Leviticus 25:43

43 Se therfore that thou reigne not ouer him cruelly but feare thi 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 then shall he departe fro the: both he and his childern with him and shall returne vnto his awne kynred agayne and vnto the possessions of his fathers.
42 for they are my seruauntes which I brought out of the lande of Egipte and shall not be solde as bondmen.
43 Se therfore that thou reigne not ouer him cruelly but feare thi God.
44 Yf thou wilt haue bondseruauntes and maydens thou shalt bye them of the heythen that are rounde aboute you
45 and of the childern of the straungers that are soiorners amonge you ad of their generacios that are with you, which they begate in youre lade.
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