עָבַד
To work (in any sense); by implication, to serve , till , (causatively) enslave , etc.
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does עָבַד (ʿābad) mean in the Bible?
עָבַד (ʿābad) is a Hebrew word meaning "to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve , till , (causatively) enslave , etc.". to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.
Meaning
Service encompasses labor, slavery, and worship—a single Hebrew concept uniting human work with devotion to God.
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc. BDB: work Usage: × be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 85×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 2×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 3×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 2×
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Biblical Witnesses
Showing 8 of 289 occurrences in the biblical text.
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.