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Deuteronomy 15:17

15 Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you; that is why I am giving you this command today.

16 But if your servant says to you, ‘I do not want to leave you,’ because he loves you and your household and is well off with you,

then take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he will become your servant for life. And treat your maidservant the same way.

18 Do not regard it as a hardship to set your servant free, because his six years of service were worth twice the wages of a hired hand. And the LORD your God will bless you in all you do.

19 You must set apart to the LORD your God every firstborn male produced by your herds and flocks. You are not to put the firstborn of your oxen to work, nor are you to shear the firstborn of your flock.

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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 take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he will become your servant for life. And treat your maidservant the same way.
KJV
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.
WEB
then you shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also to your female servant you shall do likewise.
ASV
then thou shalt take an awl, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maid-servant thou shalt do likewise.
DARBY
then thou shalt take an awl, and thrust it through his ear and into the door; and he shall be thy bondman for ever. And also unto thy handmaid thou shalt do likewise.
BLB
then you shall take an awl and thrust [it] through his ear and to the door, and he shall be your servant forever; and to your maidservant you shall do likewise.
ÅB
da skal du ta en syl og stikke den gjennom hans øre inn i døren, så skal han være din tjener for all tid; det samme skal du gjøre med din tjenestepike.
OTB
da skal du ta en syl og stikke den gjennom øret hans inn i døren, og han skal være din tjener for livet. Gjør det samme for din kvinnelige tjener.
B1930
da skal du ta en syl og stikke den gjennem hans øre inn i døren, så skal han være din tjener for all tid; det samme skal du gjøre med din tjenestepike.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 1:22

    but Hannah did not go. “After the boy is weaned,” she said to her husband, “I will take him to appear before the LORD and to stay there permanently.”

    Read in context

  • Leviticus 25:39–42

    If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor.

    Read in context