Ὠβήδ (Ōbēd)
Ōbēd
Obed
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The name Ōbēd appears in the genealogies of Jesus as recorded in Matthew 1:5 and Luke 3:32. It identifies the grandfather of King David, a figure who bridges the era of the judges with the establishment of the monarchy in Israel.
Derived from Hebrew origins, the name carries the meaning "servant." This simple definition highlights a key theme in biblical lineage: faithful service often precedes royal authority. While Ōbēd himself is not a central character in narrative history, his presence in these records underscores the continuity of God’s plan through ordinary generations.
Translators consistently render this name as Obed in English Bibles. Its inclusion in both Matthew and Luke serves to anchor Jesus’ human ancestry in a specific historical line, connecting Him directly to David and, by extension, to the promises made to his father Jesse.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Obed means servant, a quiet reminder that faithful service often precedes royal authority. In the genealogies of Jesus, this name appears in Matthew and Luke to anchor His human ancestry in a specific historical line. It connects Him directly to David and the promises made to his father Jesse.
While Obed himself is not a central character in narrative history, his presence underscores the continuity of God’s plan through ordinary generations. This simple definition highlights a key theme: God uses faithful service to build His kingdom. Your own acts of service matter deeply in this grand story.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Obed2×
- of Obed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- Ἰωβὴδ3×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 1:5
Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.
This verse places Obed as the son of Boaz and father of Jesse, linking the story of Ruth to the lineage of David.
-
Luke 3:32
the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
Luke traces Jesus' ancestry back through Obed to highlight His human connection to David and the promises of God.