“But maybe the slave will decide that he wants to stay with the master. Then he must say, ‘I love my master. I love my wife and my children. I will not become free—I will stay.’
Deuteronomy 15:17 - Easy To Read Version Make this servant put his ear against your door, and use a sharp tool to make a hole in his ear. This will show that he is your slave forever. You must do this even to the women slaves that want to stay with you. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 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. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Then take an awl and pierce his ear through to the door, and he shall be your servant always. And also to your bondwoman you shall do likewise. American Standard Version (1901) 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. Common English Bible then you may take a needle and pierce his ear with it into the doorframe. From that point on, he will be your permanent servant. Do the same thing for female servants.) Catholic Public Domain Version then you shall take an awl and pierce his ear, at the door of your house. And he shall serve you even forever. You shall also act similarly toward your woman servant. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Thou shalt take an awl, and bore through his ear in the door of thy house, and he shall serve thee for ever. Thou shalt do in like manner to thy woman-servant also. |
“But maybe the slave will decide that he wants to stay with the master. Then he must say, ‘I love my master. I love my wife and my children. I will not become free—I will stay.’
If this happens, then the master will bring the slave before God. The master will take the slave to a door or the wooden frame around the door. And the master will make a hole through the slave’s ear using a sharp tool. Then the slave will serve that master for all his life.
“But one of your slaves might say to you, ‘I will not leave you.’ He might say this because he loves you and your family and because he has a good life with you.
“Don’t feel bad about letting your slave go free. Remember, he served you six years at only half the money you would have paid a hired person. The Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.
But Hannah did not go. She told Elkanah, “When the boy is old enough to eat solid food, I will take him to Shiloh. Then I will give him to the Lord. He will become a Nazirite. [12] [13] He will stay there at Shiloh.