43 Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God.
43 Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.
43 You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God.
43 Don't tyrannize them; fear your God.
43 You shall not rule over him with rigor, but you shall fear your God.
43 Show your fear of God by not treating them harshly.
44 Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids.
44 " 'Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves.
44 As for your male and female slaves whom you may have: you may buy male and female slaves from among the nations that are around you.
44 "The male and female slaves which you have are to come from the surrounding nations; you are permitted to buy slaves from them.
44 And as for your male and female slaves whom you may have--from the nations that are around you, from them you may buy male and female slaves.
44 "However, you may purchase male and female slaves from among the nations around you.
(Read Leviticus 25:39-55)
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, John 8:32. We cannot ransom our fellow-sinners, but we may point out Christ to them; while by his grace our lives may adorn his gospel, express our love, show our gratitude, and glorify his holy name.
8 Lately my people have risen up like an enemy. You strip off the rich robe from those who pass by without a care, like men returning from battle.
8 But lately my people have risen up as an enemy; you strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly with no thought of war.
8 "What do you mean, 'good people'! You're the enemy of my people! You rob unsuspecting people out for an evening stroll. You take their coats off their backs like soldiers who plunder the defenseless.
8 "Lately My people have risen up as an enemy-- You pull off the robe with the garment From those who trust you, as they pass by, Like men returned from war.
8 Yet to this very hour my people rise against me like an enemy! You steal the shirts right off the backs of those who trusted you, making them as ragged as men returning from battle.
(Read Micah 2:6-11)
Since they say, "Prophesy not," God will take them at their word, and their sin shall be their punishment. Let the physician no longer attend the patient that will not be healed. Those are enemies, not only to God, but to their country, who silence good ministers, and stop the means of grace. What bonds will hold those who have no reverence for God's word? Sinners cannot expect to rest in a land they have polluted. You shall not only be obliged to depart out of this land, but it shall destroy you. Apply this to our state in this present world. There is corruption in the world through lust, and we should keep at a distance from it. It is not our rest: it was designed for our passage, but not for our portion; our inn, but not our home; here we have no continuing city; let us therefore arise and depart, let us seek a continuing city above. Since they will be deceived, let them be deceived. Teachers who recommend self-indulgence by their doctrine and example, best suit such sinners.
9 You drive the women of my people from their pleasant homes. You take away my blessing from their children forever.
9 The women of my people you drive out from their delightful houses; from their young children you take away my splendor forever.
9 You drive the women of my people out of their ample homes. You make victims of the children and leave them vulnerable to violence and vice.
9 The women of My people you cast out From their pleasant houses; From their children You have taken away My glory forever.
9 You have evicted women from their pleasant homes and forever stripped their children of all that God would give them.
(Read Micah 2:6-11)
Since they say, "Prophesy not," God will take them at their word, and their sin shall be their punishment. Let the physician no longer attend the patient that will not be healed. Those are enemies, not only to God, but to their country, who silence good ministers, and stop the means of grace. What bonds will hold those who have no reverence for God's word? Sinners cannot expect to rest in a land they have polluted. You shall not only be obliged to depart out of this land, but it shall destroy you. Apply this to our state in this present world. There is corruption in the world through lust, and we should keep at a distance from it. It is not our rest: it was designed for our passage, but not for our portion; our inn, but not our home; here we have no continuing city; let us therefore arise and depart, let us seek a continuing city above. Since they will be deceived, let them be deceived. Teachers who recommend self-indulgence by their doctrine and example, best suit such sinners.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Leviticus 25:43
Commentary on Leviticus 25:39-55
(Read Leviticus 25:39-55)
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, John 8:32. We cannot ransom our fellow-sinners, but we may point out Christ to them; while by his grace our lives may adorn his gospel, express our love, show our gratitude, and glorify his holy name.