BONDAGE (עֲבֹדָה, H6275, and derivatives, labor, service; LXX ἔργον, G2240, work; NT ἡ δουλεία, servitude, bondage, slavery, various forms of δουλεύω, G1526, to be a slave, δοῦλος, a slave, bondman). Used both in a literal and a fig. sense.

A. Literally it is used of: (1) The conditions of the Hebrews in Egypt (Exod 1:14 KJV; RSV tr. by “service,” 2:23, et al.) where they were forced to make bricks for the state building projects. The term used is ’abōdāh. More frequently their condition is expressed by בֵּ֣ית עֲבָדִ֔ים (house of slaves), generally tr. “house of bondage” (Exod 13:3, 14, KJV, et al.). A similar bondage was experienced in Babylonia (Isa 14:3, where the form ’abōdāh is used) and under the Persians (Ezra 9:8 RSV, where the form עַבְדֻת, H6285, “servitude,” “bondage” appears). Both of these situations may be described as “national bondage,” for the emphasis is on the nation as a whole rather than on individuals. Even after the return to Pal., the condition of the people is described as one of servitude/bondage, for they were still under Pers. rule (Neh 5:8). (2) The condition of individuals in all periods of Heb. history. (a) In the Patriarchal period, Hagar is called a שִׁפְחָ֥ה “maid” or “maid-servant” (Gen 16:1); but elsewhere (21:10) אָמָ֣ה, “maid” or “handmaid” is used (tr. “slave woman” RSV, “bondwoman” KJV). (b) During the monarchy (1 Sam 9:10) Ziba, a servant of Saul, is said to have had fifteen sons and twenty servants (עֶ֫בֶד֒, H6269, ’ebed, “servant,” “slave” is the term used). (c) In the postexilic period some of the returned Jews were experiencing such severe conditions that they were forced to sell sons and daughters (Neh 5:5) into “bondage” (KJV) or “slavery” (RSV). (3) The relationship of marriage (1 Cor 7:15), where Paul speaks of the partner as being under “bondage” (KJV) or “bound” (RSV).

B. Bondage occurs in the fig. sense only in the NT and then mainly in the KJV. The RSV generally tr. it by “slave” or “slavery”—“bondman” (עֶ֫בֶד֒, H6269, δοῦλος); a male slave or servant (Deut 15:17); “bondmaid” (אָמָ֣ה; שִׁפְחָ֥ה; παιδίσκη, G4087). The KJV also used bondwoman. See also Slave, Slavery.

Bibliography R. de Vaux, Ancient Israel (1961), 80-90; I. Mendelsohn, “Slavery in the OT,” IDB, IV (1962), 383-391.