עָבַד

𐤏𐤁𐤃

ʻâbad

H5647 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To perform work, engage in labor, carry out a task or duty; to serve, particularly in the sense of rendering service or labor to an authority figure, household, or deity. The verb encompasses agricultural labor, general service, and ritual/religious service or worship, depending on context.

Semantic Range

to labor, to serve a person or authority, to be a servant or bondsman, to till or work the soil, to perform tasks, to render ritual service, to be enslaved or compelled to work, to serve a deity (ritual service), to perform worship (in a restricted cultic sense)

Root / Etymology

From the root עבד, which fundamentally means 'to work' or 'to serve.' The verb עָבַד retains the root sense in both secular (manual labor, agricultural tasks, servitude) and religious (service, worship) contexts. The lexical meaning evolves from the core notion of exertion or fulfilling a duty, whether secular or religious.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, עָבַד is used in multiple domains: (1) secular labor, particularly agricultural (Genesis 2:15; tilling the land); (2) service to another person, often in hierarchical relationships such as a servant to a master (Exodus 21:6); (3) subjugation or forced labor, including contexts of enslavement and oppression (Exodus 1:13–14); and (4) ritual service rendered to a deity, especially YHWH (Exodus 3:12), where the nuance sometimes approaches 'worship' but strictly in the sense of performing authorized cultic duties. The transition from physical labor to cultic service is a core development in biblical usage. Latter translations sometimes use 'worship' where the primary sense concerns ritual or priestly service (e.g., Joshua 24:14), but this can obscure the broader semantic range of the word, which in most contexts refers not to abstract devotion, but to concrete acts of service or duty. Related Hebrew terms include פָּעַל (to do, accomplish), עָשָׂה (to make, do), and שֵׁרֵת (to minister, serve in a cultic capacity), each with its own nuances. The Qal stem predominates, but the Hiphil may carry a causative sense ('to enslave' or 'cause to work'). In pre-exilic and monarchic sources, עָבַד is most frequently associated with agricultural and household service; in post-exilic and Second Temple texts, there is increased emphasis on ritual and religious dimensions. English translations vary: 'serve' often best conveys the broadest sense, while 'worship' should be reserved for contexts where ritual duty to a deity is explicit.

Translation Consistency

primary "serve" 47 occurrences

'Serve' best fits the full semantic range (labor, render service, be a servant, perform ritual worship) and is the most common natural English rendering in the existing data (158 of 289 occurrences as 'serve' plus many as 'served'/'serving'). It comfortably covers both everyday work and service to an authority or deity, making it the most consistent, natural choice for all forms of עָבַד.

Alternatives (3 occurrences):
"work" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.; [idiom] be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, [phrase] husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

עבד (Eved) — to work, to serve, to labor

Root עבד to work, to serve, to labor
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4566 מַעְבָּד their deeds
H4567 מַעְבָד his deeds
H5648 עֲבַד he perished
H5649 עֲבַד servant
H5650 עֶבֶד his servants

Word Forms

95 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5647-22 לַ/עֲב֕וֹד laavod HR/Vqc to serve to serve to serve 27
H5647-61 וַ/יַּעַבְד֥וּ vayaavedu HC/Vqw3mp and they served and they served and they served 17
H5647-52 וַ/עֲבַדְתֶּם֙ vaavadetem HC/Vqq2mp and serve and you served and you served 13
H5647-42 תַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד taavod HVqi2ms you shall serve you will serve you will serve 12
H5647-65 וַֽ/יַּעֲבֹ֣ד vayaavod HC/Vqw3ms and he served and he served and he served 10
H5647-21 עִבְדוּ֙ ivedu HVqv2mp serve Serve! Serve! 9
H5647-34 עֹבֵ֔ד oved HVqrmsa servant serving one of serving one of 8
H5647-11 עָבְד֖וּ avedu HVqp3cp they served they served they served 7
H5647-36 עֹבְדֵ֥י ovedey HVqrmpc servants of serving ones of serving ones of 7
H5647-72 וְ/עָבְד֖וּ veavedu HC/Vqq3cp and they will serve and they served and they will serve 7

