What does עֲבֹדָה (ʿăbōdāh) mean in the Bible?
עֲבֹדָה (ʿăbōdāh): Labor encompassing both servile toil and sacred temple service; work as covenant obligation.
Hebrew · H5656
עֲבֹדָה
Work of any kind
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
עֲבֹדָה H5656
Pronunciation ʿăbōdāh
What does עֲבֹדָה (ʿăbōdāh) mean in the Bible?
עֲבֹדָה (ʿăbōdāh): Labor encompassing both servile toil and sacred temple service; work as covenant obligation.
Full entry for עֲבֹדָה (H5656) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5656?
The BSB source-word alignment has 145 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (17), the service (10), the work (10), in the work (7), service (7).
Where does עֲבֹדָה (ʿăbōdāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 29:27. Its strongest book concentrations include Numbers (50), 1 Chronicles (30), Exodus (23), 2 Chronicles (15).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It . . . 17× Exodus 5:9, Leviticus 23:21, Leviticus 23:25, Leviticus 23:35
the service 10× Exodus 30:16, Exodus 36:3, Numbers 4:27, Numbers 8:11
the work 10× Exodus 39:32, Exodus 39:42, Numbers 4:47, Numbers 8:25
in the work 7× Numbers 4:23, Numbers 4:30, Numbers 4:35, Numbers 4:39
service 7× Exodus 1:14, Exodus 12:25, Exodus 13:5, Numbers 4:4
for the service 4× Exodus 39:40, 1 Chronicles 25:6, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Nehemiah 10:32
labor 4× Exodus 1:14, Leviticus 25:39, Deuteronomy 26:6, Isaiah 14:3
of service 4× 1 Chronicles 6:48, 1 Chronicles 28:13, 1 Chronicles 28:14
in the service 3× 1 Chronicles 23:24, 2 Chronicles 31:21, 2 Chronicles 35:2
is the service 3× Numbers 4:24, Numbers 4:28, Numbers 4:33
of the service 3× Exodus 35:24, 1 Chronicles 9:13, 1 Chronicles 23:28
their service 3× Numbers 4:31, Numbers 8:22, 2 Chronicles 8:14
as their service 2× Numbers 7:7, Numbers 7:8
bondage 2× Exodus 2:23, Exodus 6:9
for service 2× 1 Chronicles 24:19, 2 Chronicles 31:16
his task 2× Numbers 4:19, Isaiah 28:21
of work 2× Genesis 29:27, Exodus 1:14
regular 2× Leviticus 23:7, Leviticus 23:8
So the service 2× 2 Chronicles 29:35, 2 Chronicles 35:10
task 2× 2 Chronicles 34:13, Isaiah 28:21
the labor 2× 2 Chronicles 24:12, Ezekiel 29:18
the service [for these items] 2× Numbers 3:26, Numbers 3:31
their duties 2× 1 Chronicles 6:32, 2 Chronicles 31:2
to the service 2× Numbers 3:7, Numbers 3:8
- 1× Joshua 22:27
according to the use 1× 1 Chronicles 28:15
and for the service 1× 1 Chronicles 26:30
and serving 1× 2 Chronicles 12:8
and to his labor 1× Psalms 104:23
burden of slavery 1× Exodus 2:23
by 1× Exodus 38:21
by task 1× 2 Chronicles 34:13
does this service 1× Exodus 12:26
for doing 1× Exodus 36:5
for every kind of service 1× 1 Chronicles 28:14
for its service 1× 1 Chronicles 23:26
for their service 1× Numbers 4:26
for which they were responsible 1× Numbers 7:9
from their bondage 1× Exodus 6:6
hard I have worked 1× Genesis 30:26
his service 1× Numbers 7:5
his work 1× Numbers 4:49
its services 1× Exodus 35:21
of constructing 1× Exodus 36:1
of serving 1× Numbers 4:47
of their service 1× 1 Chronicles 24:3
other work 1× Numbers 4:27
related to their use 1× Numbers 4:32
slavery 1× Lamentations 1:3
strenuously 1× Ezekiel 29:18
the burden 1× Nehemiah 5:18
the difference between serving Me 1× 2 Chronicles 12:8
the service for these [items] 1× Numbers 3:36
their posts 1× 2 Chronicles 35:15
their work 1× Numbers 4:33
this service 1× 1 Chronicles 25:1
to assist 1× Ezra 8:20
to cultivate 1× Psalms 104:14
to do the work 1× 1 Chronicles 26:8
to the work 1× Nehemiah 3:5
Toward the service 1× 1 Chronicles 29:7
use 1× Exodus 27:19
used in worship 1× 1 Chronicles 9:28
