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his master shall bring him to God[a] and there, at the door or doorpost, he shall pierce his ear with an awl, thus keeping him as his slave forever.

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Footnotes

  1. 21:6 To God: the ritual of the piercing of the slave’s ear, which signified a lifetime commitment to the master, probably took place at the door of the household, where God as protector of the household was called upon as a witness. Another possible location for the ritual would have been the door of the sanctuary, where God or judges would have witnessed the slave’s promise of lifetime obedience to his master.

then his master must take him before the judges.[a](A) He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce(B) his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.(C)

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 21:6 Or before God