Exo 21:6 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. ASV
Exo 21:6 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 awl; and he shall serve him forever.
KJV
Exo 21:6 his master shall bring him to God, and one shall bring
him to the door, or to the doorpost; and his master shall pierce his
ear with an awl, and he shall serve him forever. LITV
Exo 21:6 his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also
bring him to the door or to the door-post. And his master shall bore
his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him forever. MKJV
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COMMENTARY
Here is a good example of the use of "for ever" in a figurative
sense. The word ‘olam’ which is the standard word for
"forever" or "everlasting" used here obviously cannot mean forever in a
literal sense. It means the man shall serve his master for the
rest of his natural life. Otherwise we must conclude that both
servants and masters are still alive and will remain so forever. The
servant/master arrangement will also last forever, of which both are
patently absurd.
So then... when it says "my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant" [Gen 17:13] it does not mean everlasting
in a strict literal sense. At least not in reference to NT
Christianity. Jewish people today might still observe this in a
religious sense but I know of no professing NT adherents that do. They
all wave their magic wand and change circumcision into baptism.
Exodus
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