# enslave, slave, bondservant, bound

## Definition:

To “enslave” someone means to force that person to serve a master or a ruling country. To be “enslaved” or “in bondage” means to be under the control of something or someone.

* A person who is enslaved or in bondage must serve others without payment; he is not free to do what he wants. Another word for “bondage” is “slavery.”
* The New Testament speaks of human beings as “enslaved” to sin until Jesus frees them from its control and power. When a person receives new life in Christ, he stops being a slave to sin and becomes a slave to righteousness.

## Translation Suggestions:

* The term “enslave” could be translated as “cause to not be free” or “force to serve others” or “put under the control of others.”
* The phrase “enslaved to” or “in bondage to” could be translated as “forced to be a slave of” or “forced to serve” or “under the control of.”

(See also: [free](../other/free.md), [righteous](../kt/righteous.md), [servant](../other/servant.md))

## Bible References:

* [Galatians 4:3](rc://en/tn/help/gal/04/03)
* [Galatians 4:24-25](rc://en/tn/help/gal/04/24)
* [Genesis 15:13](rc://en/tn/help/gen/15/13)
* [Jeremiah 30:8-9](rc://en/tn/help/jer/30/08)

## Word Data:

* Strong’s: H3533, H5647, G13980, G14020, G26150
