עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved)
e.ved
servant/slave
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 645 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun eved covers a wide spectrum of service, ranging from a paid employee to an enslaved person. Its core meaning is one of subordination and duty, derived from a root that simply means "to work." In the narrative of Genesis, this word appears frequently in domestic settings, describing household staff such as Abraham’s servants (Genesis 12:16) or Potiphar’s staff (Genesis 39:17), highlighting its use for those who manage daily tasks under another’s authority.
The term extends beyond private households to describe political and military relationships. It is used for subjects paying tribute to a king, as seen in Noah’s prophecy regarding Canaan (Genesis 9:25-27), and for royal officials or soldiers serving the crown. This broad application allows the word to function as a polite form of address between equals or toward superiors, where a speaker might refer to themselves as "your servant" to show respect.
Theologically, eved carries significant weight when applied to Israel and its leaders. The nation is frequently called God’s servant, emphasizing a covenant relationship defined by loyalty rather than ownership alone. This usage also extends to specific figures like Moses or the prophets, who are designated as servants of the Lord. Translators often render this word as "servant" in these contexts to preserve the nuance of devoted service distinct from mere slavery.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word eved describes a life defined by duty and subordination. In ancient contexts, it ranged from a paid employee to an enslaved person, but its core meaning is simply one of working under another’s authority. When you see this term in the Bible, it reminds us that our relationship with God is rooted in loyalty and service rather than mere ownership.
This word appears frequently in Genesis, often describing household staff or political subjects. Yet it carries profound theological weight when applied to Israel or figures like Moses. They are called servants of the Lord, highlighting a covenant bond where devotion is the primary response to God’s grace. This usage invites us to view our own daily tasks as acts of faithful stewardship.
Understanding eved helps clarify how biblical characters interacted with their superiors and God. It was a polite form of address, showing respect through humility. For your faith life, this offers a model of approaching the divine with both reverence and trust, knowing that serving God is a privilege that defines our identity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 645 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- servant/ your115×
- servants/ his86×
- [the] servants of65×
- servants/ your48×
- servant/ my38×
- servant/ his34×
- [the] servant of31×
- slaves19×
- a slave19×
- to/ servant/ your16×
- servants/ my14×
- and/ servants/ his13×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עַבְדֵ֣י25×
- עַבְדְּ/ךָ֔18×
- עֲבָדָ֔י/ו17×
- עַבְדֶּ֑/ךָ16×
- עֶֽבֶד\־16×
- עֲבָדָ֖י/ו16×
- עַבְדְּ/ךָ֖15×
- עֶ֥בֶד15×
- עַבְדֵ֥י14×
- עַבְדֶּֽ/ךָ\׃13×
- עַבְדְּ/ךָ֙13×
- עַבְדּ֑/וֹ11×
Key Verses
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Genesis 9:25
He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.”
This verse uses eved to establish a hierarchy of service within Noah’s family prophecy, showing how the term defined political and social subordination.
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Genesis 18:3
and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.
Abraham uses the word as a humble form of address to visitors, demonstrating its function as a polite expression of respect between individuals.
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Genesis 24:2
Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my thigh.
Here eved refers to a trusted household manager who ruled over all Abraham’s possessions, illustrating the word’s application to high-ranking officials.
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Genesis 24:34
He said, “I am Abraham’s servant.
The servant identifies himself simply as Abraham’s servant, emphasizing that his identity and mission were entirely defined by his loyalty to his master.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word eved mean?
How is eved different from other words for worker?
Why is Israel called God’s servant?
Every Occurrence (645 verses across 29 books)
Genesis 72 verses
He said, “Canaan is cursed. He will be a servant of servants to his brothers.”
Genesis 9:26He said, “Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.
Genesis 9:27May God enlarge Japheth. Let him dwell in the tents of Shem. Let Canaan be his servant.”
Genesis 12:16He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female…
Genesis 14:15He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on…
Genesis 18:3and said, “My lord, if now I have found favor in your sight, please don’t go away from your servant.
Genesis 18:5I will get a piece of bread so you can refresh your heart. After that you may go your way, now that you have come to…
Genesis 19:2and he said, “See now, my lords, please come into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can…
Genesis 19:19See now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your loving kindness, which you have shown…
Genesis 20:8Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ear. The men were…
Genesis 20:14Abimelech took sheep and cattle, male servants and female servants, and gave them to Abraham, and restored Sarah, his…
Genesis 21:25Abraham complained to Abimelech because of a water well, which Abimelech’s servants had violently taken away.
Genesis 24:2Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my…
Genesis 24:5The servant said to him, “What if the woman isn’t willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the…
Genesis 24:9The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
Genesis 24:10The servant took ten of his master’s camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He…
Genesis 24:14Let it happen, that the young lady to whom I will say, ‘Please let down your pitcher, that I may drink,’ then she says,…
Genesis 24:17The servant ran to meet her, and said, “Please give me a drink, a little water from your pitcher.”
Genesis 24:34He said, “I am Abraham’s servant.
Genesis 24:35Yahweh has blessed my master greatly. He has become great. Yahweh has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male…
Genesis 24:52When Abraham’s servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh.
Genesis 24:53The servant brought out jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave…
Genesis 24:59They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham’s servant, and his men.
Genesis 24:61Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his…
Genesis 24:65She said to the servant, “Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?” The servant said, “It is my master.”…
Genesis 24:66The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
Genesis 26:15Now all the wells which his father’s servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped,…
Genesis 26:19Isaac’s servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of flowing water.
Genesis 26:24Yahweh appeared to him the same night, and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Don’t be afraid, for I am with…
Genesis 26:25He built an altar there, and called on Yahweh’s name, and pitched his tent there. There Isaac’s servants dug a well.
Genesis 26:32The same day, Isaac’s servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said to him, “We have…
Genesis 27:37Isaac answered Esau, “Behold, I have made him your lord, and all his brothers I have given to him for servants. I have…
Genesis 30:43The man increased exceedingly, and had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.
Genesis 33:5He lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, “Who are these with you?” He said, “The children…
Genesis 33:14Please let my lord pass over before his servant, and I will lead on gently, according to the pace of the livestock that…
Genesis 39:17She spoke to him according to these words, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to…
Genesis 39:19When his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” his…
Genesis 40:20On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the…
Genesis 41:10Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, with the chief…
Genesis 41:12There was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted…
Genesis 41:37The thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
Genesis 41:38Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Genesis 42:10They said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.
Genesis 42:11We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men. Your servants are not spies.”
Genesis 42:13They said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest…
Genesis 43:18The men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “Because of the money that was…
Genesis 43:28They said, “Your servant, our father, is well. He is still alive.” They bowed down humbly.
Genesis 44:7They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a…
Genesis 44:9With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”
Genesis 44:10He said, “Now also let it be according to your words. He with whom it is found will be my slave; and you will be…
Genesis 44:16Judah said, “What will we tell my lord? What will we speak? How will we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity…
Genesis 44:17He said, “Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he will be my slave; but as…
Genesis 44:18Then Judah came near to him, and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and don’t…
Genesis 44:19My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’
Genesis 44:21You said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’
Genesis 44:23You said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will see my face no more.’
Genesis 44:24When we came up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.
Genesis 44:27Your servant, my father, said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.
Genesis 44:30Now therefore when I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us; since his life is bound up in the…
Genesis 44:31it will happen, when he sees that the boy is no more, that he will die. Your servants will bring down the gray hairs of…
Genesis 44:32For your servant became collateral for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I don’t bring him to you, then I will bear the…
Genesis 44:33Now therefore, please let your servant stay instead of the boy, my lord’s slave; and let the boy go up with his…
Genesis 45:16The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well, and his…
Genesis 46:34that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our…
Genesis 47:3Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we,…
Genesis 47:4They also said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live as foreigners in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’…
Genesis 47:19Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be…
Genesis 47:25They said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.”
Genesis 50:2Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel.
Genesis 50:7Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, all the…
Genesis 50:17‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to…
Genesis 50:18His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”