Word Study for H5648 (עֲבַד) | Strong's Concordance

ʻăbad /ab-bad'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to עָבַד

Meaningto do, make, prepare, keep, etc.

KJV usagedo, execute, go on, make, move, work.

Idioms & phrasesidiom cut

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻăbad — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word ʻăbad, represented by H5648, is a versatile verb meaning to do, make, prepare, or work. It appears 28 times across 25 verses, primarily in the books of Daniel and Ezra. Its meaning is broad, encompassing actions ranging from divine creation to the execution of royal decrees and even acts of rebellion.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical Aramaic passages, H5648 is used to describe a wide spectrum of activities. It denotes the act of making or creating, as when King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold Daniel 3:1 or when Belshazzar made a great feast Daniel 5:1. It also signifies the execution of a command or will, such as when God doeth according to His will in heaven Daniel 4:35 or when a royal decree is to be done with speed Ezra 6:12. In an idiomatic sense, it can carry the severe meaning of a judgment to be carried out, as in the threat that dissenters shall be cut in pieces Daniel 2:5.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words provide further context to the actions described by H5648:

H1124 bᵉnâʼ (to build, make): This word specifies the act of construction. While H5648 can mean "make" in a general sense, H1124 is used specifically when the elders of the Jews builded the house of God Ezra 6:14.
H1780 dîyn (judgement): This term often appears as the object of the action of H5648. For example, a decree states that judgement should be executed speedily, connecting the abstract concept with the concrete action Ezra 7:26.
H6744 tsᵉlach (to prosper, promote): This verb is used alongside H5648 to describe the successful outcome of an action. In the rebuilding of the temple, the work not only "goeth fast on" (H5648) but also prospereth in their hands Ezra 5:8.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H5648 is demonstrated through its usage by both divine and human agents.

Divine Action and Sovereignty: The word is used to describe God's ultimate power. He worketh signs and wonders Daniel 6:27 and doeth whatever He pleases, with none able to question Him Daniel 4:35.
Human Agency and Authority: Earthly kings use their power to make decrees, images, and feasts Daniel 3:1. The word also describes the actions of people, whether righteous, as when Daniel did as he had done aforetime in prayer Daniel 6:10, or rebellious, as when the people moved sedition Ezra 4:15.
Execution of Law and Judgment: A central theme in Ezra and Daniel is the carrying out of commands. Royal decrees are made and must be done Ezra 7:21, with severe consequences like being cut in pieces or having one's house made a dunghill for non-compliance (Daniel 3:29, Ezra 6:11).

Summary

In summary, H5648 is a foundational Aramaic verb for action. Its broad application shows how the same word can describe the sovereign work of God, the authoritative decrees of kings, and the obedient or rebellious deeds of people. From making a golden idol to working divine wonders, the context surrounding ʻăbad is crucial for understanding the nature and consequence of the action being performed.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 28 occurrences, inflected in 14 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Hitpael Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 5×
Peal Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 3×
Peal Perfect 3rd Plural Masculine 3×
Peal Perfect 3rd Singular Masculine 3×
Hitpael Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 2×
Peal Imperfect 2nd Plural Masculine 2×
Peal Perfect 1st Singular common gender 2×
Qal Infinitive Construct 2×
Hitpael Imperfect 2nd Plural Masculine 1×
Hitpael Participle Singular Feminine Absolute 1×
Peal Participle Plural Masculine Absolute 1×
Peal Participle Singular Feminine Absolute 1×

+ 2 rarer forms

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender: Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Qal: The simple, basic stem — plain action in the active voice.
Peal: The Aramaic simple stem — counterpart of Hebrew Qal.
Absolute: The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).
Construct: Bound to a following noun — "the X of…".

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 25 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezra (13 verses); never once in the other 36.

Ezra

Jeremiah

Daniel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.