Lexical Summary abat: To take a pledge, to lend Original Word: עָבַט Strong's Exhaustive Concordance borrow, break ranks, fetch a pledge, lend, surely A primitive root; to pawn; causatively, to lend (on security); figuratively, to entangle -- borrow, break (ranks), fetch (a pledge), lend, X surely. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from abot Definition to take or give a pledge NASB Translation borrow (1), deviate (1), generously lend (1), lend (1), take (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [עָבַט] verb denominative take or give a pledge; — Qal Infinitive construct לַעֲבֹט Deuteronomy 24:10 to take possession of a thing pledged (with accusative of congnate meaning with verb); Imperfect2masculine singular give a pledge תַּעֲבֹט Deuteronomy 15:6 (i.e. borrow). Hiph`il Perfect2masculine singular וְהַעֲבַטְתָּ֫ גּוֺיִם רַבִּים Deuteronomy 15:6 and thou shalt cause many nations to give pledges (i.e. lend to them); Imperfect3masculine singular suffix + Infinitive absolute הַעֲבֵט תַּעֲבִיטֶנּוּ Deuteronomy 15:8 thou shalt surely lend to him (literally as above). Pi`el Imperfect יְעַבְּטוּן Joel 2:7 hardly makes sense (lend on pledge = interchange ?); most read יְעַבְּתוּן; יְעַוְּתוּן We, compare Now Dr GASm; Gr. יַטוּן. עבל (√ of following; compare possibly Arabic Topical Lexicon Meaning and Scope עָבַט (Strong’s 5670) speaks to the act of extending or receiving a loan—especially a loan secured by pledge—whether between individuals or between Israel and foreign nations. The term gathers ideas of generosity, responsibility, and the careful protection of human dignity within covenant community life. Key Texts • Deuteronomy 15:6: “For the LORD your God will bless you as He has promised, and you will lend to many nations but borrow from none. You will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.” Covenantal Generosity and Blessing Deuteronomy 15 situates עָבַט in the Sabbatical-year legislation. Israel, standing on the threshold of the land, is told that economic blessing will make the nation a lender rather than a borrower. Lending is depicted as an overflow of divine abundance; it is never to become a lever for oppression. This grounds generosity not in mere philanthropy but in the character of God, who “opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:16). Protection of the Vulnerable Deuteronomy 24:10-13 (cf. verse 10 above) regulates the physical collection of pledges. The lender must wait outside while the borrower brings out the pledge, preserving household dignity. Even a debtor’s cloak, if taken, must be returned by sunset. The law thus pairs economic exchange with covenantal mercy, foreshadowing Christ’s concern for the oppressed (Luke 4:18). A Portrait of National Health In Deuteronomy 15:6 עָבַט marks the promised reversal of Egypt’s bondage. Israel once borrowed without freedom to repay (Exodus 12:35-36); under Yahweh’s blessing the nation would become creditor, exercising benevolent dominion rather than servile dependence. The verse ties financial stability to covenant obedience (cf. Deuteronomy 28:12), making stewardship a barometer of spiritual health. Prophetic Imagery Joel 2:7 employs the root in a martial scene. The invading force “never swerving from the course” conveys disciplined cohesion—no soldier “jostles” another. The shift from economic to military usage highlights how verbs denoting lending/pressing can also picture bodies pressing forward in battle formation. Joel’s vivid imagery warns that the covenant curses include unstoppable armies generated by Israel’s covenant breach (Joel 2:1-11). Connections to Wisdom Literature and Later Scripture Proverbs 19:17 and Psalm 37:26 echo the Deuteronomic ethic: compassion to the poor is “lending to the LORD,” who guarantees repayment. Nehemiah confronts nobles exploiting pledges (Nehemiah 5:1-13), showing how post-exilic leaders reapplied Torah principles. In the New Testament, Jesus commands lending “expecting nothing in return” (Luke 6:34-35), intensifying the heart-level generosity envisioned in Deuteronomy. Doctrinal and Ministry Implications 1. God’s ownership: All possessions are ultimately His (Psalm 24:1). Lending is stewardship, not domination. Practical Application for Today’s Church • Encourage benevolence funds that provide interest-free assistance while avoiding paternalism. Summary עָבַט casts lending as a covenant privilege regulated by mercy, tying economic life to spiritual fidelity. Where God’s people heed these patterns, lending becomes a channel of blessing; where ignored, it morphs into an instrument of judgment, whether by oppressive creditors or invading armies. Viewed through the fullness of revelation, the term invites believers to mirror God’s open-handed generosity while living free from enslaving debt, all in anticipation of the final cancellation of every liability in the age to come. Forms and Transliterations וְהַֽעֲבַטְתָּ֞ וְהַעֲבֵט֙ והעבט והעבטת יְעַבְּט֖וּן יעבטון לַעֲבֹ֥ט לעבט תַּעֲבִיטֶ֔נּוּ תַעֲבֹ֔ט תעבט תעביטנו la‘ăḇōṭ la·‘ă·ḇōṭ laaVot ta‘ăḇîṭennū ṯa‘ăḇōṭ ta·‘ă·ḇî·ṭen·nū ṯa·‘ă·ḇōṭ taaviTennu taaVot vehaavatTa vehaaVet wə·ha·‘ă·ḇaṭ·tā wə·ha·‘ă·ḇêṭ wəha‘ăḇaṭtā wəha‘ăḇêṭ yə‘abbəṭūn yə·‘ab·bə·ṭūn yeabbeTunLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 15:6 HEB: דִּבֶּר־ לָ֑ךְ וְהַֽעֲבַטְתָּ֞ גּוֹיִ֣ם רַבִּ֗ים NAS: you as He has promised you, and you will lend to many KJV: thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many INT: you promised will lend nations to many Deuteronomy 15:6 Deuteronomy 15:8 Deuteronomy 15:8 Deuteronomy 24:10 Joel 2:7 6 Occurrences |