Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Leviticus 25:44 'As for your male and female slaves whom you may have--you may acquire male and female slaves from the pagan nations that are around you. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Leviticus 25:44 'As for your male and female slaves whom you may have--you may acquire male and female slaves from the pagan nations that are around you. |
Bible Question: I am trying to understand this verse. Does this place slavery inside the will of God? Lev 25 starts with "And God spoke to Moses saying...", eventually arriving at "...you may aquire slaves..." I have meditated on this verse trying to understand, did God condone slavery for any purpose? Can anyone offer insight? |
Bible Answer: Your questions: Does this place slavery inside the will of God? Yes, this does place slavery inside the will of God, otherwise God would not approve of Paul calling himself or other believers bondslaves of Christ (Rom 1:1; Col 4:12) nor would God call his people his servants (v. 55) In a fallen world slavery among men is not the ideal but it is the reality. And God gives us commands to deal with that reality. Reading the chapter, it is interesting to note that God makes a distinction between his people and aliens. Lev 25:39 'If a countryman of yours becomes so poor with regard to you that he sells himself to you, you shall not subject him to a slave's service. Lev 25:42 'For they are My servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt; they are not to be sold in a slave sale. Also, Jewish servants of Jews were not allowed to remain servants beyond six years or the Year of Jubilee, unless they made themselves bondslaves of their Jewish master. (Exodus 21; Lev 25:40) Likewise in the NT Christian slaves are encouraged to acquire freedom if they could. 1 Cor 7:21 Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. Christian masters of Christian slaves are commanded not to treat them as slaves, but as brothers. The whole letter of Paul to Philemon is about the return of a runaway slave. When the runaway had come across Paul, he heard the Gospel and believed. Paul then sent him back to his Christian master Philemon with the instruction, "For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord." (Philem 1:15,16) Also, when you think of slavery in the Bible, don't think of the European/American slave trade. The slavery God regulated in Israel was voluntary or by God-sanctioned conquest. The African slaves, many or most of them were stolen. The Americans knew that they were buying stolen goods! You asked, "did God condone slavery for any purpose? Of course not! Slaves couldn't be used for sinful purposes. God gave ordinances that gave slaves certain rights and protections. Ex 21:20 "If a man strikes his male or female slave with a rod and he dies at his hand, he shall be punished. Ex 21:21 "If, however, he survives a day or two, no vengeance shall be taken; for he is his property Ex 21:24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Ex 21:25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. Ex 21:26 "If a man strikes the eye of his male or female slave, and destroys it, he shall let him go free on account of his eye. Ex 21:27 "And if he knocks out a tooth of his male or female slave, he shall let him go free on account of his tooth. Ex 23:12 "Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves. Eph 6:9 And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. Col 4:1 Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven. To recap, God should be the only Ruler, and the Lord and His Christ the only Master. In a fallen world the reality is that we have men who rule over us and men who are masters. God has ordained or regulates both. Peace, |
Up | Down View Branch | ID# 66841 | ||
Questions and/or Subjects for Lev 25:44 | Author | ||
|
bubba369 | ||
|
One | ||
|
Lionstrong | ||
|
Lionstrong | ||
|
tremere123@comcast.net | ||
|
8788 | ||
|
Jennyh61 |