Roman Slavery Compared To Jewish Slavery

The Romans had a well-established system of slavery, where slaves were treated as property without personal rights, which led to tough penalties and exploitative conditions. While no form of slavery is acceptable, Jewish slavery approached the system of slavery through different lenses. Jewish religion and beliefs played a role in shaping the experience of slavery in their own culture. Jewish law provided certain protections and rights to slaves that were not afforded to Roman slaves.

Jewish slavery differed from Roman slavery in several ways, primarily due to the influence of their religion and cultural practices. In Jewish law, slaves were granted certain protections that were not found in Roman law. For example, Jewish slaves were entitled to rest on the Sabbath, as their status considered them members of their masters’ household (Ex. 20:10). Then we have the. Additionally, the Torah provided for the eventual release of Hebrew slaves after six years of service, and during the Jubilee year, all
Roman slaves were often prisoners of war, and forced into a variety of labor, including agricultural work, domestic service, and gladiatorial combat. Unlike Jewish slavery, the manumission of slaves in Roman society was nearly impossible, and freed slaves continued to face significant social and legal limitations. Their system did not allow for the integration of former slaves back into society, as Jewish law did with debtors.

A Jewish debtor was able to sell himself into slavery. Once the debt was paid, it was his legal right to repossess his former land and property (Lev. 25:10). Then we have the. These laws exemplify the difference between Jewish and Roman slavery. Jewish laws allotted eventual freedom and the humanization of Hebrew slaves by protecting their religious identities. Roman slavery refused to acknowledge its victims as humans and gave them no protection from an endless life of