The Meaning of Exodus 21:6 Explained

Exodus 21:6

KJV: 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.

YLT: then hath his lord brought him nigh unto God, and hath brought him nigh unto the door, or unto the side-post, and his lord hath bored his ear with an awl, and he hath served him -- to the age.

Darby: then his master shall bring him before the judges, and shall bring him to the door, or to the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall be his bondman for ever.

ASV: then his master shall bring him unto God, and shall bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Exodus 21:6 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Exodus 21

1  Laws for men servants
5  For the servant whose ear is bored
7  For women servants
12  For manslaughter
16  For kidnappers
17  For cursers of parents
18  For smiters
22  For a hurt by chance
28  For an ox that gores
33  For him who is an occasion of harm

What do the individual words in Exodus 21:6 mean?

then shall bring him his master to the judges and He shall bring him the door or the doorpost and shall pierce his master - his ear with an awl and he shall serve him forever -
וְהִגִּישׁ֤וֹ אֲדֹנָיו֙ אֶל־ הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהִגִּישׁוֹ֙ הַדֶּ֔לֶת א֖וֹ הַמְּזוּזָ֑ה וְרָצַ֨ע אֲדֹנָ֤יו אֶת־ אָזְנוֹ֙ בַּמַּרְצֵ֔עַ וַעֲבָד֖וֹ לְעֹלָֽם ס

וְהִגִּישׁ֤וֹ  then  shall  bring  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַשׁ  
Sense: to draw near, approach.
אֲדֹנָיו֙  his  master 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
הָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔ים  the  judges 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְהִגִּישׁוֹ֙  and  He  shall  bring  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַשׁ  
Sense: to draw near, approach.
הַדֶּ֔לֶת  the  door 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: דַּל 
Sense: door, gate.
הַמְּזוּזָ֑ה  the  doorpost 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְזוּזָה  
Sense: doorpost, gatepost.
וְרָצַ֨ע  and  shall  pierce 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָצַע  
Sense: (Qal) to bore, pierce.
אֲדֹנָ֤יו  his  master 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אָזְנוֹ֙  his  ear 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹזֶן  
Sense: ear, as part of the body.
בַּמַּרְצֵ֔עַ  with  an  awl 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַרְצֵעַ  
Sense: awl, boring-instrument.
וַעֲבָד֖וֹ  and  he  shall  serve  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
לְעֹלָֽם  forever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation