Bondman
Culture & SocietyWhat 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
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Bondman. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Bondman in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Bondman clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Bondman." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/bondman/