Occurrences in Scripture

289 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5647-22 Genesis 2:5 לַֽ/עֲבֹ֖ד laavod HR/Vqc to work to serve to serve
H5647-23 Genesis 2:15 לְ/עָבְדָ֖/הּ leavedah HR/Vqc/Sp3fs to work it to work her to work her
H5647-22 Genesis 3:23 לַֽ/עֲבֹד֙ laavod HR/Vqc to work to serve to serve
H5647-34 Genesis 4:2 עֹבֵ֥ד oved HVqrmsc tiller serving one of serving one of
H5647-42 Genesis 4:12 תַֽעֲבֹד֙ taavod HVqi2ms you till you will serve you will work
H5647-11 Genesis 14:4 עָבְד֖וּ avedu HVqp3cp they served they served they served
H5647-56 Genesis 15:13 וַ/עֲבָד֖וּ/ם vaavadum HC/Vqp3cp/Sp3mp and they will serve them and they served them and they will serve them
H5647-94 Genesis 15:14 יַעֲבֹ֖דוּ yaavodu HVqi3mp they will serve they will serve they will serve
H5647-93 Genesis 25:23 יַעֲבֹ֥ד yaavod HVqi3ms shall serve he will serve he will serve
H5647-90 Genesis 27:29 יַֽעַבְד֣וּ/ךָ yaavedukha HVqj3mp/Sp2ms serve you may they serve you may they serve you
H5647-42 Genesis 27:40 תַּעֲבֹ֑ד taavod HVqi2ms you shall serve you will serve you will serve
H5647-51 Genesis 29:15 וַ/עֲבַדְתַּ֖/נִי vaavadetani HC/Vqq2ms/Sp1cs and serve me and you served me and you serve me
H5647-14 Genesis 29:18 אֶֽעֱבָדְ/ךָ֙ eevadekha HVqi1cs/Sp2ms I will serve you I will serve you I will serve you
H5647-65 Genesis 29:20 וַ/יַּעֲבֹ֧ד vayaavod HC/Vqw3ms served and he served and he served
H5647-04 Genesis 29:25 עָבַ֣דְתִּי avadeti HVqp1cs serve/work I worked I served
H5647-42 Genesis 29:27 תַּעֲבֹ֣ד taavod HVqi2ms you shall serve you will serve you will serve
H5647-65 Genesis 29:30 וַ/יַּעֲבֹ֣ד vayaavod HC/Vqw3ms and he served and he served and he served
H5647-04 Genesis 30:26 עָבַ֧דְתִּי avadeti HVqp1cs I have served I worked I served
H5647-05 Genesis 30:26 עֲבַדְתִּֽי/ךָ avadetikha HVqp1cs/Sp2ms I have served you I have served you I have served you
H5647-05 Genesis 30:29 עֲבַדְתִּ֑י/ךָ avadetikha HVqp1cs/Sp2ms I have served you I have served you I have served you
H5647-04 Genesis 31:6 עָבַ֖דְתִּי avadeti HVqp1cs I have served I worked I served
H5647-05 Genesis 31:41 עֲבַדְתִּ֜י/ךָ avadetikha HVqp1cs/Sp2ms I served you I have served you I have served you
H5647-34 Genesis 49:15 עֹבֵֽד oved HVqrmsa servant serving one of serving one of
H5647-64 Exodus 1:13 וַ/יַּעֲבִ֧דוּ vayaavidu HC/Vhw3mp So the Egyptians made serve they caused to serve they caused to serve
H5647-11 Exodus 1:14 עָבְד֥וּ avedu HVqp3cp they made them serve they served they served
H5647-41 Exodus 3:12 תַּֽעַבְדוּ/ן֙ taavedun HVqi2mp/Sn you shall serve you (masc. plural) will serve you (masc. plural) will serve
