Lexical Summary aboth: leafy Original Word: עָבֹת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance thick Or rabowth {aw-both'}; from abath; intwined, i.e. Dense -- thick. see HEBREW abath NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom abath Definition (having) interwoven (foliage), leafy NASB Translation leafy (4). Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Hebrew 5687 designates the dense, intertwining foliage of “leafy trees.” Scripture employs the term four times, each reference touching the realm of worship—either faithful celebration of the LORD or illicit devotion to idols. The contrast supplies a vivid biblical theology of shelter, joy, and counterfeit refuge. Feast of Booths: Worship in Joyful Remembrance Leviticus 23:40 anchors the word in Israel’s calendar: “On the first day you are to gather the product of majestic trees—branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook—and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days.” By God’s design, thick branches provided both building material and festive adornment for Sukkot. The same dense greenery that once shaded Israel during the wilderness sojourn now formed temporary shelters, reminding succeeding generations that the LORD alone is their covering. The command to “rejoice” links the physical experience of living under leafy boughs with spiritual gratitude for redemption from Egypt and ongoing covenant care. Restoration Obedience under Ezra and Nehemiah After the exile, Nehemiah 8:15 records the nation’s renewed zeal: “Go out to the hill country and bring back branches of olive and wild olive, myrtle, palm, and leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written.” The returnees’ eager gathering of עָבֹת testifies that genuine revival is always Word-driven. The same material used at Sinai centuries earlier reappears in Jerusalem, underscoring the timelessness of God’s instructions and the people’s desire to re-align with them. What had been neglected in apostasy becomes a hallmark of restored worship. Prophetic Polemic against Idolatry Ezekiel turns the image on its head. Ezekiel 6:13 depicts corpses “under every green tree and under every leafy oak,” while Ezekiel 20:28 recalls Israel’s scandals “on every high hill and leafy tree.” The lush covering once appointed for holy joy now conceals altars to false gods. The prophet exposes the irony: Israel traded the true shelter of the LORD for shadowy groves, and the very foliage that had signified celebration in Leviticus becomes a setting for judgment. The vocabulary overlap is deliberate—the heart that fails to rejoice rightly will sooner or later rejoice wrongly. Theological Themes 1. Shelter and Presence: Dense branches symbolize protection. Employed rightly, they declare God’s encompassing care; misused, they parody it. Historical and Cultural Background Ancient Near Eastern peoples often located cultic sites beneath thick trees, viewing them as sacred spaces. Israel’s law both affirms the beauty of such creation and carefully regulates its use, directing the impulse toward covenant celebration rather than syncretistic ritual. The Feast of Booths also coincided with the autumn ingathering, making leafy branches readily available and agriculturally symbolic. Ministry Application • Worship must be regulated by Scripture. Materials and activities are not neutral; their meaning is fixed by divine command. Messianic and Eschatological Echoes John 7 situates Jesus at the Feast of Booths, where He invites the thirsty to come to Him—claiming to be the ultimate source of Tabernacles’ joy. Revelation 7:9 pictures the redeemed waving palm branches, hinting that the final harvest festival will surpass its prototype, celebrating the Lamb’s sheltering presence forever. Key References Leviticus 23:40; Nehemiah 8:15; Ezekiel 6:13; Ezekiel 20:28 Forms and Transliterations עֲבֻתָּ֔ה עָבֹ֑ת עָבֹ֖ת עָבֹ֗ת עבת עבתה ‘ā·ḇōṯ ‘ă·ḇut·tāh ‘āḇōṯ ‘ăḇuttāh aVot avutTahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 23:40 HEB: וַעֲנַ֥ף עֵץ־ עָבֹ֖ת וְעַרְבֵי־ נָ֑חַל NAS: and boughs of leafy trees KJV: trees, and the boughs of thick trees, INT: and boughs trees of leafy and willows of the brook Nehemiah 8:15 Ezekiel 6:13 Ezekiel 20:28 4 Occurrences |
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