Bondman
Culture & Societyâš¡ IN BRIEF (SUMMARY)
A bondman was an individual bound to servitude, typically due to debt or as a prisoner of war, whose status differed from chattel slavery by often being temporary and subject to legal statutes that protected basic rights.
What is the meaning of Bondman in the Bible?
A bondman was an individual bound to servitude, typically due to debt or as a prisoner of war, whose status differed from chattel slavery by often being temporary and subject to legal statutes that protected basic rights.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the distinction between bondmen and chattel slaves clarifies the legal protections afforded to vulnerable populations in ancient Israel, revealing a societal framework where servitude functioned as a remedial economic measure rather than solely as permanent racial or ethnic subjugation.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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- What cultural or historical assumption does Bondman clarify?
Source Attribution & Provenance
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been editorially modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and formatted for fast contextual reference.