← H5687 H5689 →

עֲבֹת

𐤏𐤁𐤕

ʻăbôth

H5688 noun

SILEX Entry

Root עבת to entwine, to plait, to twist together

Definition

A twisted or interwoven strand, cord, or rope, often made of vegetal material, typically used for binding, fastening, or as a decorative element such as a wreathed band or chain. In some contexts, refers to thick entwined branches (boughs), or bands of foliage used in ritual or festive settings.

Semantic Range

entwined cord, rope, band, wreathed chain, twisted bough, wreathed branch, festive foliage

Root / Etymology

Root עבת, likely from the verb meaning 'to entwine, twist, interweave.' The noun עֲבֹת (and its variants עֲבוֹתָה, etc.) is a substantive form referring to the result of such twisting or weaving, i.e., a cord, rope, or entwined object. The root and derived forms are often associated with objects characterized by their entwined or plaited structure.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עֲבֹת refers concretely to strong cords or ropes, often for binding or tying (e.g., Judges 16:7, 8, referring to the ropes binding Samson). It can also indicate a band or chain, especially one that is intricately wreathed or braided (e.g., Numbers 15:38, "fringes in the corners in the borders of their garments with a cord of blue"). In Leviticus 23:40, the term refers to 'branches of thick trees' (entwined foliage) used in the Sukkot festival, highlighting a secondary sense: closely twisted or intertwined boughs. The word is relatively rare, and context determines whether it refers to a physical binding implement, a decorative element, or dense branches. English translations often render it as 'cord,' 'rope,' 'band,' or, in festival contexts, as 'boughs' or 'branches.' However, these glosses do not always capture the sense of intricate entwining inherent in the term. The distinction between עֲבֹת and more common terms for cords (like חֶבֶל) is the emphasis on the twisted or plaited nature, sometimes with a decorative or ritual function.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or עֲבוֹת; or (feminine) עֲבֹתָה; the same as עָבֹת; something intwined, i.e. a string, wreath or foliage; band, cord, rope, thick bough (branch), wreathen (chain).

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

עבת (ʿ-b-t) — to entwine, to twist together, to plait

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H5686 עָבַת they entwined her
H5687 עָבֹת densely interwoven

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5688-03 עֲבֹתִ֣ים avotim HNcbpa the thick boughs entwined cords 8
H5688-09 הָ/עֲבֹתֹ֖ת haavotot HTd/Ncbpa cords the entwined cords 4
H5688-01 עֲבֹ֑ת avot HNcbsa of cords entwined cords of 4
H5688-06 בַּ/עֲבֹתִ֣ים baavotim HR/Ncbpa with-cords in the entwined cords 2
H5688-10 וְ/כַ/עֲב֥וֹת vekhaavot HC/R/Ncbsc and as with ropes and like an entwined cord of 1
H5688-02 עֲבֹתֵֽי/מוֹ avoteymo HNcbpc/Sp3mp cords their entwined cords 1
H5688-05 עֲבֹתֹ֣ת avotot HNcbpc cords entwined cords of 1
H5688-07 בַּ/עֲבֹת֣וֹת baavotot HR/Ncbpc with bands of with entwined cords of 1
H5688-04 עֲבֹת֑/וֹ avoto HNcbsc/Sp3ms his-rope his entwined cord 1
H5688-08 הָ/עֲבֹתִ֜ים haavotim HTd/Ncbpa the ropes the entwined cords 1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5688-01 Exodus 28:14 עֲבֹ֑ת avot HNcbsa of cords entwined cords of
H5688-09 Exodus 28:14 הָ/עֲבֹתֹ֖ת haavotot HTd/Ncbpa the cords the entwined cords
H5688-01 Exodus 28:22 עֲבֹ֑ת avot HNcbsa cordage entwined cords of
H5688-05 Exodus 28:24 עֲבֹתֹ֣ת avotot HNcbpc cords entwined cords of
H5688-09 Exodus 28:25 הָ/עֲבֹתֹ֔ת haavotot HTd/Ncbpa cords the entwined cords
H5688-01 Exodus 39:15 עֲבֹ֑ת avot HNcbsa of cord entwined cords of
H5688-09 Exodus 39:17 הָ/עֲבֹתֹ֣ת haavotot HTd/Ncbpa chains the entwined cords
H5688-09 Exodus 39:18 הָֽ/עֲבֹתֹ֔ת haavotot HTd/Ncbpa cords the entwined cords
H5688-03 Judges 15:13 עֲבֹתִ֣ים avotim HNcbpa ropes entwined cords
H5688-08 Judges 15:14 הָ/עֲבֹתִ֜ים haavotim HTd/Ncbpa the ropes the entwined cords
← H5687 Hebrew Lexicon H5689 →