The Bible and slavery

The Bible contains many references to slavery, which was a common practice in antiquity. In the course of human history, slavery was a typical feature of civilization, predated written records, and existed in most societies throughout history. Slavery is an economic phenomenon. Biblical texts outline sources and the legal status of slaves, economic roles of slavery, types of slavery, and debt slavery, which thoroughly explain the institution of slavery in Israel in antiquity. The Bible stipulates the treatment of slaves, especially in the Old Testament. There are also references to slavery in the New Testament. In both testaments and Jewish culture, there are also practices of manumission, releasing from slavery. The treatment and experience of slaves in both testaments was complex, diverse and differed from those of surrounding cultures.

Many of the patriarchs portrayed in the Bible were from the upper echelons of society, owned slaves, enslaved those in debt to them, bought their fellow citizens' daughters as concubines, and consistently enslaved foreign men to work on their fields. Masters were usually men, but the Bible portrays upper-class women from Sarah to Esther and Judith with their enslaved maids, as do the Elephantine papyri in the 400s BC.

It was necessary for those who owned slaves, especially in large numbers, to be wealthy because the masters had to pay taxes for Jewish and non-Jewish slaves because they were considered part of the family unit.