The Best 50+ Bible Verses About Slavery

Slavery is a complex and often painful topic, but the Bible addresses it in various ways. This article compiles 50 Bible verses that touch on the subject of slavery.

These verses offer a range of perspectives, from historical accounts to moral teachings. Whether you're looking for insight or simply curious, these passages provide a window into how slavery is depicted in the Bible.

50 Bible Verses About Slavery

10 Bible Verses on Slavery in Old Testament

• "If you buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing." — Exodus 21:2
• "And as for your male and female slaves whom you may have—from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves. Moreover you may buy the children of the strangers who dwell among you, and their families who are with you, which they beget in your land; and they shall become your property. And you may take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them as a possession; they shall be your permanent slaves. But regarding your brethren, the children of Israel, you shall not rule over one another with rigor." — Leviticus 25:44-46
• "If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you." — Deuteronomy 15:12
• "And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property." — Exodus 21:20-21
• "And if one of your brethren who dwells by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave. As a hired servant and a sojourner he shall be with you, and shall serve you until the Year of Jubilee." — Leviticus 25:39-40
• "You shall not give back to his master the slave who has escaped from his master to you. He may dwell with you in your midst, in the place which he chooses within one of your gates, where it seems best to him; you shall not oppress him." — Deuteronomy 23:15-16
• "And if a man sells his daughter to be a female slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do. If she does not please her master, who has betrothed her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no right to sell her to a foreign people, since he has dealt deceitfully with her. And if he has betrothed her to his son, he shall deal with her according to the custom of daughters. If he takes another wife, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, and her marriage rights. And if he does not do these three for her, then she shall go out free, without paying money." — Exodus 21:7-11
• "Whoever lies carnally with a woman who is betrothed to a man as a concubine, and who has not at all been redeemed nor given her freedom, for this there shall be scourging; but they shall not be put to death, because she was not free. And he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, a ram as a trespass offering. The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he has committed. And the sin which he has committed shall be forgiven him." — Leviticus 19:20-22
• "If a man is found kidnapping any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and mistreats him or sells him, then that kidnapper shall die; and you shall put away the evil from among you." — Deuteronomy 24:7
• "If the sun has risen on him, there shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft." — Exodus 22:3

10 Bible Verses on Slavery in New Testament

• "Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ." — Ephesians 6:5
• "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God." — Colossians 3:22
• "Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things." — 1 Timothy 6:1-2
• "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." — Philemon 1:16
• "Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh." — 1 Peter 2:18
• "Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things." — Titus 2:9-10
• "Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." — 1 Corinthians 7:21-23
• "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." — Galatians 3:28
• "Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven." — Colossians 4:1
• "I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me." — Philemon 1:10-11

10 Bible Verses on Slavery and Freedom

• "Jesus answered them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.'" — John 8:34-36
• "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin." — Romans 6:6-7
• "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." — Galatians 5:1
• "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." — 2 Corinthians 3:17
• "Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God." — Romans 8:21
• "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." — Isaiah 61:1
• "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed." — Luke 4:18
• "Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." — Galatians 4:7
• "And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." — Romans 6:18
• "For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave." — 1 Corinthians 7:22

10 Bible Verses on Slavery and Justice

• "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?" — Isaiah 58:6
• "This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem to proclaim liberty to them: that every man should set free his male and female slave—a Hebrew man or woman—that no one should keep a Jewish brother in bondage." — Jeremiah 34:8-9
• "Thus says the Lord: 'For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they sell the righteous for silver, And the poor for a pair of sandals.'" — Amos 2:6
• "He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" — Micah 6:8
• "Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy." — Proverbs 31:8-9
• "Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow." — Isaiah 1:17
• "Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Execute true justice, Show mercy and compassion Everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, The alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart Against his brother.'" — Zechariah 7:9-10
• "Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked." — Psalm 82:3-4
• "He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy." — Proverbs 14:31
• "If I have despised the cause of my male or female servant When they complained against me, What then shall I do when God rises up? When He punishes, how shall I answer Him? Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?" — Job 31:13-15

10 Bible Verses on Slavery and Redemption

• "But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life." — Romans 6:22
• "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." — Ephesians 1:7
• "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." — Colossians 1:13-14
• "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." — 1 Peter 1:18-19
• "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree')." — Galatians 3:13
• "Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." — Hebrews 9:12
• "And they sang a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.'" — Revelation 5:9
• "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." — Titus 2:14
• "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's." — 1 Corinthians 6:20
• "I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." — Isaiah 44:22

What Does the Bible Say About Slavery

The Bible's teachings on slavery are complex and varied, reflecting different historical and cultural contexts. While some verses seem to accept the practice, others call for justice, freedom, and compassion. These passages offer a nuanced view that can guide us in understanding and addressing issues of oppression and human dignity today.

One key theme is the call for justice and mercy. Verses like Isaiah 58:6 and Micah 6:8 emphasize breaking the bonds of wickedness and acting justly. These teachings remind us to stand up for the oppressed and ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with compassion.

Another important theme is the concept of freedom. In John 8:34-36, Jesus speaks about being freed from the slavery of sin. This idea is echoed in Galatians 5:1, which encourages believers to stand firm in their liberty. These verses inspire us to seek spiritual and physical freedom for ourselves and others.

Redemption is also a significant theme. Verses like Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 1:13-14 talk about being redeemed through Christ's sacrifice. This message of redemption offers hope and a path to a new life, free from past sins and bondage.

Lastly, the Bible calls for fair treatment of all people. Colossians 4:1 urges masters to treat their servants justly, recognizing that they too have a Master in heaven. This principle encourages us to treat everyone with respect and kindness, regardless of their status.

How to Apply These Bible Verses About Slavery

Applying Bible teachings about slavery to our daily lives is crucial for fostering a just and compassionate world. These verses guide us in treating others with dignity and seeking freedom and justice for all.

• Practice Compassion: Show kindness and understanding to everyone, especially those who are marginalized or oppressed. Simple acts of kindness can make a big difference.
• Seek Justice: Stand up against injustice in your community. Support causes that fight for the rights of the oppressed and volunteer your time to help those in need.
• Pray for Freedom: Include prayers for the liberation of those who are physically or spiritually enslaved. Ask for guidance on how you can contribute to their freedom.
• Live with Integrity: Treat everyone fairly and with respect, regardless of their status. Reflect on Colossians 4:1 and strive to be just in all your dealings.
• Promote Redemption: Encourage others to seek redemption and a new life through faith. Share the message of hope found in verses like Ephesians 1:7.

Remember, God is always with you, guiding you to make a positive impact. Your faith-driven actions can transform lives and bring about real change.

For more prayers and Bible verses, visit PrayersFor or try our Bible Verse Generator to deepen your understanding and faith.