Deuteronomy 15:17

“then you shall take the awl and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave forever. And also to your female slave you shall do the same.”
Deuteronomy 15:17 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

then you shall takeוְלָקַחְתָּthe awlאֶת הַמַּרְצֵעַand put itוְנָתַתָּהthrough his earבְאָזְנוֹinto the door,וּבַדֶּלֶתand he shall beוְהָיָהyourלְךָslaveעֶבֶדforever.עוֹלָםAnd alsoוְאַףto your female slaveלַאֲמָתְךָyou shall doתַּעֲשֶׂהthe same.כֵּן

Allusion · Exodus 21:6

Go to Exodus 21:6

Both texts give the rite for the slave who decides to stay with his master: his ear is pierced with an awl.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

מַּרְצֵעַmartseaH4836מַּרְצֵעַmartseaH4836“awl”
אָזְנaznH241אָזְנaznH241“ear”

Deuteronomy 15:17, word by word

then you shall takeלָקַחְתָּlakachta

take

To grasp something in the hand to carry or use it.

Where else “lakachta” appears

the awlמַּרְצֵעַmartsea

awl

Awl: a pointed tool for making holes.

Where else “martsea” appears

and put itנָתַתָּהnatata

put

To place something somewhere.

Where else “natata” appears

through his earאָזְנazn

ear

The part of the head we hear with; where earrings were worn or a servant was marked.

Where else “azn” appears

into the doorדֶּלֶתdelet

door

The wooden or metal leaf that opens and shuts the entrance of a house or city.

Where else “delet” appears

and he shall beהָיָהhaya

To be: "I will be their Elohim".

Where else “haya” appears

slaveעֶבֶדeved

slave

A person who belongs to a master and works for him, without freedom of his own.

Where else “eved” appears

foreverעוֹלָםolam

forever

Time without end, beyond what a lifetime can see.

Where else “olam” appears

to your female slaveאֲמָתְamat

female slave, maidservant

Female slave, maidservant.

Where else “amat” appears

you shall doתַּעֲשֶׂהtaase

To carry out an act or to deal with someone in a certain way, for good or ill.

Where else “taase” appears

The context

16But if he says to you, “I will not go out from you,” because he loves you and your household, because it is good for him with you,

17 · This verse (above)

18It shall not seem hard in your eyes when you let him go free from you, for twice the wages of a hired worker he has served you six years; and YHWH your Elohim will bless you in all that you do.

Read all of Deuteronomy 15

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