עַבְדוּת
𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤅𐤕
ʻabdûwth
H5659 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
State of being subjected to the service of another; condition of servitude or bondage, particularly as imposed on an individual or group. The term encompasses both voluntary and involuntary contexts, and may refer to either physical labor, compulsory service, or the status of being owned or controlled by another.
Semantic Range
servitude, bondage, state of slavery, condition of being subject to another's control, oppression, compelled service
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root עבד (ʿ-b-d), which fundamentally means 'to work, serve, be a servant.' עַבְדוּת is a feminine abstract noun formation from this root, indicating the condition or state of being a servant or in service (i.e., servitude or bondage).
Historical & Contextual Notes
עַבְדוּת is used sparingly in the Hebrew Bible, most notably in reference to the Israelites' period of 'bondage' in Egypt (e.g. Exodus 13:3, 14) and in lamenting circumstances where the Israelite people found themselves under foreign domination. The word often carries a negative connotation, especially when applied to the socio-political oppression and forced labor of Israelite ancestors under Egyptian or later imperial authorities. It is distinguished from עֲבֹדָה (ʿăvōdāh), which usually refers to regular work, service, or even cultic service (such as priestly duties), whereas עַבְדוּת emphasizes an involuntary, oppressive servitude. While most standard English translations use 'bondage' or 'slavery,' these do not always convey the sociopolitical implications or the legal status attached to עַבְדוּת in its biblical usage. In later Hebrew, especially in post-biblical and rabbinic literature, עַבְדוּת can also denote legal status or personal condition — 'slavery' as opposed to freedom (חֵרוּת, ḥērût). In the biblical period, the term did not imply an enduring ethnic or religious identity but a transitory or imposed state, connected to historical experiences (notably the Exodus).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָבַד; servitude; bondage.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עבד (ʿ-b-d) — work, serve, be a servant
| 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
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5659-02 |
לְ/עַבְדֻתָ֖/ם | leavedutam | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp |
to their slavery | to their servitude | 1 |
H5659-01 |
בְּ/עַבְדֻתֵֽ/נוּ | beavedutenu | HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cp |
in-our-bondage | in our servitude | 1 |
H5659-03 |
וּ/בְ/עַבְדֻ֔תֵ/נוּ | uveavedutenu | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp1cp |
and-in-servitude-our | and in our servitude | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5659-01 |
Ezra 9:8 | בְּ/עַבְדֻתֵֽ/נוּ | beavedutenu | HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cp |
in-our-bondage | in our servitude |
H5659-03 |
Ezra 9:9 | וּ/בְ/עַבְדֻ֔תֵ/נוּ | uveavedutenu | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp1cp |
and-in-servitude-our | and in our servitude |
H5659-02 |
Nehemiah 9:17 | לְ/עַבְדֻתָ֖/ם | leavedutam | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp |
to their slavery | to their servitude |