The Meaning of Leviticus 25:43 Explained

Leviticus 25:43

KJV: Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.

YLT: thou rulest not over him with rigour, and thou hast been afraid of thy God.

Darby: Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; and thou shalt fear thy God.

ASV: Thou shalt not rule over him with rigor, but shalt fear thy God.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou shalt not rule  over him with rigour;  but shalt fear  thy God. 

What does Leviticus 25:43 Mean?

Study Notes

fear
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Context Summary

Leviticus 25:35-55 - Freedom In The Year Of Jubilee
If a man, through misfortune, were forced to sell himself into serfdom to meet his debts, he could not be legally retained after the trumpet had sounded; but was free to return to his home and family. His rich neighbor, during the time of his distress, was not to exact usury on any loan that he might make, but must give him food, lodging, and help, without charge. The poor man was to be treated not as a slave, but as a hired servant and fellow-citizen whose engagement was of a temporary character, and who might be redeemed at any time before the jubilee, through friendly interposition of a relative.
Nothing in modern legislation equals the jubilee in the interests of religion, social order, and liberty. Is it to be believed that when we, in our various distresses, go to our Heavenly Father, we shall fare any worse than the poor peasant did at the hands of his rich neighbor? And in Jesus have we not one nigh of kin who will redeem us at all costs? [source]

Chapter Summary: Leviticus 25

1  the Sabbath of the seventh year
8  The jubilee in the fiftieth year
14  Of oppression
18  A blessing of obedience
23  The redemption of land
29  Of houses
35  Compassion to the poor
39  The usage of bondmen
47  The redemption of servants

What do the individual words in Leviticus 25:43 mean?

Not You shall rule over him with rigor but you shall fear your God
לֹא־ תִרְדֶּ֥ה ב֖וֹ בְּפָ֑רֶךְ וְיָרֵ֖אתָ מֵאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ

תִרְדֶּ֥ה  You  shall  rule 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רָדָה 
Sense: to rule, have dominion, dominate, tread down.
ב֖וֹ  over  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
בְּפָ֑רֶךְ  with  rigor 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: harshness, severity, cruelty.
וְיָרֵ֖אתָ  but  you  shall  fear 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
מֵאֱלֹהֶֽיךָ  your  God 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).