The state of individuals, communities or nations held in bondage by a foreign power. Such captivity may be punishment from God who, nevertheless, hears the cry of his captive people. God will punish those who, in their arrogance, take others captive. The term is sometimes used metaphorically of the bondage of sin. Jesus Christ alone can free people from such a state.
Individuals and communities taken into captivity
1 Samuel 30:1–3 See also Genesis 14:11–14
On the third day David and his men arrived in Ziklag, and the Amalekites had raided the Negev, attacked Ziklag, and burned it down. They had taken captive the women and all who were there, both young and old. They had not killed anyone, but had carried them off as they went on their way. When David and his men came to the city, they found it burned down and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.
Nations taken into captivity
Jeremiah 48:46 See also Exodus 6:9; Numbers 31:9–12; Isaiah 20:3–4
Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh have perished; for your sons have been taken into exile and your daughters have gone into captivity.
The captivity of Israel
As a punishment from the LORD
Psalm 106:39–43 See also Psalm 78:58–61
They defiled themselves by their actions and prostituted themselves by their deeds. So the anger of the LORD burned against His people, and He abhorred His own inheritance. He delivered them into the hand of the nations, and those who hated them ruled over them. Their enemies oppressed them and subdued them under their hand. Many times He rescued them, but they were bent on rebellion and sank down in their iniquity.
The LORD hears the cry of his people
Exodus 2:23 See also Exodus 6:5–6; 1 Kings 8:46–51; Psalm 69:33, Psalm 106:44–46
After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God.
The Israelites were never to forget their captivity in Egypt
Deuteronomy 5:15 See also Exodus 13:3, Exodus 13:14; Deuteronomy 6:12, Deuteronomy 6:20–21, Deuteronomy 15:12–15, Deuteronomy 16:11–12, Deuteronomy 24:17–18, Deuteronomy 24:21–22; Joshua 24:17; Jeremiah 34:12–14
Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. That is why the LORD your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.
God will punish those who take others into captivity
Amos 1:6–7 See also 2 Chronicles 28:9–15; Nehemiah 4:4; Amos 1:9–10; Acts 7:6–7
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they exiled a whole population, delivering them up to Edom. So I will send fire upon the walls of Gaza, to consume its citadels.
Captivity used metaphorically
Of the bondage of sin
John 8:34 See also Acts 8:23; Romans 7:14, Romans 7:25; 2 Timothy 2:26; 2 Peter 2:19
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Jesus Christ alone can free from such sin
2 Corinthians 10:5 See also Isaiah 42:6–7, Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18; John 8:36; Galatians 2:4–5, Galatians 5:1; Ephesians 4:8; Psalm 68:18
We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.