You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Leviticus 25:43
What does Leviticus 25:43 mean?
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Leviticus 25:43
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This verse highlights that the ultimate reason for not ruling harshly over others is our fear of God, not simply a desire to be fair. It's a reminder that even in seemingly private dealings, our actions are observed by the divine, and our respect for God should guide how we treat those under our authority.
You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes from a section of Leviticus detailing laws for the Year of Jubilee, which involved the release of slaves and the return of ancestral lands. Specifically, it addresses the treatment of Hebrew servants who might have sold themselves into servitude due to poverty, reminding masters not to oppress them ruthlessly. The context emphasizes that even in servitude, Israelites are fundamentally servants of God, not to be treated like foreign slaves who could be held perpetually.
God’s laws often go deeper than just what’s written. In Leviticus, even when people were in servitude, there were specific commands about how they should be treated.
Leviticus 25 lays out rules for a unique system of servitude, especially concerning fellow Israelites. It’s not chattel slavery as we understand it today. When an Israelite fell into debt and had to sell themselves or their labor, they were not to be treated as mere property.
What 'Rigour' Means
'Rigour' (or 'harshness') wasn't just about avoiding outright cruelty. It meant:
Why does the Bible so often link fair treatment to fearing God? It’s because God’s perspective is the ultimate one, and His authority reshapes how we see everyone.
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The core of Leviticus 25:43 is the command to 'fear your God.' This isn't about being terrified, but about holding God in such high reverence that it influences every action.
God's Ownership, Our Duty
Understand the original words
parak · Hebrew Verb
To exert power or authority over others in a harsh, oppressive, or severe manner, which is condemned in the context of brotherly relationships within the covenant community.
yare · Hebrew Verb
The reverential awe, worship, and obedience due to God; it is the moral foundation for how believers should treat one another.
This passage describes the Egyptians ruling the Israelites with rigor, directly paralleling the prohibition in Leviticus and reminding the Israelites of their own past suffering to guide their present actions.
Deuteronomy 15:12-15This passage reiterates the command regarding Hebrew servants, emphasizing not only fair treatment but also the reminder that they were once slaves in Egypt, echoing the sentiment of not ruling with rigor.
Ephesians 6:9Paul directly applies the principle of fearing God in the master-servant relationship, stating 'knowing that your Master also is in heaven,' which strongly echoes the Leviticus command to 'fear your God.'
Colossians 4:1This verse serves as a New Testament parallel, commanding masters to treat their servants justly and fairly, which is the essence of not ruling with rigor and fearing God in the relationship.
calvinLeviticus 25:39-55: "And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:"
Moreover, of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land; and they shall be your possession:
Et etiam de filiis incolarum qui versantur apud vos, emetis: et de familia eorum qui apud vos sunt, quos procreaverunt in terra vestra: e…
pooleLeviticus 25:43: "Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt 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 dost oppress them.
This verse highlights that the ultimate reason for not ruling harshly over others is our fear of God, not simply a desire to be fair. It's a reminder that even in seemingly private dealings, our actions are observed by the divine, and our respect for God should guide how we treat those under our authority.
This verse comes from a section of Leviticus detailing laws for the Year of Jubilee, which involved the release of slaves and the return of ancestral lands. Specifically, it addresses the treatment of Hebrew servants who might have sold themselves into servitude due to poverty, reminding masters not to oppress them ruthlessly. The context emphasizes that even in servitude, Israelites are fundamentally servants of God, not to be treated like foreign slaves who could be held perpetually.
This verse comes from a section of Leviticus detailing laws for the Year of Jubilee, which involved the release of slaves and the return of ancestral lands. Specifically, it addresses the treatment of Hebrew servants who might have sold themselves into servitude due to poverty, reminding masters not to oppress them ruthlessly. The context emphasizes that even in servitude, Israelites are fundamentally servants of God, not to be treated like foreign slaves who could be held perpetually.
"You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God." — This verse highlights that the ultimate reason for not ruling harshly over others is our fear of God, not simply a desire to be fair. It's a reminder that even in seemingly private dealings, our acti…
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Last reviewed October 2026