What does the Bible say about servants?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible portrays servants as people under human authority, yet fully accountable to and valued by God, calling masters to act justly and believers to serve with humility and faithfulness. Genesis records servants within patriarchal households, including Abraham’s servant and Hagar, while also showing the grievous reality of sinful harshness and family conflict. Leviticus 25:46 reflects Israel’s ancient civil laws, not an approval of man-stealing or cruel oppression. Jesus called disciples from ordinary labor, as in Mark 1:20, and His parables portray servants as dependent upon a master’s provision. Above all, Scripture directs Christians to recognize Christ as Lord, serve one another in love, and remember that earthly status does not determine one’s standing before God.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- Early mention of Genesis 9:25; Genesis 9:26
- Divided into
- Male Genesis 24:34; Genesis 32:5
- Female Genesis 16:6; Genesis 32:5
- Bond Genesis 43:18; Leviticus 25:46
- Hired Mark 1:20; Luke 15:17
- Persons devoted to the service of another so called Psalms 119:49; Isaiah 56:6
- The subjects of a prince or king so called Exodus 9:20; Exodus 11:8
- Persons of low condition so called Ecclesiastes 10:7
- Persons devoted to God so called Psalms 119:49; Isaiah 56:6; Romans 1:1
- The term often used to express humility Genesis 18:3; Genesis 33:5; 1 Samuel 20:7; 1 Kings 20:32
- Hired
- Called hireling Job 7:1; John 10:12; John 10:13
- Engaged by the year Leviticus 25:53; Isaiah 16:14
- Engaged by the day Matthew 20:2
- Not to be oppressed Deuteronomy 24:14
- To be paid without delay at the expiration of their service Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:15
- To be esteemed worthy of their hire Luke 10:7
- To partake of the produce of the land in the sabbatical year Leviticus 25:6
- If foreigners not allowed to partake of the passover or holy things Exodus 12:45; Leviticus 22:10
- Anxiety of, for the end of their daily toil, alluded to Job 7:2
- Hebrew slaves serving their brethren to be treated as Leviticus 25:39; Leviticus 25:40
- Hebrew slaves serving strangers to be treated as Leviticus 25:47; Leviticus 25:53
- Often stood in the market place waiting for employment Matthew 20:1-3
- Often will fed and taken care of Luke 15:17
- Often oppressed and their wages kept back Malachi 3:5; James 5:4
- Slaves or bond
- Called bondmen Genesis 43:18; Genesis 44:9
- By birth Genesis 14:14; Psalms 116:16; Jeremiah 2:14
- By purchase Genesis 17:27; Genesis 37:36
- Captives taken in war often kept as Deuteronomy 20:14; 2 Kings 5:2
- Strangers sojourning in Israel might be purchased as Leviticus 25:45
- Persons belonging to other nations might be purchased as Leviticus 25:44
- Persons unable to pay their debts liable to be sold as 2 Kings 4:1; Nehemiah 5:4; Nehemiah 5:5; Matthew 18:25
- Thieves unable to make restitution were sold as Exodus 22:3
- More valuable than hired servants Deuteronomy 15:18
- When Israelites not to be treated with rigour Leviticus 25:39; Leviticus 25:40; Leviticus 25:46
- When Israelites to have their liberty after six years service Exodus 21:2; Deuteronomy 15:12
- Israelites sold as, refusing their liberty, to have their ears bored to the door Exodus 21:5; Exodus 21:6; Deuteronomy 15:16; Deuteronomy 15:17
- Israelites sold to strangers as, might be redeemed by their nearest of kin Leviticus 25:47-55
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