עַבְדִיאֵל
𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤉𐤀𐤋
Avediel
H5661 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'Servant of El' (God). The name designates an individual who is characterized by devotion or service to El, the chief deity of ancient Canaanite and Israelite religion. Used as a proper name for a specific Israelite in 1 Chronicles 5:15. The name can carry connotations of pious devotion or official service but is primarily an anthroponym (personal name) and does not denote a common noun or title in biblical texts. The semantic nuance focuses on service in the sense of dedication or allegiance to the deity El.
Semantic Range
personal name 'Servant of El', denotes allegiance or service to the deity El
Root / Etymology
From the root עבד ('avad), 'to serve, work,' and אל (El), the ancient West Semitic word for 'god,' often serving as a generic term for deity or as a specific designation for the supreme god in the region. The structure follows a common theophoric pattern in Hebrew names, combining a verbal element ('avdî, 'my servant' or 'servant of') with a divine name (El).
Historical & Contextual Notes
עַבְדִיאֵל appears only once in the Hebrew Bible (1 Chronicles 5:15), identifying a leader among the Gadite clans east of the Jordan. The name reflects a widespread naming convention among Israelites and their neighbors—combining 'servant of' or 'worshipper/follower of' with a deity’s name—which was especially common in the monarchic through post-exilic periods. Later English use, such as 'Abdiel,' transposes the pronunciation but may miss the direct connotation of allegiance to El. The use of 'El' in this name points to the divine epithet prior to or alongside the exclusive use of YHWH for the Israelite deity, reflecting nuanced shifts in Israelite religion across different periods. This name should be compared with similar constructs such as עַבְדְּיָה (Obadiah, 'servant of Yah'; H5662) and עַבְדֵּאל (Abdeel, 'servant of God'; H5663), which substitute other divine names in parallel structures. There is no evidence that the meaning shifted over time; its occurrence is strictly as a proper name in preserved texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עֶבֶד and אֵל; servant of God; Abdiel, an Israelite; Abdiel. Compare עַבְדְּאֵל.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עבד-אל (ʿ-b-d / ʾ-l) — to serve, to work, servant; god, El
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H5655 | עַבְדְּאֵל | Servant-of-El |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5661-01 |
עַבְדִּיאֵ֣ל | avediel | HNp |
Abdiel | Servant-of-El | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5661-01 |
1 Chronicles 5:15 | עַבְדִּיאֵ֣ל | avediel | HNp |
Abdiel | Servant-of-El |