Leviticus 25:43
in Leviticus 25You are not to rule over them harshly, but you shall fear your God.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Thou shalt not rule over him with rigor, but shalt fear thy God.
KJV
Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.
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This verse in Leviticus 25
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Fear 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 Rom 14:4.
This site's exposition
For they are my servants
on Leviticus 25:42-43
The ground of the rule is a prior ownership. They are my servants is the same claim made over the ground at verse 23, and a man already owned by God is beyond another man's power to sell. Ruling with rigour is forbidden and the fear of God is put in its place, which is the second time in the chapter that the check on the stronger party is what he thinks of God. Paul takes the sentence up at 1 Corinthians 7:23, ye are bought with a price, be not ye the servants of men.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Fear thy God - Though thou dost not fear them who are in thy power, and unable to right themselves, yet fear that God who hath commanded thee to use them kindly, and who can and will avenge their cause, if thou oppress them.
Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour,....
They may be used, but must not be abused. Those masters that are always hectoring and domineering over their servants, taunting them and trampling upon them, that are unreasonable in exacting work and giving rebukes, and that rule them with a high hand, forget that their Master is in heaven; and what will they do when he rises up? as holy Job reasons with himself, Job xxxi.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Thou 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 inhuman; and this law is made, not for the Mosaic dispensation and the Jewish people, but for every dispensation and for every people under heaven.
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לֹא־ | lo'- | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| תִרְדֶּ֥ה | tirdeh | you will rule | H7287 → | 26 times |
| ב֖וֹ | vo | over <the> him | ||
| בְּפָ֑רֶךְ | befarekh | with harshness | H6531 → | 6 times |
| וְיָרֵ֖אתָ | veyareta | and you will fear | H3372 → | 315 times |
| מֵאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ | meeloheikha | from God your | H430 → | 2601 times |
לֹא־not
lo'-H3808 →5168 times
תִרְדֶּ֥הyou will rule
tirdehH7287 →26 times
ב֖וֹover <the> him
vo
בְּפָ֑רֶךְwith harshness
befarekhH6531 →6 times
וְיָרֵ֖אתָand you will fear
veyaretaH3372 →315 times
מֵאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃from God your
meeloheikhaH430 →2601 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Colossians 4:1Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
it leads to
- Ephesians 6:8–20
because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
- Deuteronomy 24:14–15
Do not oppress a hired hand who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother or a foreigner residing in one of your towns.
- Revelation 17:14
They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen…
- James 2:13
For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
- Luke 16:1–13
Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.
- Ephesians 6:8–20
Through
Leviticus 25:17Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God; for I am the LORD your God.
it leads to
- Leviticus 19:32
You are to rise in the presence of the elderly, honor the aged, and fear your God. I am the LORD.
- Leviticus 19:14
You must not curse the deaf or place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the LORD.
- Exodus 20:20
“Do not be afraid,” Moses replied. “For God has come to test you, so that the fear of Him may be before you, to keep you from sinning.”
- Leviticus 19:32
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
On this verse
About Leviticus
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.