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עֲבַד

𐤏𐤁𐤃

ʻăbad

H5648 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To perform an action, carry out a task, accomplish, make, or produce; in Aramaic, עֲבַד functions as a general verb of action and creation, ranging from 'to do' or 'to make' to more specific senses of producing, executing (a command), or working (in service). It is used as the broad, basic Aramaic verb for 'to do,' 'to act,' or 'to make' across various narrative, administrative, or ritual contexts.

Semantic Range

to do, to make, to accomplish, to produce, to perform, to execute (an order/command), to work, to prepare, to manufacture, to carry out

Root / Etymology

From the root עבד, meaning 'to work, serve.' In Hebrew, this root typically means 'to serve, work, be a servant.' The Aramaic verb עֲבַד is a cognate but more broadly covers 'to do, to make,' serving as the common verb for general activity or action in Aramaic, much like עשה ('to do, make') in Hebrew. Thus, עֲבַד is the standard Aramaic equivalent to both עשה and עבד in Hebrew, with a particularly wide range.

Historical & Contextual Notes

As an Aramaic verb, עֲבַד appears especially in the Aramaic sections of Ezra and Daniel, as well as other Northwest Semitic inscriptions outside the Hebrew Bible. Its primary literary function is as the basic verb for acting, making, or accomplishing. Unlike Hebrew עבד, which focuses on labor or servitude, Aramaic עֲבַד is broader and more general, almost always meaning simply 'to do' or 'to make.' In later post-biblical Aramaic (Targumic, rabbinic, Syriac), the verb continues as the basic word for 'do' or 'make.' English versions often translate עֲבַד with the broad range 'do, make, accomplish, execute,' but these may not always reflect the nuances of context (e.g., ritual action vs. administrative work). There is no religious or ethnic-connoted nuance (like 'serve God') inherent in this Aramaic verb, unlike Hebrew עבד which can acquire theological significance in Israelite religious contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to עָבַד; to do, make, prepare, keep, etc.; [idiom] cut, do, execute, go on, make, move, work.

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 do
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4566 מַעְבָּד their deeds
H4567 מַעְבָד his deeds
H5647 עָבַד he served
H5649 עֲבַד servant
H5650 עֶבֶד his servants

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H5648-01 עֲבַד֙ avad AVqp3ms made he perished made 3
H5648-04 עָבֵד֙ aved AVqrmsa doing servant doing 3
H5648-15 יִתְעֲבֵ֔ד yiteaved AVui3ms let be done he will be worked shall be made 3
H5648-03 עֲבַֽדוּ avadu AVqp3mp they did they did they did 2
H5648-06 עַבְדֵת֒ avedet AVqp1cs have I done I did I did 2
H5648-08 לְ/מֶעְבַּ֣ד lemeebad AR/Vqc to-do to do to do 2
H5648-09 מִתְעֲבֶד miteaved AVusmsa executed being carried out being done 2
H5648-11 תַֽעַבְד֗וּן taavedun AVqi2mp you-may-do you all will do you all may do 2
H5648-16 יִתְעֲבִֽד yiteavid AVui3ms be-done he will be made let it be executed 2
H5648-02 עֲבַֽדְתְּ avadete AVqp2ms have you done you did you have done 1

Occurrences in Scripture

28 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H5648-03 Jeremiah 10:11 עֲבַ֑דוּ avadu AVqp3mp made they did made
H5648-12 Daniel 2:5 תִּתְעַבְד֔וּן titeavedun AVui2mp you shall be cut you will busy yourselves you shall be made
H5648-01 Daniel 3:1 עֲבַד֙ avad AVqp3ms made he perished made
H5648-06 Daniel 3:15 עַבְדֵת֒ avedet AVqp1cs I have made I did I have made
H5648-15 Daniel 3:29 יִתְעֲבֵ֔ד yiteaved AVui3ms shall-be-made he will be worked shall be made
H5648-01 Daniel 3:32 עֲבַ֣ד avad AVqp3ms has done he perished he did
H5648-04 Daniel 4:32 עָבֵד֙ aved AVqrmsa he does servant he does
H5648-02 Daniel 4:32 עֲבַֽדְתְּ avadete AVqp2ms have you done you did you have done
H5648-01 Daniel 5:1 עֲבַד֙ avad AVqp3ms made he perished made
H5648-04 Daniel 6:11 עָבֵ֔ד aved AVqrmsa doing servant doing
H5648-06 Daniel 6:23 עַבְדֵֽת avedet AVqp1cs have I done I did I did
H5648-14 Daniel 6:28 וְ/עָבֵד֙ veaved AC/Vqrmsa and-works and working-one and working-one
H5648-05 Daniel 7:21 עָבְדָ֥ה avedah AVqrfsa was making she has perished was making
H5648-07 Ezra 4:15 עָבְדִ֣ין avedin AVqrmsa have been done working-one has been committed
H5648-09 Ezra 4:19 מִתְעֲבֶד miteaved AVusmsa made being carried out being done
H5648-08 Ezra 4:22 לְ/מֶעְבַּ֣ד lemeebad AR/Vqc to-do to do to do
H5648-10 Ezra 5:8 מִתְעַבְדָ֖א miteaveda AVurfsa being-done being-made being made
H5648-11 Ezra 6:8 תַֽעַבְד֗וּן taavedun AVqi2mp you-serve you all will do you are to do
H5648-15 Ezra 6:11 יִתְעֲבֵ֖ד yiteaved AVui3ms shall be made he will be worked shall be made
H5648-16 Ezra 6:12 יִתְעֲבִֽד yiteavid AVui3ms let-it-be-executed he will be made let it be executed
H5648-03 Ezra 6:13 עֲבַֽדוּ avadu AVqp3mp they did they did they did
H5648-13 Ezra 6:16 וַ/עֲבַ֣דוּ vaavadu AC/Vqp3mp and they kept and they did and they did
H5648-08 Ezra 7:18 לְ/מֶעְבַּ֑ד lemeebad AR/Vqc to-do to do to do
H5648-11 Ezra 7:18 תַּעַבְדֽוּן taavedun AVqi2mp you-may-do you all will do you all may do
H5648-16 Ezra 7:21 יִתְעֲבִֽד yiteavid AVui3ms be-done he will be made shall be done
H5648-15 Ezra 7:23 יִתְעֲבֵד֙ yiteaved AVui3ms let be done he will be worked let it be done
H5648-04 Ezra 7:26 עָבֵ֜ד aved AVqrmsa doing servant the law
H5648-09 Ezra 7:26 מִתְעֲבֵ֖ד miteaved AVusmsa executed being carried out carried out
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