Hebrew · H5647, G2038 · unreviewed

עֹבֵד

To work (in any sense); by implication, to serve , till , (causatively) enslave , etc. · to work

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

עָבַד H5647 to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve , till , (causatively) enslave , etc.
Pronunciation ʿābad
Service encompasses labor, slavery, and worship—a single Hebrew concept uniting human work with devotion to God.
Open lexicon entry →
ἐργάζομαι G2038 to work
Pronunciation ergázomai
To work actively toward a result; labor that produces concrete outcomes, whether material or moral.
Open lexicon entry →

What does עֹבֵד (oved) mean in the Bible?

עָבַד · ἐργάζομαι is a Hebrew word meaning "to labor, serve, cultivate".

Full entry for עֹבֵד (H5647, G2038) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to labor, serve, cultivate
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 85×
Imperfect Deut 5:13 · Deut 6:13 · Deut 7:16 · Deut 10:20 · Deut 15:19 · Exod 20:9 · Exod 23:33 · Exod 34:21 · Gen 4:12 · Gen 27:40 · Gen 29:27 · Lev 25:39 · Exod 21:2 · Gen 25:23 · Jer 22:13 · Jer 27:13 36×
Participle active 1Kgs 9:21 · 2Kgs 10:19 · 2Kgs 10:21 · 2Kgs 10:22 · 2Kgs 10:23 · 2Kgs 17:33 · 2Kgs 17:41 · Gen 4:2 · Gen 49:15 · Isa 19:9 · Isa 30:24 · Josh 16:10 · Mal 3:18 · Num 18:21 · Prov 12:11 · Prov 28:19 18×
Perfect 1Sam 4:9 · Deut 12:2 · Exod 1:14 · Gen 14:4 · Jer 25:14 · Josh 24:14 · Josh 24:15 · 2Kgs 10:18 · 2Kgs 21:21 · Ezek 29:18 · Ezek 29:20 · 2Sam 16:19 · Gen 29:25 · Gen 30:26 · Gen 31:6 · Deut 28:47 16×
Sequential imperfect 2Chr 35:3 · Exod 5:18 · Exod 10:8 · Exod 10:24 · Exod 12:31 · Ezek 20:39 · Jer 27:17 · Judg 9:28 · Ps 2:11 · Ps 100:2 · 1Sam 26:19 11×
Infinitive construct Exod 14:12 · Jer 34:9 · Jer 34:10 · Mal 3:14
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject
Perfect Deut 21:3 · Isa 14:3
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action
Imperfect Deut 21:4 · Ezek 36:34
Perfect Eccl 5:8
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action
Participle active Exod 6:5
Perfect Ezek 29:18
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 92 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Imperfect 38 Perfect 20 Participle 19 Imperative 11 Infinitive construct 4
Stem
Qal 85 Niphal 3 Pual 2 Hiphil 2
Mood
Indicative/jussive 31 Indicative 20 Imperative 11 Indicative/cohortative 7
OT Occurrences
Gen 4:2 Qal · Participle Gen 4:12 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Gen 14:4 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 15:14 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Gen 25:23 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Gen 27:40 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Gen 29:25 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 29:27 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Gen 30:26 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 31:6 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 49:15 Qal · Participle Exod 1:14 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Exod 5:18 Qal · Imperative · Imperative Exod 6:5 Hiphil · Participle Exod 10:8 Qal · Imperative · Imperative Exod 10:24 Qal · Imperative · Imperative Exod 10:26 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/cohortative Exod 12:31 Qal · Imperative · Imperative Exod 14:12 Qal · Infinitive construct Exod 20:9 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Exod 21:2 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Exod 23:33 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Exod 34:21 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Lev 25:39 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Lev 25:40 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Lev 25:46 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Num 8:25 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Num 8:26 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Num 18:21 Qal · Participle Deut 5:13 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 6:13 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 7:16 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 10:20 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 12:2 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Deut 12:30 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 13:5 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 15:19 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 21:3 Pual · Perfect · Indicative Deut 21:4 Niphal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Deut 28:47 Qal · Perfect · Indicative +52 more occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)
Sources