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Suppose his master gives him a wife. And suppose she has sons or daughters by him. Then only the man will go free. The woman and her children will belong to her master.

“But suppose the servant says, ‘I love my master and my wife and children. I don’t want to go free.’ Then his master must take him to the judges. His master must take him to the door or doorpost of his master’s house. His master must poke a hole through his servant’s earlobe into the door or doorpost. Then he will become his servant for life.

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If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.

“But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’(A) then his master must take him before the judges.[a](B) He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce(C) his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 21:6 Or before God