Ear

(properly אֹזֶן o (Zen, οϊvς), the organ of hearing. In Scripture the term is frequently employed figuratively. To signify the regard of Jehovah to the prayers of his people, the Psalmist says, "His ears are open to their cry" (Ps 34:15). To "uncover the ear" is a Hebraism, and signifies to show or reveal something to a person (1Sa 20:2). The Psalmist, speaking in the person of the Messiah, says, "Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened" (Ps 40:6). Ainsworth reads, " Mine ears hast thou digged open." The Sept., which Paul follows (Heb 10:5), reads the passage thus: "A body hast thou prepared me." "Make the ears of this people heavy," occurs in Isa 6:10, that is, render their minds inattentive and disobedient; with a similar meaning, the prophet Jeremiah speaks of " ears uncircumcised" (Isa 6:10). Among the Jews, the slave who renounced the privilege of being made free from servitude in the sabbatical year submitted to have his ear bored through with an awl, which was done in the presence of some judge or magistrate, that it might appear a voluntary act. The ceremony took place at his master's door, and was the mark of perpetual servitude (Ex 21:6). SEE EARRING.