then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The passage emphasizes that this wasn't a private transaction; the master had to bring the servant before "the gods," meaning the magistrates or judges. This public ceremony, culminating in the servant's ear being pierced and attached to the doorpost, wasn't just about marking him as a slave, but about a solemn, public declaration of his permanent commitment and obedience.
then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage describes the solemn, public ritual for a Hebrew servant who chooses to remain with his master permanently, beyond the standard seven years of service. After acknowledging his free will before appointed authorities, often referred to as "the gods" (meaning judges or magistrates), the servant is brought to a doorpost. There, his ear is pierced with an awl by his master, signifying his lifelong commitment to the household and his willingness to perpetually hear and obey his master's commands.
Why did a servant's decision to stay with his master require a public spectacle before judges?
When a Hebrew servant chose to remain with his master beyond the appointed time (typically seven years), it wasn't a private agreement. The master had to bring the servant before the 'judges' – a term that could refer to civil magistrates or even a religious council, representing God's authority on earth.
This public presentation served a crucial purpose:
What did physically attaching a servant to his master's doorpost truly signify?
The act of bringing the servant to the door or doorpost of the master's house was deeply symbolic. It wasn't just about proximity; it was a physical manifestation of the servant's permanent belonging to that household.
The ear, pierced and attached to the doorpost, became a living symbol:
Ask a follow-up
When the Bible says 'forever,' what did that really mean in this context, and how does it point beyond itself?
The phrase 'he shall serve him forever' seems stark and absolute. However, the biblical context reveals nuances and a greater theological trajectory.
Understand the original words
elohim · Hebrew Noun
In this context, likely refers to the judges or the sanctuary of God, representing the authority of the covenantal judicial system established by God.
ebed · Hebrew Noun
A condition of perpetual service or bond-service, often used in Scripture to describe a person's relationship to God or another human; here it denotes a lifelong commitment of labor.
This passage mirrors the act of boring the ear, but specifies it's the slave's choice and links it to the door of the master's house as a symbol of permanent service.
Psalm 40:6This psalm reflects on the same concept, with the psalmist declaring 'But I love my servant because he listened to my voice,' which is echoed in the ear-piercing ceremony symbolizing attentiveness to the master's commands.
Jeremiah 34:11-16This passage recounts how this covenant of service was later broken by the people of Israel, showing a disregard for the established laws and the freedom of their servants, highlighting the importance of upholding such solemn agreements.
Colossians 3:22-24This New Testament passage calls servants to obey their earthly masters wholeheartedly, as if serving Christ, underscoring the principle of dedicated service that the ear-boring ceremony symbolized in the Old Testament.
gillExodus 21:6: "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."
Then his master shall bring him unto the judges,.... To Elohim, to God, to the judgment seat of God, according to the Septuagint; to some person or persons to inquire of God what is to be done in such a case; but this seems needless, since it is here declared: no doubt civil magistrates…
bensonExodus 21:6: "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."
Exodus 21:6 . His master shall bring him to the judges — In the original, gods, magistrates being often so called as the visible representatives of God upon earth. In the Septuagint it is προς το κριτηριον θεου , to the tribunal of God, meaning probably the sanctuary. The sense seems ev…
The passage emphasizes that this wasn't a private transaction; the master had to bring the servant before "the gods," meaning the magistrates or judges. This public ceremony, culminating in the servant's ear being pierced and attached to the doorpost, wasn't just about marking him as a slave, but about a solemn, public declaration of his permanent commitment and obedience.
This passage describes the solemn, public ritual for a Hebrew servant who chooses to remain with his master permanently, beyond the standard seven years of service. After acknowledging his free will before appointed authorities, often referred to as "the gods" (meaning judges or magistrates), the servant is brought to a doorpost. There, his ear is pierced with an awl by his master, signifying his lifelong commitment to the household and his willingness to perpetually hear and obey his master's commands.
This passage describes the solemn, public ritual for a Hebrew servant who chooses to remain with his master permanently, beyond the standard seven years of service. After acknowledging his free will before appointed authorities, often referred to as "the gods" (meaning judges or magistrates), the servant is brought to a doorpost. There, his ear is pierced with an awl by his master, signifying his lifelong commitment to the household and his willingness to perpetually hear and obey his master's commands.
"then his master shall bring him to God, and he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall be his slave forever." — The passage emphasizes that this wasn't a private transaction; the master had to bring the servant before "the gods," meaning the magistrates or judges. This public ceremony, culminating in the serva…
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Last reviewed October 2026