DID YOU KNOW?
"An Often-Ignored Verse That Complicates Claims About the Bible, and Slavery.

Critics sometimes claim that the Bible supports slavery, but a passage in Book of Deuteronomy raises important questions about that narrative.

“You shall not give up to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you.” — Deuteronomy 23:15

In the ancient world, slavery was a normal part of society and legal systems usually demanded that escaped slaves be returned immediately. Helping a runaway could bring serious punishment.

Yet the law given to Israel took a different direction. Instead of commanding people to capture and return a runaway, the text instructs them to protect that person.

The surrounding passage even allows the escaped individual to live among the community and choose where to settle without being mistreated.

That instruction stands in contrast to many ancient law codes, suggesting that biblical law was placing limits on power and creating space for protection of vulnerable people.

The verse therefore challenges the assumption that Scripture simply reinforces systems of domination. Instead, it reflects a recurring theme in the Bible: concern for the oppressed and a call for justice within society.

Passages like Deuteronomy 23:15 show that the biblical text often engages with existing social systems while placing moral boundaries on them—pointing toward a vision where human dignity matters."
DID YOU KNOW? "An Often-Ignored Verse That Complicates Claims About the Bible, and Slavery. Critics sometimes claim that the Bible supports slavery, but a passage in Book of Deuteronomy raises important questions about that narrative. “You shall not give up to his master a slave who has escaped from his master to you.” — Deuteronomy 23:15 In the ancient world, slavery was a normal part of society and legal systems usually demanded that escaped slaves be returned immediately. Helping a runaway could bring serious punishment. Yet the law given to Israel took a different direction. Instead of commanding people to capture and return a runaway, the text instructs them to protect that person. The surrounding passage even allows the escaped individual to live among the community and choose where to settle without being mistreated. That instruction stands in contrast to many ancient law codes, suggesting that biblical law was placing limits on power and creating space for protection of vulnerable people. The verse therefore challenges the assumption that Scripture simply reinforces systems of domination. Instead, it reflects a recurring theme in the Bible: concern for the oppressed and a call for justice within society. Passages like Deuteronomy 23:15 show that the biblical text often engages with existing social systems while placing moral boundaries on them—pointing toward a vision where human dignity matters."
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