where we labor 1× Nehemiah 10:37
who tilled 1× 1 Chronicles 27:26
with the service 1× 1 Chronicles 23:28
workers 1× 1 Chronicles 4:21
you the work 1× Numbers 18:7
your work 1× Numbers 18:31
your workload 1× Exodus 5:11
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 29:27 בַּעֲבֹדָה֙ to of work Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular Genesis 30:26 עֲבֹדָתִ֖י to hard I have worked Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Exodus 1:14 בַּעֲבֹדָ֣ה to labor Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular Exodus 1:14 עֲבֹדָ֖ה to of work Noun - feminine singular Exodus 1:14 עֲבֹ֣דָתָ֔ם to service Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural Exodus 2:23 הָעֲבֹדָ֖ה to burden of slavery Article | Noun - feminine singular Exodus 2:23 הָעֲבֹדָֽה׃ to bondage Article | Noun - feminine singular Exodus 5:9 הָעֲבֹדָ֛ה to . . . Article | Noun - feminine singular Exodus 5:11 מֵעֲבֹדַתְכֶ֖ם to your workload Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural Exodus 6:6 מֵעֲבֹדָתָ֑ם to from their bondage Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 29:27
Aligned rows 145
Books represented 15
Genesis 2 Exodus 23 Leviticus 7 Numbers 50 Deuteronomy 1 Joshua 1 1 Kings 1 1 Chronicles 30 2 Chronicles 15 Ezra 1 Nehemiah 4 Psalms 2 Isaiah 4 Lamentations 1 Ezekiel 3
Source forms
עֲבֹדָ֖ה 14x ‘ă·ḇō·ḏāh Exodus 1:14, Leviticus 23:7, Leviticus 23:8, Leviticus 23:21
עֲבֹדַ֥ת 7x ‘ă·ḇō·ḏaṯ Exodus 36:3, Exodus 39:40, Numbers 3:7, Numbers 3:8
עֲבֹדַ֖ת 6x ‘ă·ḇō·ḏaṯ Exodus 30:16, Numbers 4:30, Numbers 7:5, Numbers 18:6
לַעֲבֹדַ֖ת 5x la·‘ă·ḇō·ḏaṯ 1 Chronicles 23:24, 1 Chronicles 23:32, 1 Chronicles 25:6, 1 Chronicles 27:26
עֲבֹדָתֽוֹ׃ 5x ‘ă·ḇō·ḏā·ṯōw Numbers 3:26, Numbers 3:31, Numbers 3:36, Numbers 7:5
הָעֲבֹדָ֖ה 4x hā·‘ă·ḇō·ḏāh Exodus 2:23, Exodus 35:24, Nehemiah 5:18, Ezekiel 29:18
הָעֲבֹדָ֥ה 4x hā·‘ă·ḇō·ḏāh Exodus 12:25, Exodus 12:26, Exodus 13:5, Isaiah 14:3
עֲבֹדַת֙ 4x ‘ă·ḇō·ḏaṯ Exodus 38:21, Numbers 4:27, Numbers 16:9, Numbers 18:23
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular construct 38x Exodus 30:16, Exodus 36:1, Exodus 36:3, Exodus 38:21
Noun - feminine singular 22x Exodus 1:14, Leviticus 23:7, Leviticus 23:8, Leviticus 23:21
Article | Noun - feminine singular 16x Exodus 2:23, Exodus 5:9, Exodus 12:25, Exodus 12:26
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural 13x Exodus 1:14, Numbers 4:26, Numbers 4:27, Numbers 4:31
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular 12x Exodus 27:19, Exodus 35:21, Numbers 3:26, Numbers 3:31
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct 10x 1 Chronicles 23:24, 1 Chronicles 23:28, 1 Chronicles 23:32, 1 Chronicles 25:6
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular 6x Numbers 4:35, Numbers 4:39, Numbers 4:43, 1 Chronicles 25:1
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular 3x Numbers 8:26, 1 Chronicles 28:14
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Labor encompassing both servile toil and sacred temple service; work as covenant obligation.
Source Gloss
work of any kind
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Labor encompassing both servile toil and sacred temple service; work as covenant obligation.
work of any kind BDB: labour Usage: act, bondage, bondservant, effect, labour, ministering(-try), office, service(-ile, -itude), tillage, use, work, × wrought.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Hard labor and servitude imposed on enslaved people in Egypt
Showing 1 selected witness from 145 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
עֲבֹדָה is built from this root:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain