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עֶבֶד

𐤏𐤁𐤃

ʻebed

H5650 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עבד to work, to serve, to be in subjection

Definition

A person who serves another, often in a subordinate and dependent capacity; the term encompasses a broad social spectrum ranging from enslaved persons owned by others (slaves), to those bound by debt or obligation (bondservants), to retainers who serve in household, royal, or priestly contexts. While 'ebed is frequently used for persons held in forced or hereditary servitude, it can also denote subjects or attendants of a king, or those who serve deity (i.e., worshipers, but without explicit religious connotation as in later usage).

Semantic Range

slave, bondservant, personal attendant, courtier, subject, official, worshiper/servant of deity

Root / Etymology

From the root עָבַד (ʻavad), meaning 'to work, to serve, to labor.' עֶבֶד is the noun form signifying 'one who works/serves.' The root idea is that of subjection or rendering service to another, either voluntarily or under compulsion.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In ancient Israelite society, עֶבֶד (ʻebed) covered a range of legal and social statuses. It most commonly referred to enslaved individuals, whether born into servitude, acquired through war or commerce, or subject to debt-slavery (cf. Exodus 21, Leviticus 25). The term did not always indicate permanent or chattel slavery; Israelite law prescribed protections, limits on term of service, and occasional pathways to freedom (see Deuteronomy 15). Beyond this narrow sense, 'ebed was widely used for royal functionaries and officials (e.g., 'servants of the king'), as well as for those serving in the temple. Prophets and leaders are also referred to as 'servants' of YHWH, denoting chosen status rather than servility. In later (post-exilic, Second Temple) usage, the term could retain both social/legal and honorific senses. English translations such as 'servant' or 'bondservant' often obscure these distinctions; 'slave' may be too narrow, while 'servant' can be too broad or generic. There are nuanced differences between עֶבֶד and related terms such as נַעַר (naʻar, 'young man, attendant') or מְשָׁרֵת (mesharet, 'attendant, minister'), which can specify different ranks, ages, or roles.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

עבד (ʿ-b-d) — to work, to serve, to be in subjection

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4566 מַעְבָּד their deeds
H4567 מַעְבָד his deeds
H5647 עָבַד he served
H5648 עֲבַד you did
H5649 עֲבַד servant

Word Forms

55 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5650-08 עַבְדֶּֽ/ךָ avedekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your servant your servant 141
H5650-03 עֲבָדָ֔י/ו avadayv HNcmpc/Sp3ms his servants his servants 97
H5650-10 עַבְדֵ֥י avedey HNcmpc servants of servants of 68
H5650-05 עֲבָדֶ֖י/ךָ avadeykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your servants your servants 66
H5650-19 עֶ֥בֶד eved HNcmsc servant serving-man 64
H5650-13 עַבְדִּֽ/י avedi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my servant my servant 52
H5650-14 עַבְדּ/וֹ֙ avedo HNcmsc/Sp3ms his servant his servant 42
H5650-06 עֲבָדִ֖ים avadim HNcmpa servants male servants 38
H5650-29 לְ/עַבְדְּ/ךָ֣ leavedekha HR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms to your servant to your servant 23
H5650-28 לַ/עֲבָדִ֔ים laavadim HR/Ncmpa servants to the servants 22

Occurrences in Scripture

803 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5650-19 Genesis 9:25 עֶ֥בֶד eved HNcmsc a servant serving-man
H5650-06 Genesis 9:25 עֲבָדִ֖ים avadim HNcmpa of servants male servants
H5650-19 Genesis 9:26 עֶ֥בֶד eved HNcmsa be his servant serving-man
H5650-19 Genesis 9:27 עֶ֥בֶד eved HNcmsa slave serving-man
H5650-44 Genesis 12:16 וַ/עֲבָדִים֙ vaavadim HC/Ncmpa and menservants male servants
H5650-41 Genesis 14:15 וַ/עֲבָדָ֖י/ו vaavadayv HC/Ncmpc/Sp3ms and his servants and his servants
H5650-08 Genesis 18:3 עַבְדֶּֽ/ךָ avedekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your servant your servant
H5650-09 Genesis 18:5 עַבְדְּ/כֶ֑ם avedekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your servant your servant
H5650-09 Genesis 19:2 עַבְדְּ/כֶ֤ם avedekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your servant's your servant
H5650-08 Genesis 19:19 עַבְדְּ/ךָ֣ avedekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your servant your servant
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