עָבַט
𐤏𐤁𐤈
ʻâbaṭ
H5670 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To take or give a pledge, to require or provide collateral for a loan; by extension, to borrow or lend something against security. The verb primarily involves a transactional action relating to the exchange of a pledge in the context of a loan, with a focus on ensuring repayment or fulfillment of an obligation through a tangible guarantee. The causative form refers to the act of giving a loan upon such security.
Semantic Range
to take a pledge (as security), to borrow (with a pledge), to lend (against a pledge), to exact a pledge, to hold property as collateral, to require a guarantee
Root / Etymology
Root: עבט. The root עבט relates to winding or binding, which conceptually gives rise to the idea of tying or securing an object as collateral in a financial transaction. The word עָבַט in the Qal stem generally means 'to take a pledge,' while the Hiphil stem can mean 'to lend on security' or 'to exact a pledge.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In early Israelite legal texts (e.g., Exodus 22:25–27; Deuteronomy 24:10–13), עָבַט pertains specifically to the practice of taking or giving a physical object as collateral when borrowing or lending. This pledge could be a garment or another item of everyday use. The action is rooted in the ancient Near Eastern custom of pledging personal items to secure debts. This term is distinct from other Hebrew roots for lending or borrowing (such as לוה for borrowing, or נשׁא for 'lifting' a debt), in that עָבַט always carries legal and social overtones related to security and trust. Over time, as Israelite and later Judahite society developed more complex financial arrangements, the term's use narrowed and survived chiefly in regulatory or legal contexts. The figurative sense of 'entangling' is rare and not prominent in biblical texts. English translations often render this with various words ('lend,' 'borrow,' 'take a pledge'), but may not capture the legally precise context of a secured loan. The word does not imply interest or usury, only the giving or taking of a guarantee.
Translation Consistency
The root centers on the giving/receiving of a pledge or collateral in a loan transaction. Using “pledge” as the single base verb naturally covers the core sense (to give or take a pledge, require security) and is more specific and idiomatic in English than broader verbs like “take” or “lend.”
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to pawn; causatively, to lend (on security); figuratively, to entangle; borrow, break (ranks), fetch (a pledge), lend, [idiom] surely.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
עבט (ʻăbôwṭ) — to take/give a pledge, become surety, bind by pledge
Word Forms
6 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5670-01 |
לַ/עֲבֹ֥ט | laavot | HR/Vqc |
to take | to take a pledge | to take a pledge | 1 |
H5670-02 |
תַּעֲבִיטֶ֔/נּוּ | taavitenu | HVhi2ms/Sp3ms |
you shall lend to him | you will lend him on pledge | you will lend him on pledge | 1 |
H5670-03 |
תַעֲבֹ֔ט | taavot | HVqi2ms |
shall borrow | you will take a pledge | you will borrow | 1 |
H5670-04 |
וְ/הַֽעֲבַטְתָּ֞ | vehaavateta | HC/Vhq2ms |
and you shall lend | and you will lend on security | and you will lend on security | 1 |
H5670-05 |
וְ/הַעֲבֵט֙ | vehaavet | HC/Vha |
and surely lend | to lend on pledge | and to lend on pledge | 1 |
H5670-06 |
יְעַבְּט֖וּ/ן | yeabetun | HVpi3mp/Sn |
they swerve | they exact pledges | they swerve | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5670-04 |
Deuteronomy 15:6 | וְ/הַֽעֲבַטְתָּ֞ | vehaavateta | HC/Vhq2ms |
and you shall lend | and you will lend on security | and you will lend on security |
H5670-03 |
Deuteronomy 15:6 | תַעֲבֹ֔ט | taavot | HVqi2ms |
shall borrow | you will take a pledge | you will borrow |
H5670-05 |
Deuteronomy 15:8 | וְ/הַעֲבֵט֙ | vehaavet | HC/Vha |
and surely lend | to lend on pledge | and to lend on pledge |
H5670-02 |
Deuteronomy 15:8 | תַּעֲבִיטֶ֔/נּוּ | taavitenu | HVhi2ms/Sp3ms |
you shall lend to him | you will lend him on pledge | you will lend him on pledge |
H5670-01 |
Deuteronomy 24:10 | לַ/עֲבֹ֥ט | laavot | HR/Vqc |
to take | to take a pledge | to take a pledge |
H5670-06 |
Joel 2:7 | יְעַבְּט֖וּ/ן | yeabetun | HVpi3mp/Sn |
they swerve | they exact pledges | they swerve |