Exodus 21:6

⁴ If his master have given him a wife, and she have born him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master’s, and he shall go out by himself.

⁵ 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.

⁷ And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.

⁸ If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: then his master is to bring him before the judges. And he shall take him to the door or doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he shall serve his master for life.
KJV: 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.
WEB: then his master shall bring him to God, and shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.
ASV: then his master shall bring him unto God, and shall bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever.
DARBY: then his master shall bring him before the judges, and shall bring him to the door, or to the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall be his bondman for ever.
BLB: then his lord shall bring him to the judges. And He shall bring him to the door or to the doorpost, and his lord shall pierce his ear with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.

ÅB: da skal hans herre føre ham fram for Gud[^1] og stille ham ved døren eller ved dørstolpen, og hans herre skal stikke en syl gjennom hans øre, og han skal tjene ham all sin tid.
OTB: da skal hans herre føre ham frem for Gud. Han skal føre ham til døren eller dørstolpen og stikke hull på hans øre med en syl, og han skal tjene ham permanent.
B1930: da skal hans herre føre ham frem for Gud og stille ham ved døren eller ved dørstolpen, og hans herre skal stikke en syl gjennem hans øre, og han skal tjene ham all sin tid. / < d.e. de av Gud innsatte dommere.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Deuteronomy 15:17
Then thou shalt take an aul, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maidservant thou shalt do likewise.
Read in context
Leviticus 25:40
But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile:
Read in context
Deuteronomy 19:17–18
Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days;
Read in context
1 Samuel 28:2
And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
Read in context
1 Samuel 27:12
And Achish believed David, saying, He hath made his people Israel utterly to abhor him; therefore he shall be my servant for ever.
Read in context
Leviticus 25:23
The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.
Read in context
1 Samuel 1:22
But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
Read in context
Exodus 22:8–9
If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods.
Read in context