עָבוֹת (a.vot)
a.vot
leafy
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew adjective a.vot describes vegetation that is thick and leafy, specifically noting how branches and leaves are interwoven to form a dense cover. It conveys a sense of lushness and fullness, painting a picture of trees or bushes that are not bare but rather heavy with greenery.
This word appears in only two verses in the Hebrew Bible, both found in the book of Nehemiah (8:15). There, it is used to describe the branches taken from olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other trees to build booths during the Feast of Tabernacles. The text specifies that these materials should be "leafy" or dense, ensuring the shelters are shaded and substantial.
The emphasis on interwoven foliage suggests a quality of strength and protection. Unlike simple leaves that might fall away easily, the imagery here is of a sturdy, interconnected canopy. This detail highlights the care taken in observing the festival, using the best available natural materials to create a meaningful dwelling place for the celebration.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word avot describes vegetation that is thick and leafy, specifically noting how branches and leaves are interwoven to form a dense cover. It conveys a sense of lushness and fullness, painting a picture of trees or bushes that are not bare but rather heavy with greenery. This word appears in only two verses in the Hebrew Bible, both found in the book of Nehemiah (8:15). There, it is used to describe the branches taken from olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other trees to build booths during the Feast of Tabernacles.
The text specifies that these materials should be "leafy" or dense, ensuring the shelters are shaded and substantial. The emphasis on interwoven foliage suggests a quality of strength and protection. Unlike simple leaves that might fall away easily, the imagery here is of a sturdy, interconnected canopy. This detail highlights the care taken in observing the festival, using the best available natural materials to create a meaningful dwelling place for the celebration.
When we read about these leafy branches, we see a tangible expression of joy and obedience. The people did not just go through the motions; they gathered specific, sturdy materials to honor God’s command. This attention to detail reminds us that worship involves our whole selves—our time, our effort, and the resources we have. It is an invitation to bring our best to God, creating spaces where His presence can be celebrated with gratitude and reverence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- leafy2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עָבֹ֖ת1×
- עָבֹ֑ת1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 8:15
and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, “Go out to the mountain, and get olive branches, branches of wild olive, myrtle branches, palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make temporary shelters, as it is written.”
This verse explicitly commands the use of 'branches of thick trees' (avot) for the Feast of Tabernacles, linking the word directly to the physical preparation of the festival shelters.