HEBREW WORD STUDY – INDENTURED SERVANTS – ‘EVED עבד Ayin Beth Daleth

Exodus 21:7: “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.”

In recent years one of the greatest attacks against the Bible is that Scripture allegedly condones slavery. There are those who consider themselves more righteous and moral that the teachings of the Bible and declare: “See there, the Bible is full of teachings of slavery and we know how wrong that is, we are so much moral and civilized today than the people of the Bible.” The conclusion is that if you are a Christian who believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God then you believe slavery is ok and therefore you are not as moral as those of this enlightened generation.

Such attackers are only showing their ignorance of the Bible. They pick and choose their translations and less than half our modern translations render the word ‘eved as slaves while the rest render it as servants. What is the difference between a servant and a slave? A servant is one who voluntarily serves and can leave the service at any time. Under that definition, a soldier would be a slave as he voluntarily signs up for service but cannot leave until his enlistment or contract expires. Until that time the military literally owns you. But that really makes you an indentured servant, one who is either working off a debt or fulfilling a contract. But what about during the time when there was a draft? Many were forced into servitude in the military against their will but went because they faced imprisonment and a criminal record which would ruin their will. Is that not a form of slavery. However, the laws of this land clearly state that no one can own a human being. So what is the difference between the slaves of early American History and being in the military?

There were a number of differences between a draftee and a slave. A draftee had certain legal rights, a slave had none. A draftee did have a termination to his servitude, the slave did not. The draftee was not kidnapped and forced into slavery as the slaves of early American history. A draftee was ruled by his own countrymen, a slave was ruled by a foreign nation.

There is only one word in Hebrew for slave and servant, ‘eved and only the context will tell you how to render this. It is for good reason because there is a questionable line between slavery and servitude. When we think of slavery we think of slavery in our history where men and women were owned and considered property. An owner had the right to do what he wanted with his property. Although there were many slaves who lived a decent life as household servants they were not paid, they were not allowed the rights of a citizen, they were treated differently under the law and they could be used in any way the master deemed. If the master tired of his slave’s service in the household, he could send them to the fields or sell them to another slave owner. This is what we hear when we hear the word slave. That is not what a Hebrew slave was.

In Exodus 21:2: “When you purchase a Hebrew slave…” Right there you have a clear picture that the slave is property because he is purchased. First, consider the word “when” is ki in Hebrew which means basically “because” or “if” you acquire a servant. This passage nor anywhere in the Torah is servitude encouraged or require. The Torah only states the rules to be applied if one acquires an ‘eved. Secondly, that word purchased in Hebrew is qanah which is to purchase but also means to simply acquire or redeem. Historically, the word redemption would be the best fit rather than purchase. Dennis Prager writes in his commentary on Exodus: “Indentured servitude was the only way out of abject poverty for vast numbers of people throughout history.” The slavery mentioned in the book of Exodus is a reference to indentured servitude where people would sell themselves into slavery or servitude in order to pay off debts either debts that they are unable to pay off, or debts resulting from liability or some criminal activity. However, if you read further in verse 2 you find that this period of servitude is to last only for six years. Then the ‘eved is to be set free. If you read further in this chapter you find the ‘eved has many rights that a slave does not have.

That brings us to verse seven which tells us that when a daughter is sold into slavery. Could a parent actually sell their daughter? True the word makar does mean to sell, that is to receive something of value in return of something of agreed value. The parents are not selling their child, but they are dealing with a matter of servitude. Maimonides the great Jewish commentator in his Code of Jewish law points out that a man may not sell his daughter as a servant unless he is greatly impoverished and has no other resources. Even then it is understood that the daughter will either marry the master or a son of the master and receive the full rights of a wife. If the master refuses to marry the daughter she must be redeemed and cannot be sold to any foreign master.

Hebrew slavery within the Hebrew culture was nothing close to the slavery of early American history. In fact, the Apostle Paul uses servitude or slavery as an illustration of his service to God. He considered himself a bondservant. Now a bondservant is not an indentured servant paying off a debt but is an actual slave, owned by a master, albeit subject to Hebrew and/or Torah laws in treatment and rights. A bondservant is one who voluntarily stays with a master after his period of servitude ends. The relationship between a bondservant and a master is one of respect and love. A bondservant serves not to pay off a debt, not to avoid harsh punishment if his service does not meet a standard, he serves out of love for the master. I think we as Christians tend to forget that we are bondservants of God, not indentured servants. We have no debt to pay off, Jesus paid the debt. We have no reason to serve God other than our love for Him.