Leviticus 25:43

43 You must not rule this person cruelly, but you must respect 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 may leave you, take his children, and go back to his family and the land of his ancestors.
42 This is because the Israelites are my servants, and I brought them out of slavery in Egypt. They must not become slaves again.
43 You must not rule this person cruelly, but you must respect your God.
44 "'Your men and women slaves must come from other nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.
45 Also you may buy as slaves children from the families of foreigners living in your land. These child slaves will belong to you,
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.