Servant, Slave
These are notes for an incomplete "Concept" page.
- Information is being added as the Bible Pages are added. In the end, everything will be compiled, further information added (as necessary), broken links connected, etc.
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- See also:Bondage (which is a broader concept).
Modern-Day Abuse and Distorted Concepts... Contrasted to Scripture
The modern stereotype of slavery has little or nothing to do with the slavery of the Bible. Though individuals may have abused their slaves, such abuse was never condoned by God. Those who would try to defend such practices with Scripture are either self-deceived or blatant liars. This has always been true in the past (even when it was religious people who were trying to justify their abuse), and it is true today. To superimpose modern-day concepts back into the Bible is to lie about Scripture - not to mention that it tends to blind us to realities that exist today and takes away everything Scripture says that could restrain modern-day abuses of humans.
The concept of being a servant or slave covers a very wide range of situations. Some even parallel the modern concept of "employee" - which is why verses such as Ephesians 6:5-9 are applicable to the employer-employee relationship. In the Bible, slavery or servanthood may be voluntary (such as to help pay off debts, or because the person wants to); it can be forced (such as a war captive or certain types of criminals). In most instances, there is a time limit, after which the servant or slave must be set free (unless he chooses to remain a slave).
To illustrate how desirable the Bible's concept of slavery can be (which assumes that both master and slave are living according to the regulations of Scripture), consider this: Those who choose to become "followers" of Jesus are called "slaves" of God. And to illustrate the fact that there are both good and bad types of slavery, consider this: Scripture tells us that everyone is a slave to something - either to sin (resulting in death) or to righteousness (resulting in life). (Note: Many translations will use the word "servant" instead of "slave," in such contexts, because of the modern-day distortions of the concept.)
There are rights and responsibilities for both master and slave; and both will be accountable to God for how they treated (or interacted with) the other. As in any relationship between two individuals, the one (either master or slave) is capable of sinning against the other, or of doing what is good for the other. However, those who choose to sin - whether servant or master - come under the judgment of God.
The relationship between servant and master is such that, there is a "debt" (not necessarily financial), which the servant owes the master. This is reflected in the way civil law applies to each. This is because of the nature of the relationship between the two, and not because of differences in "value" (a lie that does not exist in the Bible). Both are equal in God's sight, and many of the laws have specific applications that protect the one who is serving.
The "institution" of slavery or servanthood still exists today. It is increasing in frequency - and it tends to be the type that is strongly condemned by the Bible. However, those who do the enslaving tend to use other words, instead of the word "slave" (such as "worker"). Or they may confine the slaves to places that prevent them from having contact with outsiders (something that has occurred in increasing frequency in developed countries, with the slaves often being illegal immigrants). Or they may run their "slave camps" in far-away places (such as in "third-world" countries), and then ship the products of that slavery to countries that are thousands of miles away (such as the United States and Europe). It may also involve abusive employer-employee relationships.
Scripture Pages that Link to Here
- Slaves/servants must be allowed one day of rest each week, just like anyone else.
- You must not covet a neighbor's servant.
- Regulations related to mistreating (wounding) a slave.
- A thief who can't pay back what he stole (and the additional restitution) must be sold for his theft.
- Slaves/servants must be allowed one day of rest each week, just like anyone else. (Remember that you yourself used to be servants in Egypt.)
- You must not covet a neighbor's servant.
- Exo 23:12 "Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that ... the son of your handmaid ... may be refreshed.
- Foreign slaves can be kept forever, but not Israelite slaves.
- A poor member of the community: If he sells himself to you, treat him as a hired servant, not as a slave. He is to be released in the year of Jubilee.
- You can be a slave to a foreigner, but can be redeemed, or else you are to be released in the year of the Jubilee. Why? Because ultimately, the Israelites are God's servants/slaves.
- With ongoing disobedience/rebellion, YOU will become the slaves of others. (implied in several verses)
- Exo 3:7 Yahweh said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.
- The issue has to do with the oppression and affliction that the Israelites experienced, at the hands of the brutal Egyptian taskmasters. It wasn't merely the fact that they were working for the Egyptians; rather, they were being abused by them. God opposes and condemns the mistreatment and abuse of humans, whether or not they are slaves.
- Ecc 2:7a - I bought male servants and female servants, and had servants born in my house.
Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.
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