Lexical Definition
עֹבַדְיָה ʻÔbadyâh (o-bad-yaw') Obadiah N:N-M-P
or עֹבַדְיָהוּ ʻÔbadyâhûw (obad-yaw'-hoo); active participle of עָבַד and יָהּ; serving Jah
Obadiah.
- § Obadiah = "servant of Jehovah"
- Obadjah, the name of thirteen Israelites
1) the 4th of the 12 minor prophets; nothing personal is known of him but it is probable that he was contemporary with Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel
1a) the prophetic book by him; prophesies against Edom
2) father of Ishmaiah, one of the chiefs of Zebulun in the time of David
3) a Merarite Levite overseer of the work of restoring the temple in the time of king Josiah of Judah
4) chief of the household of king Ahab of Israel; an devout worshipper of Jehovah who at risk to his own life hid over 100 prophets during the persecution of Jezebel
5) a descendant of David
6) a chief of the tribe of Issachar
7) a Benjamite, one of the 6 sons of Azel and a descendant of king Saul
8) a Levite, son of Shemaiah and a descendant of Jeduthun
9) a Gadite chief, the 2nd of the lion-faced Gadites who joined David at Ziklag
10) a prince of Judah in the time of king Jehoshaphat of Judah
11) a priest, son of Jehiel of the sons of Joab who returned from exile with Ezra
12) a gatekeeper in the time of Nehemiah
13) one of the men who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
13a) perhaps the same as 12
Extended Information
- A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.9.16
- son of: Shemaiah (שְׁמַעְיָה); also called Abda at Neh.11.17
- Also named: av.da (עַבְדָּא "Abda" עַבְדָּא)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
עֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ, עֹבַדְיָה proper name, masculine (servant of Yah, compare GrayProp. N. 295, No. 90; also Phoenician עבדבעל, Palmyrene עבדבל, Old Aramaic עבדההד Lzb333, Old Hebrew עבדיהו Id.334); — I. עֹבַדְיָ֫הוּ:
1. chief of Ahab's household 1Kgs 18:3 (twice in verse); 1Kgs 18:4; 1Kgs 18:5; 1Kgs 18:6; 1Kgs 18:7; 1Kgs 18:16, ᵐ5 Αβδ(ε)ιου.
2. father of one of the chiefs of Zebulun 1Chr 27:19, ᵐ5 Αβδ(ε)ιου (genitive).
3. a Levite overseer in time of Josiah 2Chr 34:12, ᵐ5 Αβδ(ε)ια, A ᵐ5L Αβδιας. II. עֹבַדְיָה:
1. the prophet Obad 1:1, ᵐ5 Οβδ(ε)ιου (genitive), Αβδ(ε)ιου.
2. a descendant of David 1Chr 3:21, ᵐ5 Αβδεια, ᵐ5L Οβδιας.
3. chief of tribe of Issachar 1Chr 7:3, ᵐ5 Μειβδεια, A Οβδια, ᵐ5L Αβδια.
4. a Benjamite 1Chr 8:38; 1Chr 9:44, ᵐ5 Αβδ(ε)ια.
5. a Levite 1Chr 9:16 (|| עַבְדָּא Neh 11:17), ᵐ5 Αβδεια A Οβδια, ᵐ5L Αβια.
6. a Gadite chief 1Chr 12:9*, ᵐ5 Αβδ(ε)ια.
7. a prince in time of Jehoshaphat 2Chr 17:7, ᵐ5 Αβ(δ)ιαν.
8. priestly companion of Ezra Ezra 8:9; Neh 10:6*, ᵐ5 Αδεια, Αβ(α)δ(ε)ια, ᵐ5L Αβδιου, Αβιας.
9. a doorkeeper Neh 12:25, א Οβδιας, ᵐ5L Αβδιας.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| 1 Kings | 18:3 · 18:4 · 18:5 · 18:6 · 18:7 · 18:16 |
| 1 Chronicles | 3:21 · 7:3 · 8:38 · 9:16 · 9:44 · 12:9* · 27:19 |
| 2 Chronicles | 17:7 · 34:12 |
| Ezra | 8:9 |
| Nehemiah | 10:6* · 11:17 · 12:25 |
| Obadiah | 1:1 |
Profile
Male • Returned from exile • Gatekeeper, descendant of Jeduthun
Levite living at the time of Exile and Return
Obadiah, also known as Abda, was a gatekeeper and descendant of Jeduthun who served in the temple.
- A man from the tribe of Levi living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at 1Ch.9.16;
- referred to as Obadiah עֹבַדְיָה, or Abda עַבְדָּא;
- a son of Shemaiah שְׁמַעְיָה.
Obadiah, also known as Abda, was a gatekeeper in the temple during the post-exilic period (1 Chronicles 9:16; Nehemiah 12:25). He was a descendant of Jeduthun, one of the three principal musicians appointed by David (1 Chronicles 16:41-42). Obadiah's duties as a gatekeeper likely included guarding the entrance to the temple, maintaining order, and ensuring that only authorized individuals entered the sacred space. He was also a singer and was involved in the musical aspects of temple worship (Nehemiah 11:17). His service in the temple highlights the importance of the Levitical roles in maintaining the proper functioning of the temple and its worship.
All entries for Obadiah or Abda: עֹבַדְיָה ☩ עַבְדָּא
Related Profiles:
- Shemaiah (father)