status (Exodus 21:5-6). The overall tone of biblical regulation was to temper the harshness commonly found in other ancient societies and to remind Israelites that they, too, had been slaves in Egypt and should act with compassion (Deuteronomy 15:15).

Slavery in the New Testament

By the time of the New Testament, slavery was deeply entrenched in the Greco-Roman world. The New Testament does not explicitly call for the abolition of slavery but addresses the reality of its existence. Paul, Peter, and other writers urge both masters and slaves to treat one another with respect and dignity (Ephesians 6:5-9; Colossians 3:22-4:1).

Paul’s letter to Philemon is a striking example. He pleads for the runaway slave Onesimus to be received not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ (Philemon 1:16). Early Christian teaching emphasizes the spiritual equality of all believers, declaring in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This idea would later become a foundation for Christian abolitionist movements.

Differences from Modern Slavery

It is important to distinguish biblical slavery from the racialized, hereditary chattel slavery that developed in the modern era. In the Bible, slavery was not based on race and was often temporary or voluntary. Slaves could own property, marry, and sometimes even rise to positions of authority—as in the case of Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 41:41). Nevertheless, it is undeniable that ancient slavery, in all its forms, involved hardship, loss of freedom, and social inequality.