Exodus 21:6

“then his master shall bring him before Elohim; he shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.”
Exodus 21:6 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

then his masterוְ אֲדֹנָיוshall bringהִגִּישׁhimוֹbeforeאֶלElohim;הָאֱלֹהִיםhe shall bringוְהִגִּישׁhimוֹtoאֶלthe doorהַדֶּלֶתorאוֹtoאֶלthe doorpost,הַמְּזוּזָהand his masterוְ אֲדֹנָיוshall pierceרָצַעhis earאֶת אָזְנוֹwith an awl,בַּמַּרְצֵעַand he shall serve himוַעֲבָדוֹforever.לְעֹלָם

Allusion · Deuteronomy 15:17

Go to Deuteronomy 15:17

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”

Exodus 21:6, word by word

then his masterאֲדֹנָיadonay

lord

The one with authority over another; or a respectful title.

Where else “adonay” appears

shall bringהִגִּישׁhigish

bring near

To carry something over, or present a gift.

Where else “higish” appears

Elohimאֱלֹהִיםelohim

judges

Judges who judged in God's name.

Where else “elohim” appears

the doorדֶּלֶתdelet

door

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

Where else “delet” appears

the doorpostמְּזוּזָהmezuza

doorpost

Doorpost: each of the two side posts of a door frame.

Where else “mezuza” appears

shall pierceרָצַעratsa

pierce

Pierce. It occurs only in Exodus 21:6.

Where else “ratsa” appears

his earאָזְנazn

ear

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

Where else “azn” appears

with an awlמַּרְצֵעַmartsea

awl

Awl: a pointed tool for making holes.

Where else “martsea” appears

and he shall serve himעֲבָדavad

serve

To serve a person.

Where else “avad” appears

foreverעֹלָםolam

forever

Time without end, beyond what a lifetime can see.

Where else “olam” appears

Translation note

“Before Elohim” can also be understood as “before the judges” (compare Exodus 22:8-9).

The context

5But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my sons; I will not go out free,’

6 · This verse (above)

7When a man sells his daughter as a female slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves go out.

Read all of Exodus 21

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