Original Word: עֲבִידָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: `abiydah
Pronunciation: ah-bee-DAH
Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ee-daw')
KJV: affairs, service, work
NASB: work, administration, service
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) from H564 (אִמֵּר - Immer)8]

1. labor or business

affairs, service, work

(Aramaic) from abad; labor or business -- affairs, service, work.

see HEBREW abad

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to abodah
Definition
work, service
NASB Translation
administration (2), service (1), work (3).

Biblical Usage

The term under discussion, occurring six times in Ezra and Daniel, consistently conveys organized, purposeful labor entrusted by God or permitted by earthly authority. Whether the rebuilding of the temple (Ezra 4:24; 5:8; 6:7) or administration of a pagan empire (Daniel 2:49; 3:12), each passage portrays work as a sphere where covenant faithfulness is tested and displayed. In Ezra 6:18 the same word widens to priestly “service,” joining vocational toil and liturgical ministry under one theological canopy.

Temple Reconstruction in Ezra

1. Opposition and Delay (Ezra 4:24). “So the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill…”. The stoppage reveals that divine assignments often meet resistance, yet the narrative soon demonstrates that no imperial decree can ultimately thwart the Lord’s purposes.

2. Renewed Diligence (Ezra 5:8). “The work is being carried on diligently and succeeding in their hands.” Human perseverance, empowered by prophetic encouragement (Haggai, Zechariah), brings visible progress.

3. Divine Providence through Secular Edicts (Ezra 6:7). “Leave the work on this house of God alone.” A pagan king becomes the unlikely protector of holy labor, illustrating Proverbs 21:1.

4. Worship-Oriented Labor (Ezra 6:18). The priests and Levites are installed “for the service of God at Jerusalem,” grounding all physical construction in spiritual purpose. The ultimate goal of every task is worship, not mere architecture.

Exilic Administration in Daniel

1. Promotion with Integrity (Daniel 2:49). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego manage “the province of Babylon.” Their faithful execution of civic duties coexists with uncompromising allegiance to the true God.

2. Conflict of Loyalties (Daniel 3:12). The same officials are accused of neglecting the king’s gods. Service that honors the Lord will inevitably collide with idolatrous expectations, but obedience remains non-negotiable.

Theological Themes

• God-ordained Vocation. From temple craftsmen to royal administrators, every calling is ultimately stewardship under the Sovereign Creator (Colossians 3:23).

• Continuity of Worship and Work. The priests’ “service” (Ezra 6:18) stands alongside bricklaying and governance, affirming that worship is not confined to sanctuary walls.

• Spiritual Warfare in the Workplace. External opposition (Ezra 4) and internal pressure to compromise (Daniel 3) reveal that labor is a battleground where faith is refined.

• Providential Governance. Pagan monarchs (Cyrus, Darius, Nebuchadnezzar) issue decrees that propel God’s plan, underscoring Romans 8:28 long before Paul penned it.

Historical Significance

The term surfaces during the Persian period (sixth–fifth centuries B.C.). Its Ezra occurrences illuminate the socio-political complexities of rebuilding a devastated city under imperial oversight. The Daniel references, set earlier in Babylon yet written in the same Aramaic milieu, show Jews serving at the heart of Gentile power structures. Together they testify that God’s people may labor effectively even while scattered, anticipating Jesus’ charge to be salt and light in every nation.

Ministry Implications

1. Encourage congregations to view secular employment as kingdom participation, not distraction.

2. Equip believers to withstand cultural pressures that demand compromise, drawing courage from Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

3. Cultivate excellence and integrity, reflecting Ezra’s “diligent” builders whose success pointed observers to “the great God” (Ezra 5:8).

4. Recognize and celebrate diverse gifts—craftsmen, civil servants, priests—within the church’s mission.

Christological Resonance

Jesus embodies perfect service: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work” (John 4:34). The completed temple in Ezra foreshadows the true Temple (John 2:21), while the faithful administrators in Daniel prefigure the Servant-King who rules with righteousness. In Him, every believer’s labor gains eternal worth (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Summary

Whether halting, advancing, or standing boldly under fire, עֲבִידָה portrays work as sacred trust. The six passages form a tapestry showing that God calls His people to build, govern, and minister for His glory, confident that He who assigns the task also secures its fulfillment.

וַעֲבִ֥ידְתָּא ועבידתא לַעֲבִידַ֖ת לעבידת עֲבִֽידְתָּא֙ עֲבִידַ֣ת עֲבִידַ֥ת עֲבִידַת֙ עבידת עבידתא ‘ă·ḇî·ḏaṯ ‘ă·ḇî·ḏə·tā ‘ăḇîḏaṯ ‘ăḇîḏətā aviDat avideTa la‘ăḇîḏaṯ la·‘ă·ḇî·ḏaṯ laaviDat vaaVidta wa‘ăḇîḏətā wa·‘ă·ḇî·ḏə·tāInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts