Deuteronomy 15:18

Key Reflection

In Deuteronomy 15:18, the text describes a practice where a person who owed a debt and was unable to repay it would become a permanent slave by having an awl thrust through their ear to the doorpost. This ritual symbolized a total commitment to servitude. For women in similar circumstances, the same procedure would be followed. This practice reflects the legal system of ancient Israel, where personal debts could result in indentured servitude, and the act of piercing the ear served as both a physical and symbolic representation of this lifelong obligation. Such cultural practices underscore the seriousness with which biblical texts treated financial obligations within the community.