Boring The Ear

A Hebrew servant who refused his release in the seventh year and chose to remain with his master had his ear pierced at the doorpost. The act marked him as bound to that household for life.

A Token of Servitude for Life

The procedure is set out in the law of the Hebrew servant. When the servant declares he loves his master and will not go out free, "then his master will bring him to the gods, and will bring him to the door, or to the door-post; and his master will bore his ear through with an awl; and he will serve him forever" (Ex 21:6). A footnote in the text explains that "gods" here means the judges. The pierced ear is the visible sign that the servant has chosen perpetual service in the place where the choice was made — at the door of his master's house.