English · KJV
H5687

עָבֹת

ʻâbôth /aw-both'/ Ask about this word
Rootor עָבוֹת · from עָבַת
Meaningintwined, i.e. dense
KJV usagethick.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻâbôth — 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 Hebrew word ʻâbôth, represented by H5687, describes something that is intwined, i.e. dense; thick. It is a specific term that appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. It is primarily used to characterize the dense foliage of trees.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The use of H5687 in scripture presents a significant contrast. In Ezekiel, the prophets condemn the Israelites for conducting idolatrous worship under "every thick oak" Ezekiel 6:13 and upon seeing "all the thick trees" on high hills Ezekiel 20:28. In these contexts, the dense foliage is associated with forbidden rites and places of false worship. Conversely, in Leviticus and Nehemiah, the "boughs of thick trees" are commanded to be gathered as part of the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, a time of rejoicing before the LORD (Leviticus 23:40; Nehemiah 8:15).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context in which H5687 is found:

  • H6086 ʻêts (a tree): This is the general term for a tree, and it appears alongside H5687 in all four of its occurrences, specifying that it is the trees that are "thick" (Leviticus 23:40; Nehemiah 8:15; Ezekiel 6:13; Ezekiel 20:28).
  • H424 ʼêlâh (an oak or other strong tree): This word specifies the type of tree in Ezekiel's prophecy, where idolatry was practiced under every "thick oak" Ezekiel 6:13, highlighting the use of sturdy, prominent trees for these rituals.
  • H2022 har (a mountain or range of hills): The locations of the "thick" trees are often on a mount or hill (Ezekiel 6:13; Nehemiah 8:15), which were significant sites for both holy encounters and pagan worship.
  • H6057 ʻânâph (a twig): This word is used in Leviticus to describe the "boughs of thick trees" that were to be gathered for the feast, specifying the part of the tree used in worship Leviticus 23:40.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5687 is tied to its dual usage, illustrating how the natural world can be used for opposing spiritual purposes.

  • A Setting for Idolatry: The denseness of the trees provided seclusion for illicit worship. The term is used by Ezekiel to condemn Israel for turning these natural sanctuaries into places for offering "sweet savour to all their idols" Ezekiel 6:13.
  • An Instrument of Holy Worship: The same "thick" trees are commanded by God to be part of a joyful celebration. Their branches were used to construct booths, a central part of the Feast of Tabernacles, a time to "rejoice before the LORD your God" Leviticus 23:40.
  • Creation's Consecration: The word implicitly raises the question of how creation is to be used. While the lushness of a "thick" tree can be co-opted for pagan rites, its proper purpose is found in the worship and celebration of the Creator.

Summary

In summary, H5687 is a precise descriptor for density, specifically the thick foliage of trees. Though rare, its usage is theologically significant, standing at the crossroads of worship and rebellion. It demonstrates that the same elements of God's creation can either become a backdrop for idolatry or be consecrated as instruments for holy rejoicing, reminding believers of the importance of directing all things toward God.

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 an adjective across 4 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • עָבֹת
  • עֲבֻתָּה

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H6086 עֵץ from עָצָה; a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks); [phrase] carpenter, gallows, helve, [phrase] pine, H424 אֵלָה lemma אִלָה first vowel, corrected to אֵלָה; feminine of אַיִל; an oak or other strong tree; elm, oak, teil-tree. H2022 הַר a shortened form of הָרָר; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively); hill (country), mount(-ain), [idi H6057 עָנָף from an unused root meaning to cover; a twig (as covering the limbs); bough, branch.

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 4 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezekiel (2 verses); never once in the other 36.

1
Leviticus
1
Nehemiah
2
Ezekiel

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, by grammatical form, 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.