There are many bible verses about slavery and it doesn’t just start from the transatlantic slave trade. Here we will be looking at the slave trade of the Israelite’s because the scriptures are our primary objective here…
We will also touch on some of the conditions of slavery and what the most High required of those that had slaves.
Also, the question of whether the Bible condoned slavery should be rewritten to ask “was there a need to regulate slavery?” Of course the most High knows the hearts of men and knew that this would always be a condition that they would create for each other.
That being said the question is did the Bible condone the slavery that we saw during the transatlantic slave trade? because that’s what we’re really talking about…
We can use this question to compare biblical slavery’s rules and regulations given by the most High to the slavery that was committed during the transatlantic slave trade.
This will give us a clear indication about whether the Most High ever condoned this type of legalised killing that we saw against the so called Negros, Hispanics & Latinos (Hebrew) communities.
Defining Slavery
Let’s first look at the term slavery and what it means by definition:
Slavery in the European sense is defined as as a system where a person is seen as property and has no ability to remove themselves from the situation. They are also not entitled to to any monetary gain from the work they do for their slave master(s).
Now we have the definition of slavery in the modern sense we can look at whether this is what was condoned in the scriptures…
Slavery In The Scriptures
It is evident that there were slaves in the scriptures but they were called “servants“. That being said when we look at the treatment of the servants there were also clear conditions.
What is very clear is that none of these conditions included killing a slave for sport or killing a runaway slave. In fact if a slave ran away then that slave was allowed to go free (Deuteronomy 23:15)…
Deuteronomy 23:15
15 Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:
This of course can only be testament to the fact that the owner of a servant had the responsibility of looking after them well enough so the servant stuck around willingly.
When we read the scriptures we see two types of Slaves: those that were enslaved by their Hebrew brothers usually to work off a debt and and slaves from outside nations, usually called Strangers, Gentiles in the new testament.
Deuteronomy 28 Curse Not Slavery
Deuteronomy 28 explains the curses and how they would occur if Israel failed to keep the Commandments of the most High.
Unfortunately the curse came to pass and the transatlantic slave trade is evidence of this. It is also confirmed in Daniel 9:11, that Israel had broken the Most Highs commands:
Daniel 9:11
11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
We see reference to the slave trade when we read Deuteronomy 28 it says that Israel will be taken in ships into Egypt which which means bondage.
Deuteronomy 28:68
68 And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you.
We know that Egypt was referring to the Americas and Europe this because there are no ships required to travel from Israel to Egypt, and other scriptures reference Egypt as meaning a place of bondage or servitude.
Deuteronomy 13:10
10 And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
It also says Israel would be taken by a people that they didn’t know at the time, who we know to be Europeans.
Other pertinent signs are the yokes of iron that would be put around Negro and Native Americans necks during the 1600-1900 slave period.
Deuteronomy 28:48
Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.
These are all the signs of the transatlantic slave trade. We also see the other curses that took place and continue to take place socially even until day, which are Israelite’s being called, Bywords and Proverbs. This covers words such as ni**er and many other derogatory terms and stereotypes.
It also covers the black on black violence because we are told that Israel will have evil eyes (animosity) (Deuteronomy 28:54) for each other.
Ships In The Bible
If you’re unaware of the history in the bible. I need to make it clear that in biblical times there were ships. This should be obvious, but I have to make it clear because some people actually think that boats and ships did not exist in biblical times.
If you’re familiar with the history of Noah’s ark, the fact that there are ships in the bible should come as no surprise.
1 Kings 9:26
And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.
It is clearly evident that Noah’s ark was a ship. That being said we can also see scriptures which tell us that Solomon had fleets of ships too.
The reason I need to make this clear is because some don’t believe that the prophecy in Deuteronomy 28 could have been talking about slave ships.
Hopefully this has cleared things up for those of you that were in doubt. And if you weren’t in doubt you at least now have scriptures you can pull to show others.
The Worst Slavery According To The Bible
What many people don’t know is that an event similar to the transatlantic slave trade occurred before, in 70AD. It happened when the Romans destroyed and killed the Israelite’s, and even before.
It’s important we talk about 70AD because the Messiah prophesied that Israel would be destroyed fulfilling prophecy.
He told the believing Israelite’s Jews (Mainly the tribes Judah, Benjamin and Levi) to flee to the mountains when they saw Jerusalem surrounded by the Roman armies.
Luke 21:20-21
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
It’s important to note that the destruction of Israel prophesied was because of their disobedience and it is recorded in the scriptures as the worst to ever happen to any nation (Daniel 9:11-12)…
Daniel 9:11-12
11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
12 And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
This puts an end to those that say all people have been through slavery comparable to the transatlantic slave trade, which is a blatant lie.
What happened during the “Transatlantic slavery” is a continuation of the Jerusalem’s destruction, because Israel are the people the Most High have gave Jerusalem too.
The transatlantic slave is merely a continuation of the biblical curse prophesied against Israel, so in actual fact it’s not slavery at all by biblical standards.
I say this to say that anybody saying that the Bible condones a European version of slavery is misguided…
Instead the truth is the Europeans that brought the Bible condone what they did and deceived people into thinking the Bible also condoned the legalised killing and ownership of people they brought.
If you haven’t got the point the point is slavery and the transatlantic slave trade are two different things.
Examples of Biblical slavery
When we read the scriptures we see two prominent examples of slavery which effected individual Israelite’s.
Again it is very different to that which took place against Israel in Jerusalem or the transatlantic slave trade (When Southern Israelite’s settled in West Africa, Negroes) and the Americas (Where the Northern Tribes of Israel settled, Native Americans, Latinos and Hispanics) when Columbus arrived.