H5647-83 Exodus 4:23 וְ/יַֽעַבְדֵ֔/נִי veyaavedeni HC/Vqj3ms/Sp1cp that he may serve Me and may he serve us that he may serve me
H5647-21 Exodus 5:18 עִבְד֔וּ ivedu HVqv2mp work Serve! Work
H5647-28 Exodus 6:5 מַעֲבִדִ֣ים maavidim HVhrmpa are holding in bondage those causing to serve are causing to serve
H5647-85 Exodus 7:16 וְ/יַֽעַבְדֻ֖/נִי veyaaveduni HC/Vqi3mp/Sp1cs that they may serve me and they will serve me that they may serve me
H5647-85 Exodus 7:26 וְ/יַֽעַבְדֻֽ/נִי veyaaveduni HC/Vqi3mp/Sp1cs that they may serve me and they will serve me and they will serve me
H5647-85 Exodus 8:16 וְ/יַֽעַבְדֻֽ/נִי veyaaveduni HC/Vqi3mp/Sp1cs that they may serve me and they will serve me and they will serve me
H5647-85 Exodus 9:1 וְ/יַֽעַבְדֻֽ/נִי veyaaveduni HC/Vqi3mp/Sp1cs that they may serve me and they will serve me and they will serve me
H5647-85 Exodus 9:13 וְ/יַֽעַבְדֻֽ/נִי veyaaveduni HC/Vqi3mp/Sp1cs that they may serve me and they will serve me and they will serve me
H5647-85 Exodus 10:3 וְ/יַֽעַבְדֻֽ/נִי veyaaveduni HC/Vqi3mp/Sp1cs that they may serve me and they will serve me and they will serve me
H5647-84 Exodus 10:7 וְ/יַֽעַבְד֖וּ veyaavedu HC/Vqi3mp that they may serve and they will serve and they will serve
H5647-21 Exodus 10:8 עִבְד֖וּ ivedu HVqv2mp serve Serve! Serve!
H5647-75 Exodus 10:11 וְ/עִבְד֣וּ veivedu HC/Vqv2mp and serve and serve! and serve
H5647-21 Exodus 10:24 עִבְד֣וּ ivedu HVqv2mp serve Serve! Serve!
H5647-22 Exodus 10:26 לַ/עֲבֹ֖ד laavod HR/Vqc to serve to serve to serve
H5647-32 Exodus 10:26 נַּעֲבֹד֙ naavod HVqi1cp we must serve we will serve we will serve
H5647-21 Exodus 12:31 עִבְד֥וּ ivedu HVqv2mp serve Serve! Serve!
H5647-68 Exodus 13:5 וְ/עָבַדְתָּ֛ veavadeta HC/Vqq2ms you shall serve and you worked and you shall serve
H5647-29 Exodus 14:5 מֵ/עָבְדֵֽ/נוּ meavedenu HR/Vqc/Sp1cp from serving us from serving us from serving us
H5647-78 Exodus 14:12 וְ/נַֽעַבְדָ֣ה venaavedah HC/Vqh1cp that we may serve and let us serve and let us serve
H5647-12 Exodus 14:12 עֲבֹ֣ד avod HVqc to serve to serve to serve
H5647-38 Exodus 20:5 תָעָבְדֵ֑/ם taavedem HVHi2ms/Sp3mp you shall serve them you will be made to serve them you shall serve them
H5647-42 Exodus 20:9 תַּֽעֲבֹ֔ד taavod HVqi2ms you-shall-labor you will serve you will serve
H5647-93 Exodus 21:2 יַעֲבֹ֑ד yaavod HVqi3ms he shall serve he will serve he will serve
H5647-53 Exodus 21:6 וַ/עֲבָד֖/וֹ vaavado HC/Vqq3ms/Sp3ms and he shall serve him and he served him and he shall serve him