Leviticus 25:43

43 Afflict him not by might: but fear thy 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 And afterwards he shall go out with his children: and shall return to his kindred and to the possession of his fathers.
42 For they are my servants, and I brought them out of the land of Egypt: let them not be sold as bondmen.
43 Afflict him not by might: but fear thy God.
44 Let your bondmen, and your bondwomen, be of the nations that are round about you:
45 And of the strangers that sojourn among you, or that were born of them in your land. These you shall have for servants:
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