passive participle of עָבַד; something wrought, i.e. (concretely) service; household, store of servants.
Transliteration:ʻăbuddâh
Pronunciation:ab-ood-daw'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew noun עֲבֻדָּה (ʻăbuddâh, `{{H5657}}`) is derived from the verbal root עָבַד (ʻābad, `{{H5647}}`), which fundamentally means "to work," "to serve," "to labor," or "to worship." As a passive participle, ʻăbuddâh denotes "something wrought" or "that which is served/worked." Its semantic range extends beyond a simple act to encompass the concrete manifestations and implications of service and labor.
Key aspects of its meaning include:
1. **Service/Labor:** The most common meaning, referring to the work performed, often in a structured, assigned, or even burdensome capacity. It can denote a specific task or a general state of labor.
2. **Household/Servants:** In some contexts, it refers collectively to the body of servants or the entire household staff, emphasizing their function of service.
3. **Implements/Equipment for Service:** Less frequently, it can denote the tools or instruments used in performing a specific service, particularly in the context of the Tabernacle.
4. **Burden/Task:** The demanding nature of the work or the specific duty assigned.
While closely related to עֲבֹדָה (ʻăbōdâh, `{{H5656}}`), which also means "service" or "work," ʻăbuddâh often emphasizes the *concrete object* of service, the *actual output*, or the *collective body* performing the service, rather than the abstract act or state of servitude.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
H5657 appears relatively few times in the Hebrew Bible, but its occurrences are significant and illustrate its nuanced meaning:
* **Genesis 29:27:** Here, Laban tells Jacob, "Fulfill her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years." ʻăbuddâh clearly refers to the *period* or *task* of labor Jacob is obligated to perform for Rachel. It signifies the agreed-upon work.
* **Exodus 1:14:** Describing the Israelites' plight in Egypt, it states, "And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field; all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour." The phrase "all their service" (kol-ʻăbuddātām) here unequivocally denotes the *oppressive, forced labor* imposed by the Egyptians. It underscores the severity and totality of their enslavement.
* **Exodus 27:19:** In the context of the Tabernacle, "All the instruments of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass." Here, ʻăbuddâh refers to the *equipment* or *implements* used for the Tabernacle's operation and maintenance, or perhaps the sum total of the Tabernacle's functions. It highlights the concrete aspects of sacred duty.
* **Numbers 4:24:** Speaking of the Gershonites' duties, "This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens." ʻăbuddâh denotes their specific *assigned duties* or *tasks* related to the Tabernacle's transport and care. It is a defined, structured service.
* **1 Chronicles 26:30:** "And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel westward, in all the business of the Lord, and in the service of the king." Here, ʻăbuddâh refers to the *administrative duties* or *business* performed both for the Lord (presumably in the temple administration) and for the king. It indicates organized, official service.
From these contexts, ʻăbuddâh consistently points to concrete, often demanding, work or service, whether imposed by humans, agreed upon, or divinely appointed.
### Related Words & Concepts
The understanding of ʻăbuddâh is significantly enhanced by examining its linguistic and conceptual relatives:
* **עָבַד (ʻābad, `{{H5647}}`):** The foundational verbal root, meaning "to work, serve, labor, till, worship." ʻăbuddâh is the concrete outcome or manifestation of this verb.
* **עֶבֶד (ʻebed, `{{H5650}}`):** "Servant, slave." This noun refers to the *person* who performs ʻăbuddâh. The relationship between master and ʻebed is defined by the ʻăbuddâh performed.
* **עֲבֹדָה (ʻăbōdâh, `{{H5656}}`):** Another noun derived from ʻābad, meaning "service, labor, work, ministry, bondage." This word is far more frequent and often interchangeable with ʻăbuddâh in general contexts of "work" or "service." However, ʻăbuddâh tends to emphasize the *tangible aspect* of the service (the things involved, the burden, the collective of servants), whereas ʻăbōdâh can more broadly refer to the *act* of service, the *state* of servitude, or the *ministry* itself. For example, ʻăbōdâh is frequently used for priestly ministry.
* **מְלָאכָה (melāʼḵâ, `{{H4399}}`):** A more general term for "work," "occupation," or "business," often referring to skilled craftsmanship or daily tasks. While ʻăbuddâh can overlap, it specifically carries the nuance of service or a task performed for another.
The relationship between ʻăbuddâh and ʻăbōdâh is particularly noteworthy. While both denote "service," ʻăbuddâh often highlights the *burden* or *concrete nature* of the service, or the *collective body* performing it, as seen in the "hard bondage" of Egypt or the "service of the Gershonites."
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ʻăbuddâh is multifaceted, reflecting both human experience and divine interaction:
1. **The Burden of Toil and Oppression:** In the context of the Egyptian bondage ([[Exodus 1:14]]), ʻăbuddâh powerfully conveys the harsh reality of human oppression and the curse of toil following the Fall ([[Genesis 3:17-19]]). It represents work that is not redemptive but dehumanizing, a bitter experience from which God delivers His people. This highlights God's compassion for the oppressed and His role as a deliverer from unjust ʻăbuddâh.
2. **Sanctified Service and Divine Mandate:** When applied to the Tabernacle ([[Exodus 27:19]], [[Numbers 4:24]]), ʻăbuddâh elevates mundane tasks to sacred duties. The meticulous care of the sanctuary's implements and the specific assignments of the Levites transform "work" into an act of worship and obedience. This demonstrates that all aspects of life, even the practical and seemingly ordinary, can be consecrated to God's service. It underscores the divine expectation of diligent and precise service in His presence.
3. **Stewardship and Responsibility:** In contexts like 1 Chronicles 26:30, ʻăbuddâh points to administrative and organizational "business" or "service." This resonates with the biblical concept of stewardship, where individuals are entrusted with responsibilities, whether for the "business of the Lord" or the "service of the king." It implies accountability and faithful execution of duties.
4. **Contrast Between Servitude to Man and Service to God:** The narrative of the Exodus, which uses ʻăbuddâh to describe the oppressive Egyptian labor, culminates in God's call for Israel to be His servants. This creates a profound theological contrast: liberation from human ʻăbuddâh (bondage) is for the purpose of entering into divine ʻabōdâh (worshipful service). The nature of the "work" transforms from bitter toil under a taskmaster to willing devotion under a loving God.
### Summary
The Hebrew word עֲבֻדָּה (ʻăbuddâh, `{{H5657}}`), derived from the root עָבַד (ʻābad, `{{H5647}}`), primarily signifies "service," "work," or "labor" in a concrete and often demanding sense. Its semantic range extends to encompass the actual tasks performed, the implements used in service, or even the collective body of servants. While closely related to עֲבֹדָה (ʻăbōdâh, `{{H5656}}`), ʻăbuddâh often emphasizes the tangible, burdensome, or specific nature of the work. Biblically, it is employed to describe the oppressive forced labor of the Israelites in Egypt ([[Exodus 1:14]]), highlighting human bondage and divine deliverance. Conversely, it also refers to the meticulous and assigned duties within the Tabernacle ([[Exodus 27:19]], [[Numbers 4:24]]) and administrative responsibilities ([[1 Chronicles 26:30]]), thereby elevating practical tasks to sacred or divinely appointed service. Theologically, ʻăbuddâh illuminates the spectrum of human toil, from dehumanizing oppression to sanctified devotion, underscoring God's redemptive work in liberating His people from burdensome ʻăbuddâh to serve Him freely.
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