Reeh 15:17 · unit 2

TT #332 · Parashas Reeh · Sixth Aliyah · Passuk 15:17

The Complete Passuk

וְלָקַחְתָּ֣ אֶת־הַמַּרְצֵ֗עַ וְנָתַתָּ֤ה בְאׇזְנוֹ֙ וּבַדֶּ֔לֶת וְהָיָה֙ לְךָ֣ עֶ֔בֶד עוֹלָ֑ם וְאַ֥ף לַאֲמָתְךָ֖ תַּעֲשֶׂה־כֵּֽן׃

Then you shall take the awl and put it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your slave forever; and also to your maidservant you shall do likewise.

Chabad.org — 15:17

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Kiddushin.

Sefaria — Kiddushin

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וְנָתַתָּה בְאׇזְנוֹ – בְּגֹבַהּ שֶׁל אֹזֶן.

English: "And you shall put it through his ear" — at the height of the ear.

On the daf / in context: The piercing is performed in the upper part of the ear, not in the lobe.

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Kiddushin) — the site of piercing is the upper ear.

What Is Learned

The ear of the Hebrew slave is pierced in its upper portion, not in the lobe.