The first person enslaved is Joseph. He was sold to the Arabs by his brothers who were jealous of him. The Arabs then sold Joseph to the Egyptians as a slave (Servant).
Even so, Joseph still rose to prominence within the house of the Pharaoh and became second in command.
This could never happen to slaves during the Trans Atlantic slave trade…
The second example we see is of Moses as a baby. He was raised in Pharaoh’s house by his daughter.
At the time the Egyptians were killing the first born males of the Israelite’s. Even during all of this Moses was still taken in by the Egyptian King’s daughter and brought up as an Egyptian.
This happened, even after it was known that Moses was a Hebrew. Moses soon grew to prominence within Egypt and became second in command to Pharaoh.
This is unimaginable within the European slavery dynamics. Keep in mind the curse against Israel was not given to them by Moses at this time.
The point is to show how slavery differs from the slave trade, when it took place slaves were always given rights which could enable them to rise in prominence.
This just goes to show that the slave trade is a unique situation that stands on its own affection Israelite’s because of their covenant with the Most High.
Slavery Bible Verses
This verse in the Leviticus immediately defines what a slave or servant was in the scriptures.
Leviticus 25:6
6 And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee.
We are told that a servant is a person for hire which is totally contrary to European slavery. Here some type of exchange is given which is not present in the European slavery definition.
If a slave was a Hebrew then they had the luxury of being released at each Jubilee from their debt (Leviticus 25:13).
This was not the same for strangers or other nations but it doesn’t mean they were treated any worse. They would have to work until they paid off their debt.
Leviticus 25:39-43
39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:
40 But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile.
41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.
42 For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen.
43 Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.
Israel are not allowed to make permanent servants of themselves but they could make permanent servants of the other nations (Leviticus 25:44-45).
Leviticus 25:44-45
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.
45 Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession.
But this does not mean that they were maltreated, interestingly these same nations could also make servants of Israel (Leviticus 25:47-48) but again this could not be permanent because Israel owned the land.
Leviticus 25:47-48
47 And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger’s family:
48 After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him:
During the “so-called” European slavery it was not uncommon for slaves to run away and in such instances they were usually caught and punished.
Hanging, burning and clubbing of Indians by Spanish soldiers. (Bartolomé de las Casas) Wikimedia Commons
This contrasts dramatically with the scriptures which says that a servant is not to be returned to the master if they run away.
The Tuskegee Institute records of lynchings between the years 1880 and 1951 show 3,437 African-American victims. Lynchings were concentrated in the Cotton Belt: (Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana).
Deuteronomy 23:15
15 Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee:
Scriptures Allegedly That Condone Slavery
You probably have enough information already that the bible does not condone the activities of the slave directly, but here is popular scripture that needs to be addressed.
A popular scripture that people like to refer to is the one in the New Testament which says slaves obey your Masters:
Ephesians 6:5
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;
Unfortunately this has been totally misinterpreted which should be evident from what has been explained in previous scriptures above which explain classifying biblical slavery.
The point is, Paul’s advise to slaves (servants) here has nothing to do with modern-day European slavery.
That treatment is the result of a broken promise, which is found in Deuteronomy 28 being played out. You can read more about who Israel is here.
Punishment For The Trans-Atlantic Slavery
What we do know is that the Most High is fair, just and merciful. Nothing sums this up more than the saying that you reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7-9); meaning in this instance if you enslave and kill people you will eventually receive a punishment fitting.
You may be thinking, if the Europeans were just carrying out the curses of the Most High why should they be punished? And this is a natural question; but lets look at another person who fulfilled prophecy in the scriptures to have the Messiah crucified…
Who? You may be wondering…
Well, Judas Iscariot…
If you don’t know what Judas did and who he was I’ll explain. Judas was one of the Messiah’s 12 disciples. It was him who told the Romans where the Messiah for a payment; he even kissed the Messiah as a sign to the Romans to show them who he was.
Matthew 26:47-50
47 And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people.
48 Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast.
49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.
We all know what happened after that? It led to the Messiah being taken and being sacrificed for us all (John 3:16). Keep in mind that the Messiah prophesied that he would be betrayed, so someone had to be used; Even so, the Messiah still condemned the person that would betray him.
We later see that Judas’ life ended with him committing suicide.
Matthew 27:3-5
3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
5 And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.
Conclusion
Of course it’s hard to believe that the transatlantic slave trade is prophesied in the scriptures. Many don’t even believe that the Israelite’s are Negro, Hispanic and Latino. But the truth is whether you believe it or not it’s still the truth.
Understanding who you are if you are Negro, Hispanic or Latino is just one part of the equation. You should take a look at the article here which defines who Shem, Ham and Japheth are.
This article is not to compare sufferings because the scriptures have made it clear that this treatment is because of Israel’s disobedience; which is the worst that any nation has ever received.
Unfortunately we hear all the time that all people were been enslaved, and that all people suffered in the same way but this is a complete lie and untrue.
It’s important that you know who Israel are because through this nation of people the whole world can receive salvation.
This is made clear in a scriptures when Messiah says to the Samaritan that salvation is of the Jews; the Jews being Judah who are the Negro tribes Judah, Benjamin, Levi that were left in Jerusalem, after the 9 tribes had already sailed to the Americas.
The term Jew means Judah and was used because Judah is the Head tribe in Israel; So a Jew is one of three tribes From Judah, Levi, or Benjamin or a descendant of Israel in generally.
It is clear that scriptures never condoned slavery of the transatlantic slave trade, as perpetual birthright for those involved. This event is recorded as a curse because of Israel’s
disobedience to the most High, as harsh as that may sound to some.
Shalom! And share this with someone that needs it.