Tree of Life Version
Leviticus 25:43
43You are not to rule over him with harshness, but fear your God.
Leviticus 25:43 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God.
- New King James Version (NKJV)You shall not rule over him with rigor, but you shall fear your God.
Context of Leviticus 25:43
41then he is to be released from you—he and his children with him—and may return to his own family and to the property of his fathers. 42For they are My servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. They are not to be sold in a slave sale. You are not to rule over him with harshness, but fear your God. 44“As for your male and female slaves whom you may acquire out of the nations that are around you—from them you may buy male and female slaves. 45You may also acquire from among the children of the foreigners dwelling among you, as well as from their families who are with you—those born in your land—they may also become your property.
Read all of Leviticus 25Leviticus 25:43 word by word
לֹא־תִרְדֶּ֥ה ב֖וֹ בְּפָ֑רֶךְ וְיָרֵ֖אתָ מֵאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Leviticus 25:43
- Leviticus 25:46You may also leave them an inheritance for your children after you, to receive as a possession. These may become your slaves permanently. But over your brothers, Bnei-Yisrael, you must not rule over one another with harshness.
- Exodus 1:13They worked them harshly,
- Exodus 2:23Now it came about over the course of those many days that the king of Egypt died. Bnei-Yisrael groaned because of their slavery. They cried out and their cry from slavery went up to God.
- Exodus 3:7Then Adonai said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their slave masters, for I know their pains.
- Exodus 5:14Moreover the foremen of Bnei-Yisrael, whom Pharaoh’s slave masters had set over them, were beaten and asked, “Why haven’t you met your quota of bricks, both yesterday and today like before?”
- Isaiah 47:6I was angry with My people. I profaned My heritage. I gave them into your hand, but you showed them no mercy. You made your yoke very heavy on the aged.
- Isaiah 58:3“Why have we fasted. yet You do not see? Why have we afflicted our souls, yet You take no notice?” “Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and exploit all your laborers.
- Ephesians 6:9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Stop using threats, knowing that the Master—of them and of you, too—is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with Him.
- Colossians 4:1Masters, give your slaves what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
- Leviticus 25:17You are not to cheat one another, but fear your God, for I am Adonai your God.
- Exodus 1:17Yet the midwives feared God, so they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the boys live.
- Deuteronomy 25:18how he happened upon you along the way and attacked those among you in the rear, all the stragglers behind you, when you were tired and weary—he did not fear God.
- Malachi 3:5“Then I will draw near to you in judgment, and I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, adulterers, perjurers those who extort a worker’s wage, or oppress the widow or an orphan, those who mislead a stranger. They do not fear Me,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot.
Commentaries on Leviticus 25:43
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 43Thou shalt not rule over him with rigor - What is rigorous service? "Service which is not determined, and service whereof there is no need." This is the definition given by the Jews; but much more is implied in this command than is expressed here. Labour beyond the person's strength, or labor too long continued, or in unhealthy or uncomfortable places and circumstances, or without sufficient food, etc., is labor exacted with rigour, and consequently…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 43Fear thy God - Yahweh was the Lord and Master of His people. To treat a Hebrew as a slave was therefore to interfere with the rights of Yahweh. Compare Romans 14:4.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 39-55Verses 39-55 A native Israelite, if sold for debt, or for a crime, was to serve but six years, and to go out the seventh. If he sold himself, through poverty, both his work and his usage must be such as were fitting for a son of Abraham. Masters are required to give to their servants that which is just and equal, Col 4:1. At the year of jubilee the servant should go out free, he and his children, and should return to his own family. This typified…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 43God created human beings in his image (Genesis 1:26, 27; Proverbs 14:31; 17:5). Fellow Israelites were in a covenant with God. So, even bondservants must receive respect. God's law includes many rules to protect them (see Exodus 21:20, 26–27). Everyone must treat others in a way that shows reverence for God (see Proverbs 14:31; 17:5; James 2:14–16; 3:9–10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 39-4639-46. if thy brother ... be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee, thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bond-servant--An Israelite might be compelled, through misfortune, not only to mortgage his inheritance, but himself. In the event of his being reduced to this distress, he was to be treated not as a slave, but a hired servant whose engagement was temporary, and who might, through the friendly aid of a relative, be redeemed at any time before the…Read the comment
Topics related to Leviticus 25:43
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Leviticus 25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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