The Great Flood
Action God decides to wipe out nearly all life on Earth via a global flood because of human wickedness.
Reference Genesis 6–9
Note This includes the death of all infants, children, and animals not on the ark.
Action God decides to wipe out nearly all life on Earth via a global flood because of human wickedness.
Reference Genesis 6–9
Note This includes the death of all infants, children, and animals not on the ark.
Action God explicitly commands the total annihilation of the Amalekites, including women, children, infants, and livestock.
Reference 1 Samuel 15:3
"Now go and attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys."Status Direct Command from God
Action God commands the Israelites to "utterly destroy" the inhabitants of the Promised Land to prevent them from introducing idolatry.
Reference Deuteronomy 20:16–17
"However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave anyone alive."Status Direct Command from God
Action Following a battle, the Israelites are commanded to kill every male child and every woman who was not a virgin.
Reference Numbers 31:17–18
"Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man."Status Direct Command from God (via Moses)
Action The Bible provides laws for the purchase and ownership of humans, treating them as property.
Reference Leviticus 25:44–46
Note It distinguishes between Hebrew servants and foreign slaves, the latter of whom could be held permanently and passed down as inheritance.
Action God's law permits the beating of slaves, stating that a master is not punished if the slave survives a day or two, because the slave is the master's "money" (property).
Reference Exodus 21:20–21
"Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies as a direct result, but they are not to be punished if the slave recovers after a day or two, since the slave is their property."Status Divine Law (Torah)
Action To force Pharaoh's hand, God kills every firstborn male in Egypt, including children and livestock.
Reference Exodus 12:29
Status Direct Action by God
Action After a group of youths mocks the prophet Elisha for being bald, Elisha curses them in the name of the Lord, and two female bears emerge from the woods to maul and kill 42 of them.
Reference 2 Kings 2:23–24
Status Sanctioned/Executed via God's power
Action If a man rapes a virgin who is not betrothed, the law requires him to pay her father 50 shekels and marry her, and he is forbidden from ever divorcing her.
Reference Deuteronomy 22:28–29
Note This effectively forces the victim to remain married to her attacker for life.
Action In the context of war, the Israelites were permitted to take beautiful women as captives/wives after a period of mourning.
Reference Deuteronomy 21:10–14
Action A judge of Israel, Jephthah, makes a vow to God that if he wins a battle, he will sacrifice as a burnt offering whatever first comes out of his house to meet him. It is his only daughter. He fulfills the vow by offering her as a sacrifice.
Reference Judges 11:30–40
Note The text does not record God forbidding this human sacrifice, which is otherwise forbidden in other parts of the law.
Action Instructions that women should remain silent in churches and submit to their husbands in all things.
Reference 1 Timothy 2:11–12, Ephesians 5:22
Note By modern standards, this promotes systemic gender inequality and subordination.
Action Rather than condemning slavery, the New Testament instructs slaves to obey their earthly masters with respect and fear.
Reference Ephesians 6:5, Colossians 3:22