Leviticus 25:43

43 Do not treat him harshly, but fear your God.

Leviticus 25:43 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 25:43

Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour
As the Egyptians ruled over the Israelites, and made them to serve, ( Exodus 1:13 ) ; where the same word is used as here, and seems designed to put them in mind of it, that so they might abstain from such usage of their brethren, which they had met with from their most cruel enemies; it signifies tyranny and oppression, treating them with great severity, laying hard and heavy tasks and burdens upon them they could not bear; enjoining them things they could not perform, and ordering them to do what were unnecessary, and without any limitation with respect to time: but shalt fear thy God;
that has been good to thee, and has brought thee out of hard and rigorous bondage in Egypt; and which should be remembered with thankfulness, and they should fear to offend so good a God by using a brother cruelly.

Leviticus 25:43 In-Context

41 Then he will leave you, he and his children with him, and return to his own family and regain possession of his ancestral land.
42 For they are my slaves, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; therefore they are not to be sold as slaves.
43 Do not treat him harshly, but fear your God.
44 "'Concerning the men and women you may have as slaves: you are to buy men- and women-slaves from the nations surrounding you.
45 You may also buy the children of foreigners living with you and members of their families born in your land; you may own these.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.