עֲבָד
𐤏𐤁𐤃
ʻăbâd
H5652 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A work, act, or deed; refers to an action performed, especially as the result of labor or service. In various contexts, designates a specific task, occupation, commission, or achievement; may also refer to established practices or customary works.
Semantic Range
work, act, deed, task, achievement, occupation, established practice
Root / Etymology
From the root עבד meaning 'to work, serve, labor.' The noun עֲבָד is a substantive formation typically referring to 'work' or 'deed' as the outcome or product of action, closely related to the verb עָבַד ('to work, serve').
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, עֲבָד occurs infrequently, primarily in poetic or formal contexts, such as in the book of Job (e.g., Job 36:9) where it refers broadly to the works or deeds of individuals. Its meaning emphasizes the product or result of labor, distinguishing it from other nouns like מַעֲשֶׂה (ma‘ăseh), which more generically refers to any 'deed' or 'work,' or פֹּעַל (po‘al), which can denote an 'action' or 'activity' in either a physical or metaphorical sense. עֲבָד aligns more closely with completed labor or the outcome of effort. In post-biblical Hebrew and later usage, derivative terms continue to underscore concrete results of human endeavor, though frequency and nuance may shift. Standard English translations render it variously as 'work,' 'deed,' or 'act,' but do not always capture its specific association with the result or product of working, especially as tied to the root idea of service.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָבַד; a deed; work.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עבד (ʿ-b-d) — work, serve, labor
| 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
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5652-01 |
וַ/עֲבָדֵי/הֶ֖ם | vaavadeyhem | HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp |
and their works | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5652-01 |
Ecclesiastes 9:1 | וַ/עֲבָדֵי/הֶ֖ם | vaavadeyhem | HC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp |
and their works |