Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Leviticus 25:43
Thou shalt not rule over him with rigor; but shalt fear thy God.
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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 43. Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour] 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 labour too long continued, or in unhealthy or uncomfortable places and circumstances, or without sufficient food, c., is labour 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour,…. As the Egyptians ruled over the Israelites, and made them to serve, Ex 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.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(43) Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour.The master is forbidden to tyrannise over him as if he were a slave without any rights.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
43. Not rule with rigour Literally, thou shalt not tread on him. The rabbins specified a variety of duties as coming under these general precepts; as compensation for personal injury, exemption from such menial duties as unbinding the master’s sandals or carrying him on a litter, while he was shielded from serious abusive words. The master was also obliged to maintain the servant’s wife and children, though, if they were free, he could exact no work from them. At the end of his term of service the master was forbidden “to let him go away empty.” Deu 15:13-14.
Fear thy God Genuine piety always bears good will towards man as its first fruit. Act 16:33; Eph 6:9.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Lev 25:43 Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.
Ver. 43. Rule over him with rigour. ] As the Egyptians did over the Israelites. Exo 1:13 Thy servant is made of the same earth with thee, and hath right to the same heaven with thee. See Gal 3:28 . The servant paid the half shekel as well as the master. Stand not therefore on terms of inequality, but know that yourselves also have a Master in heaven. Do therefore to them “that which is right and equal.” Col 4:1
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
fear
(See Scofield “Psa 19:9”)
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
rule: Lev 25:46, Lev 25:53, Exo 1:13, Exo 1:14, Exo 2:23, Exo 3:7, Exo 3:9, Exo 5:14, Isa 47:6, Isa 58:3, Eph 6:9, Col 4:1
but shalt: Lev 25:17, Exo 1:17, Exo 1:21, Deu 25:18, Mal 3:5
Reciprocal: Gen 42:18 – I fear God Job 31:13 – the cause