What does עָבַד · אֹיֵב mean in the Bible?
עָבַד · אֹיֵב is a Hebrew phrase meaning "serve enemies".
Hebrew · H5647, H341
וְהַעֲבַדְתִּיךָ אֶת־אֹיְבֶיךָ
To work (in any sense); by implication, to serve , till , (causatively) enslave , etc. · hating ; an adversary
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
עָבַדH5647to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve , till , (causatively) enslave , etc.
Pronunciationʿābad
Service encompasses labor, slavery, and worship—a single Hebrew concept uniting human work with devotion to God.
Open lexicon entry →אֹיֵבH341hating ; an adversary
Pronunciationʾōyēb
Active hostility rather than mere opposition; one who bears malice or enmity against another
Open lexicon entry →What does וְהַעֲבַדְתִּיךָ אֶת־אֹיְבֶיךָ (vehaavadetikha et-oyveikha) mean in the Bible?
עָבַד · אֹיֵב is a Hebrew phrase meaning "serve enemies".
Full entry for וְהַעֲבַדְתִּיךָ אֶת־אֹיְבֶיךָ (H5647, H341) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H5647, H341?
H5647, H341 is connected to 573 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. serve enemies
Source Gloss
serve enemies
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups4Aligned forms92
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense85×
ImperfectDeut 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 27:1336×
Participle active1Kgs 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 28:1918×
Perfect1Sam 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 28:4716×
Sequential imperfect2Chr 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 26:1911×
Infinitive constructExod 14:12 · Jer 34:9 · Jer 34:10 · Mal 3:144×
Pualintensive passive — intensive action received by the subject2×
PerfectDeut 21:3 · Isa 14:32×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action3×
ImperfectDeut 21:4 · Ezek 36:342×
PerfectEccl 5:81×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action2×
Participle activeExod 6:51×
PerfectEzek 29:181×
Word Origins
וְהַעֲבַדְתִּיךָ אֶת־אֹיְבֶיךָ is a primitive root - no further derivation.