English · KJV

H5657 Hebrew · Noun

עֲבֻדָּה

ʻăbuddâh /ab-ood-daw'/ Audio pronunciations are computer-generated and may not be fully accurate. Provided as a convenience only.

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verses
2
of 39 books
2
form
1
KJV renderings
2
Span of events 1804 BC–1520 BC
4004 BC390 BC
Rootpassive participle of עָבַד
Meaningsomething wrought, i.e. (concretely) service
KJV usagehousehold, store of servants.

Context

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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʻăbuddâh, represented by H5657, is defined as service, household, or store of servants, deriving from a root meaning “something wrought.” It is a rare term, appearing only 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible, where it specifically denotes a large staff as a component of wealth.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical appearances, ʻăbuddâh is used to quantify the immense wealth of patriarchs. In the case of Job, his substance included a “very great household” Job 1:3, listed alongside his thousands of sheep, camels, and oxen. This collection of assets established him as “the greatest of all the men of the east.” Similarly, Isaac's prosperity included a “great store of servants” Genesis 26:14, which, along with his flocks and herds, was so significant that it caused the Philistines to envy him.

Theological Significance

The use of ʻăbuddâh highlights several key concepts regarding wealth and status in the Old Testament.

  • A Measure of Greatness: A large household or store of servants was a primary indicator of immense wealth and standing. It is listed as a key asset that contributed to Job being called “the greatest of all the men of the east” Job 1:3.
  • Tangible Form of Substance: ʻăbuddâh is presented as a concrete component of a person's “substance” (H4735) or “possession” (H4735), alongside livestock like flocks and herds (Genesis 26:14, Job 1:3).
  • A Source of Influence and Envy: The size of a person's workforce was a visible display of power. In the case of Isaac, his “great store of servants” was a direct cause for the Philistines' envy Genesis 26:14, demonstrating its social impact.

Summary

In summary, ʻăbuddâh H5657 is a specific and concrete term for a large household or workforce. Though it appears only twice, its usage is consistent and significant. It functions as a key metric for patriarchal wealth, listed alongside livestock and possessions to define the substance of powerful men like Job and Isaac. The presence of a great store of servants Genesis 26:14 was a definitive sign of prosperity and influence, establishing a person's high status in their society.

Mentioned in the study 3

What the study says

Several related words appear alongside ʻăbuddâh to provide a fuller picture of patriarchal wealth:

  • H7227 rab (abundant; great; many): This word directly modifies ʻăbuddâh in both of its occurrences, describing the household as “very great” Job 1:3 and the store of servants as “great” Genesis 26:14.
  • H4735 miqneh (property, but only livestock; cattle, flock, herd, possession): This term refers to the livestock assets that, along with the household H5657, constitute a person's total wealth. It appears as “substance” in Job's account Job 1:3 and “possession” in Isaac's Genesis 26:14.
  • H1241 bâqâr (a beeve or an animal of the ox family; a herd): This word specifies a key type of livestock wealth mentioned in conjunction with the household H5657. It is translated as “oxen” for Job Job 1:3 and “herds” for Isaac Genesis 26:14.

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.