Yes, Slavery is Condoned in the Bible

[enigma]

“I have proof that in the US you cannot own a car.”
shows law where it is illegal to steal a car

[obiwankenobi]

“Read the context!” Until it doesn’t work for the apologist, then don’t

[Acer]

Also, that interpretation can also be refuted by looking at more modern contexts pertaining to the illegality of slavery.
In pre-Civil War US, kidnapping people to sell them into slavery was illegal. Yet they still had slaves because such laws only applied to kidnapping other Americans.

[UseADamnCoaster]

I like you man. You're knowledgeable, objective, and you keep it real despite your personal views. As an atheist I love to see believers actually being honest about this subject. Mad respect. 💯

[SockAyeYoon]

People need to stop cherry picking verses pertaining to "slavery" that shows what they consider "Fair" treatment to justify the idea the kind of slavery the Bible talks about

I noticed people definitely leave out the verses where the owner can beat their slave as long as you don't off them

That if someone sold their daughter into slavery, that the daughter wouldn't be able to leave like the men do after their service is done, that she is a slave until her death

If a slave(man) is married and has children during his service to his master, that when its time for him to be free, his wife and children are not able to leave with him
He can have his family under one condition and thats if he stays a servant/slave to his master

[MICAH-lg]

This question is tricky to answer because of the negative connotation associated with the concept of slavery. Slavery mentioned in the Bible is much different than how we would think of it today. In fact, I don't think "Slave" is the correct term to describe what's going on in the Bible. A more accurate term would be "Indentured servant”. The Hebrew term translated to slave is ebed,  coming from the root abad which implies payed servanthood.

Usually, when people today think of slavery, they think of this:

Chattel slavery, the most common in American history.

However, there are several key differences between chattel slavery and Biblical slavery.

1. Ancient (Biblical) slavery was not race based. Most American slaves were African, as they were seen as “Lesser races” who were created to serve the supreme white race. Slavery in the ancient world was not hardly if ever racially motivated.

2. Slaves were not kidnapped. Chattel slaves were kidnapped from their local lands with promises of a better life and forced into slavery. However, the Bible orders the death penalty for anyone who does this (Exodus 21:16).

Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death, whether the victim has been sold or is still in the kidnapper’s possession.

3. Slavery was consensual. If someone was a slave, it was because they sold themselves into servitude, in exchange for food, shelter etc. The exception being prisoners of war.

In order to avoid poverty, someone in the ancient world might sell themselves as an indentured servant in exchange for food and shelter. This was common practice.

When slaves were spoken of, it was usually those who entered into servitude willingly.

4. Slaves in the Bible are given some rights. Chattel slaves had no rights and were seen as nothing more than objects of their owners, and their owners could beat and starve them to the point of death on their own whim.

The Bible forbids beating slaves, such that if an eye or even a tooth is lost to beating the slave is allowed to go free:

Exodus 21:26-27

An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth.

If a slave ran away, he wasn’t to be returned to his master, rather the family who he ran to is required to harbor him, and to treat him well and let him live where he chooses.

Deuteronomy 23:15-16

You shall not hand over to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you. He shall live with you in your midst, in the place which he shall choose in one of your towns where it pleases him; you shall not mistreat him.

Slaves are guaranteed a Sabbath say of rest, just like everyone else:

Exodus 20:10

But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.

Note that this applies to all slaves, not just Hebrew ones. Leviticus 19:33-34 commands the Israelites to treat foreigners as they would treat locals. Leviticus 25:44-46 is often pointed to as proof that Biblical slavery allows Israelites to keep foreigners as slaves for life, whereas Hebrew slaves were to be freed after seven years (Deuteronomy 15:12). However, in context this relates to the year of Jubilee, where Hebrew slaves are allowed to return to their homelands. For a sojourner with no homeland to return to this wouldn’t be an option.

Some will point to Exodus 21:20-21 as proof that you are allowed to beat a slave, so long as the slave doesn’t die, without punishment. However the Hebrew term used here to refer to punishment is naqam, which specifically refers to the death penalty. If you beat a slave but he is able to stand up fully within two days, you shouldn’t be executed for it. However the slave will still be released, as per verses 26 and 27 just a few verses later.

When slave owners wanted to keep slaves submissive, they would give them an altered version of the Bible known as the Slave’s Bible, which cut out large portions which they felt could possibly entice slaves to be disobedient to their masters.

If the Bible completely supported slavery this wouldn’t be necessary.

To conclude, there’s a difference between not banning a practice and supporting it. The torah doesn’t ban slavery because slavery was so commonplace at the time, and because it was a symbiotic relationship, beneficial for both parties (The master receives labor, the servant receives food, land, money etc). However it calls for good treatment of slaves, and most certainly doesn’t support race-based chattel slavery.

We need to understand the role the torah played. It wasn’t meant to be a perfect moral code, but rather a compromise of sorts. It was a means to an end, meant to prepare Israel for the messianic age. Rather than straight up banning slavery, God gave guidelines on it, but this doesn’t mean he agreed with it and didn’t plan to abolish it eventually.

[Don_Von_De_LaNooch]

"Educate all the TikTokers", said sarcastically while on TikTok. 😏 I knew he was silly by his opening statement.

[Beegee]

Hard to believe all the lies I was told in church, Sunday School, Bible studies…not maliciously but, by people who blindly trusted they had been taught “the truth.” Thank you for setting the record straight by explaining the actual truth of what was written by men in this errant book.

[johnnytruble]

I love when Christians think if they find just one verse that says what they want, then that means all the other verses are obsolete 😂

[gklgspy]

The weapons grade ignorance and mental gymnastics of fundies is often breathtaking

[Buddhamind]

Also he is saying god condones the death penalty…..

[minamina]

Exodus 21:20-21

“Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property."

yet people still defend slavery, not servitude, in the bible...ew.

[Dalekzilla]

The Bible has scriptures that condone slavery, genocide, and bashing the head of your enemy's baby against a rock.

[mdm]

This guy does not know what the word condone means. Simply put, if god allows it.. by definition of the word he condones it.

[E.M.jansnow]

Even as a Some who doesn’t believe in religion this why I follow you, you try your best to be fair and unbiased even though you are a Christian . You give clear and good explanations Respect to you sir

[artisan-visumllc]

The more you listen to people who develop their beliefs off others' words, the more you should realize they lack any depth of wisdom. Wisdom is not found in the experience you have not found yourself.

[Kimby-KATT]

Hi Dan, I love your responses. But it's so painful to see the content being responded to. I have to ask myself where people get these very selective or out-of-context readings.

Thank you for your work and for being here. I feel like finding your channel was like finding water in the desert. I'm from AZ - I know what thirst feels like! Bless you, you comic art loving Human.

Cheers from Cheshire.

[joefuentes]

If things like this isn't proof enough for everyone that the Bible is witten by men over their time to explain their experience and relationship with God and no some inerrent thing written and approved by God then we're cooked.

[Vincenzo-wnor]

In ancient Israel slavery was basically an advance method of handling unpaid debt.
Nobody was permitted to keep a fellow Israelite as "slave" for more than seven years (Leviticus 25:35-55) At that point debt was annulled.
If one beat or harmed a slave, he had to be set free (Exodus 21:26)
If one came across an escaped slave, one was not supposed to return him (Deuteronomy 22:28).

[alexanderthegreatness]

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the OPPRESSED FREE,