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Selected Verse: Exodus 21:6 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ex 21:6	Strong Concordance	Then his master [0113] shall bring [05066] him unto the judges [0430]; he shall also bring [05066] him to the door [01817], or unto the door post [04201]; and his master [0113] shall bore [07527] his ear [0241] through with an aul [04836]; and he shall serve [05647] him for ever [05769].
	King James	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.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Forever - That is, most probably, until the next Jubilee, when every Hebrew was set free. See Lev 25:40, Lev 25:50. The custom of boring the ear as a mark of slavery appears to have been a common one in ancient times, observed in many nations. Unto the judges - Literally, "before the gods אלהים 'ĕlohı̂ym." The word does not denote "judges" in a direct way, but it is to be understood as the name of God, in its ordinary plural form, God being the source of all justice. The name in this connection always has the definite article prefixed. See the marginal references. Compare Psa 82:1, Psa 82:6; Joh 10:34.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Forever - That is, most probably, until the next Jubilee, when every Hebrew was set free. See Lev 25:40, Lev 25:50. The custom of boring the ear as a mark of slavery appears to have been a common one in ancient times, observed in many nations.

Unto the judges - Literally, "before the gods אלהים 'ĕlohı̂ym." The word does not denote "judges" in a direct way, but it is to be understood as the name of God, in its ordinary plural form, God being the source of all justice. The name in this connection always has the definite article prefixed. See the marginal references. Compare Psa 82:1, Psa 82:6; Joh 10:34.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
For ever - As long as he lives, or till the year of Jubilee.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

For ever - As long as he lives, or till the year of Jubilee.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Shall bring him unto the judges - אל האלהים el haelohim, literally, to God; or, as the Septuagint have it, προς το κριτηριον Θεου, to the judgment of God; who condescended to dwell among his people; who determined all their differences till he had given them laws for all cases, and who, by his omniscience, brought to light the hidden things of dishonesty. See Exo 22:8. Bore his ear through with an awl - This was a ceremony sufficiently significant, as it implied, 1. That he was closely attached to that house and family. 2. That he was bound to hear all his master's orders, and to obey them punctually. Boring of the ear was an ancient custom in the east. It is referred to by Juvenal: - Prior, inquit, ego adsum. Cur timeam, dubitemve locum defendere? Quamvis Natus ad Euphraten, Molles quod in Aure Fenestrae Arguerint, licet ipse negem. Sat. i. 102. "First come, first served, he cries; and I, in spite Of your great lordships, will maintain my right: Though born a slave, though my torn Ears are Bored, 'Tis not the birth, 'tis money makes the lord." Dryden. Calmet quotes a saying from Petronius as attesting the same thing; and one from Cicero, in which he rallies a Libyan who pretended he did not hear him: "It is not," said he, "because your ears are not sufficiently bored;" alluding to his having been a slave.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

Shall bring him unto the judges - אל האלהים el haelohim, literally, to God; or, as the Septuagint have it, προς το κριτηριον Θεου, to the judgment of God; who condescended to dwell among his people; who determined all their differences till he had given them laws for all cases, and who, by his omniscience, brought to light the hidden things of dishonesty. See Exo 22:8.

Bore his ear through with an awl - This was a ceremony sufficiently significant, as it implied,

1. That he was closely attached to that house and family.

2. That he was bound to hear all his master's orders, and to obey them punctually. Boring of the ear was an ancient custom in the east. It is referred to by Juvenal: -

Prior, inquit, ego adsum.

Cur timeam, dubitemve locum defendere? Quamvis

Natus ad Euphraten, Molles quod in Aure Fenestrae

Arguerint, licet ipse negem.

Sat. i. 102.

"First come, first served, he cries; and I, in spite

Of your great lordships, will maintain my right:

Though born a slave, though my torn Ears are Bored,

'Tis not the birth, 'tis money makes the lord."

Dryden.

Calmet quotes a saying from Petronius as attesting the same thing; and one from Cicero, in which he rallies a Libyan who pretended he did not hear him: "It is not," said he, "because your ears are not sufficiently bored;" alluding to his having been a slave.

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