Customs and Culture of the Bible
The Bible was written in cultures very different from our own. Explore customs, institutions, daily practices and figures of speech that help explain what biblical writers and their first readers would have understood.
188 customs found
Debt Slavery and Bondservice
People in the ancient world could enter servitude because of poverty or debt. Israelite law placed limits on some forms of debt service while also existing within a broader ancient slaveholding world.
Primary Scripture: Exodus 21:2-11
Disease, Healing and Social Stigma
Illness and disability in antiquity could carry economic and social consequences in addition to physical suffering, especially when a condition limited work or created ritual concerns.
Primary Scripture: John 9:1-3
Divorce and the Certificate of Divorce
A written certificate of divorce formally documented the dissolution of a marriage and enabled the woman to demonstrate her changed legal status.
Primary Scripture: Deuteronomy 24:1-4
Donkeys, Pack Animals and Riding
Donkeys and other pack animals were important for transport, agriculture, and carrying goods in the biblical world.
Primary Scripture: Zechariah 9:9
Eating with the Unclean and Social Outsiders
Meals could mark social acceptance and group boundaries, making the choice of dining companions socially and religiously significant.
Primary Scripture: Mark 2:15-17
Exile and Deportation
Ancient empires sometimes deported conquered populations, especially elites, craftsmen, soldiers, and politically important groups, and resettled other peoples in their place.
Primary Scripture: 2 Kings 25:8-12
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