But (A)if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not leave as a free man,’ then his master shall bring him to [a]God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an [b]awl; and he shall serve him permanently.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 21:6 Or the judges (who acted in God’s name)
  2. Exodus 21:6 I.e., a pointed tool

And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free:

Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve him for ever.

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“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