Leviticus 25:43

43 '1You shall not rule over him with severity, but are to revere 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 'He shall then go out from you, he and his sons with him, and shall go back to his family, that he may return to the property of his forefathers.
42 'For they are My servants whom I brought out from the land of Egypt; they are not to be sold in a slave sale.
43 'You shall not rule over him with severity, but are to revere your God.
44 'As for your male and female slaves whom you may have -you may acquire male and female slaves from the pagan nations that are around you.
45 'Then, too, it is out of the sons of the sojourners who live as aliens among you that you may gain acquisition, and out of their families who are with you, whom they will have produced in your land; they also may become your possession.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Exodus 1:13, 14; Leviticus 25:46, 53; Ezekiel 34:4; Colossians 4:1
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