The meaning of “עֶבֶד”
Understanding ʻebed reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
[idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. - a servant 1) slave, servant 1a) slave, servant, man-servant...
עֶבֶד
[idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant. - a servant 1) slave, servant 1a) slave, servant, man-servant 1b) subjects 1c) servants, worshippers (of God) 1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc) 1e) servant (of Israel) 1f) servant (as form of address between equals)
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis 33:5 | “And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.” Word: עֶבֶד (ʻebed) | |
| Judges 6:27 | “Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father’s household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.” Word: עֶבֶד (ʻebed) | |
| 2 Chronicles 9:10 | “And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.” Word: עֶבֶד (ʻebed) | |
| Proverbs 22:7 | “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Word: עֶבֶד (ʻebed) | |
| Daniel 9:10 | “Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.” Word: עֶבֶד (ʻebed) |
Usage Statistics
Related Words
Cross-referenced Strong's numbers with semantic or etymological connections.
Theological Word Study: Servant
Old Testament Usage
Meaning: Servant, slave
The Hebrew eved (עֶבֶד) means servant or slave—one who serves a master. Moses and David were called servants of the LORD, and Isaiah prophesied a Suffering Servant who would bear the sins of many (Isaiah 53).
New Testament Usage
Meaning: Servant, bondservant, slave
The Greek doulos (δοῦλος) means slave or bondservant—one wholly devoted to a master. Paul called himself a 'servant of Jesus Christ' (Romans 1:1). Christ 'took upon him the form of a servant' (Philippians 2:7).