What Does Leviticus 25:43 Mean in the King James?

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

Leviticus 25:43 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

THE KEY

Awe of God is the boundary that keeps your authority over another person from becoming a crushing grip.

THE MEANING

Your power over another person stands under God’s authority. The verse forbids turning that power into crushing treatment; awe of God sets its boundary. The person under your authority is not yours to treat without limit.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that authority over someone gives you the right to make their life harsh.

THE ROOT

וְיָרֵאתָ

ve-yareta

GROWS FROM

ירא

y-r-ʾ

to fear, stand in awe

“fear” in this verse is ve-yareta. The verse turns attention from how firmly you can rule to whom you answer. This root names both the one who fears and the posture of awe, showing how regard for God shapes the limits of human power.

ALSO GROWS

yare: one who fears; one who stands in awe

יָרֵא

This form names the person in that posture, making the verse’s boundary a matter of inward regard as well as outward conduct.

yir’ah: fear, awe

יִרְאָה

This noun names the posture itself: the authority exercised over another person is held beneath awe of God.

THE PATTERN

Awe of God places a limit on how the powerful treat those under their authority.

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

Exodus 1:17 · KJVAwe of God governs the midwives’ response to a royal command, showing that human power is not ultimate.

But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

Matthew 20:26 · KJVGreatness among you takes the form of service, closing off domination as the measure of authority.

Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:3 · KJVThose who guide a community are told not to lord over people but to be examples among them.

THE THREAD

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

Exodus 1:17 · KJV

Exodus 1:17 uses the same Hebrew root ⁨ירא⁩ (yare, fear/awe) for the midwives’ fear of God. Their awe limits the king’s claim on the vulnerable, revealing the same structure as this verse: human authority is bounded by answerability to God.

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