Leviticus 25:43

43 You are not to rule over them harshly^[a] 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 and his children are to be released from you, and he may return to his clan and his ancestral property.

42 They are not to be sold as slaves, because they are My slaves I brought out of the land of Egypt.

43 You are not to rule over them harshly but fear your God.

44 Your male and female slaves are to be from the nations around you; you may purchase male and female slaves.

45 You may also purchase them from the foreigners staying with you, or from their families living among you-those born in your land. These may become your property.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ex 1:13-14