What Does the Bible Say About Slavery?

Understanding Slavery in the Bible

Discover 12 powerful Bible verses about slavery. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential government & society topic.

Top 10 Verses About Slavery

1. 1

   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.”

   KJV
2. 2

   Exodus 21:20

   “And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished. punished: Heb. avenged”

   KJV
3. 3

   Leviticus 25:44

   “Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.”

   KJV
4. 4

   Luke 4:18

   “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted , to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,”

   KJV
5. 5

   Galatians 3:28

   “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

   KJV
6. 6

   Galatians 5:1

   “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

   KJV
7. 7

   Ephesians 6:5

   “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;”

   KJV
8. 8

   Colossians 4:1

   “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.”

   KJV
9. 9

   Titus 2:9

   “Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; answering: or, gainsaying”

   KJV
10. 10

    Philemon 1:16

    “Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?”

    KJV

Subtopics of Slavery

How to Study What the Bible Says About Slavery

1. 1

   Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.

2. 2

   Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about slavery. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

3. 3

   Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.

4. 4

   Memorise at least one key verse about slavery and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.

Practical Application

Studying what the Bible says about slavery is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:

• Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on slavery needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

• Share what you have learned about slavery with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.

• Pray through the key verses about slavery, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.

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