Lexical Summary abuddah: Labor, service, work Original Word: עֲבֻדָּה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance household, store of servants Passive participle of abad; something wrought, i.e. (concretely) service -- household, store of servants. see HEBREW abad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom abad Definition service NASB Translation household (1), servants (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֲבֻדָּה noun feminine service (on formation see LagBN 151); — of household servants as a body, "" cattle, etc., Genesis 26:14 (J) Job 1:3. Topical Lexicon Overview עֲבֻדָּה (ʿǎvuddah) denotes rendered service or labor—often that of household servants whose work sustains and enlarges the prosperity of a family or estate. Though the term appears only twice, each context showcases divine blessing expressed through abundant resources and a well-ordered workforce. Occurrences and Context Genesis 26:14 records that Isaac “owned flocks and herds and a great number of servants, so the Philistines envied him”. The same wording reappears in Job 1:3, where Job’s “large number of servants” accents the magnitude of his riches. In both narratives עֲבֻדָּה stands alongside livestock counts, presenting it as a measurable component of wealth. The servants’ labor supports pastoral and agricultural enterprises, underscoring their indispensability to patriarchal economy and household stability. Connection to Covenant Blessing In Genesis the multiplication of servants manifests God’s promise to Abraham’s line: “I will bless you and make your descendants numerous” (Genesis 22:17). Material expansion, including an ample workforce, signals the covenant’s outworking. Job’s holdings, likewise, bear witness to the principle that “the blessing of the Lord enriches” (Proverbs 10:22). The retraction and later restoration of Job’s עֲבֻדָּה frame his ordeal within the larger theology of divine sovereignty over human fortunes. Socio-Economic Dimensions Patriarchal servants were more than hired hands; they were integral members of a semi-nomadic clan. Circumcised males among them participated in covenant rites (Genesis 17:12-13), while trusted elders could even act as agents in family matters (Genesis 24:2-4). Thus עֲבֻדָּה signifies a bond of responsibility and mutual benefit, illustrating a social order built on stewardship, not exploitation. Scripture elsewhere condemns oppressive servitude (Exodus 3:7; Deuteronomy 24:14-15), harmonizing economic practice with moral obligation. Spiritual Implications The broader biblical motif of “service” reaches from the servant in the field to the worshiper in the sanctuary. The same verbal root underlies Israel’s call to “serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:14-15). Earthly עֲבֻדָּה thus foreshadows the higher vocation of honoring God with wholehearted obedience. In describing Isaac and Job, the Spirit illustrates that true prosperity includes people whose daily work advances godly purposes. Christological Foreshadowing While עֲבֻדָּה refers to human servants, it anticipates the Suffering Servant who declared, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). The flourishing households of Genesis and Job hint at a future household—the Church—where redeemed servants labor together under the headship of Christ (Ephesians 2:19-22). Application for Ministry 1. Stewardship: Leaders today must value co-laborers as gifts from God, fostering environments where each worker’s contribution is dignified (Colossians 4:1). Related Concepts and Cross References • Avodah as worshipful service: Exodus 8:1, 23; Psalm 100:2. Together, these passages illuminate the rich theological texture of עֲבֻדָּה: practical labor that sustains life, displays divine blessing, and anticipates the redemptive service embodied perfectly in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations וַעֲבֻדָּ֖ה ועבדה vaavudDah wa‘ăḇuddāh wa·‘ă·ḇud·dāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 26:14 HEB: וּמִקְנֵ֣ה בָקָ֔ר וַעֲבֻדָּ֖ה רַבָּ֑ה וַיְקַנְא֥וּ NAS: and a great household, so that the Philistines KJV: and great store of servants: and the Philistines INT: possessions and herds household great envied Job 1:3 2 Occurrences |
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