עֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ (o.vad.yah)
o.vad.yah
Obadiah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 17 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Obadiah means servant of Yahweh, a title that appears for seventeen people across the Old Testament. Most of these individuals lived during the era of the divided monarchy, serving in royal courts, temple duties, or tribal leadership roles. The name reflects a common devotion to God among Israelites, marking them as those who belong to the Lord.
The most famous bearer of this name is the prophet whose book stands fourth among the Twelve Minor Prophets. Little is known about his personal life, but scholars often place him in the same period as Jeremiah and Ezekiah. His message focuses entirely on the judgment of Edom, highlighting God’s sovereignty over nations.
Beyond the prophet, several other Obadiahs appear in biblical records. One served as chief steward for King Ahab and risked his life to hide prophets from Queen Jezebel. Others held positions as Levites, gatekeepers, or descendants of David and Saul. This variety shows how common the name was among faithful servants of God in different walks of life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Obadiah means "servant of Jehovah," a title given to at least thirteen different men in the Old Testament. This repetition shows that serving God was not just for prophets or kings, but for ordinary people in many roles. Whether hiding prophets from danger or managing temple supplies, each man used his position to honor God.
In 1 Kings 18, Obadiah served King Ahab and Queen Jezebel, who promoted false worship. Yet he feared the Lord deeply. He risked his life to hide one hundred prophets in caves, feeding them with bread and water when they were most vulnerable. This story shows that faithfulness can look like quiet courage in difficult times.
Other men named Obadiah served as Levites, gatekeepers, and tribal leaders. Their lives remind us that God uses people in every station of life. You do not need a grand platform to be a servant of the Lord. Your daily work, your hidden acts of kindness, and your steady loyalty can all be offerings to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 17 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Obadiah10×
- and/ Obadiah7×
- and/ <to>/ Obadiah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עֹבַדְיָ֖ה2×
- וְ/עֹבַדְיָ֖ה2×
- עֹבַדְיָ֥ה1×
- עֹבַדְיָ֜הוּ1×
- עֹבַדְיָ֛הוּ1×
- עֹבַדְיָ֙הוּ֙1×
- עֹבַדְיָ֖הוּ1×
- עֹבַדְיָ֑הוּ1×
- עֹֽבַדְיָ֑ה1×
- עֹ֣בַדְיָ֔הוּ1×
- וּ/לְ/עֹבַדְיָ֣ה1×
- וְ֠/עֹבַדְיָה1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 18:4
for when Jezebel cut off Yahweh’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
This verse highlights Obadiah's secret bravery in protecting prophets during a time of intense persecution.
-
I Kings 18:3
Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Yahweh greatly;
It establishes the tension between his public role as a high official and his private devotion to Yahweh.
-
Obadiah 1:1
The vision of Obadiah. This is what the Lord Yahweh says about Edom. We have heard news from Yahweh, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, saying, “Arise, and let’s rise up against her in battle.
This opening identifies the prophet who delivered a specific judgment against Edom, showing how God speaks through His servants.
-
II Chronicles 34:12
The men did the work faithfully. Their overseers were Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to give direction; and others of the Levites, who were all skillful with musical instruments.
It shows Obadiah as an overseer ensuring the temple restoration was done faithfully and with skill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Obadiah mean?
Is Obadiah one person or many?
Why is Obadiah important in the Bible?
Every Occurrence (17 verses across 6 books)
I Kings 6 verses
Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared Yahweh greatly;
I Kings 18:4for when Jezebel cut off Yahweh’s prophets, Obadiah took one hundred prophets, and hid them fifty to a cave, and fed…
I Kings 18:5Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks. Perhaps we may find…
I Kings 18:6So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way…
I Kings 18:7As Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. He recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is it you, my…
I Kings 18:16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.