Original Word: אוֹדוֹת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: owdowth
Pronunciation: o-doth
Phonetic Spelling: (o-doth')
KJV: (be-)cause, concerning, sake
NASB: account, because
Word Origin: [from the same as H181 (אוּד - brand)]

1. turnings (i.e. occasions)
2. (adverb) on account of

because, concerning, sake

Or (shortened) rodowth {o-doth'} (only thus in the plural); from the same as 'uwd; turnings (i.e. Occasions); (adverb) on account of -- (be-)cause, concerning, sake.

see HEBREW 'uwd

Word Origin
from the same as ud
Definition
a cause
NASB Translation
about* (1), account (1), because (1), because* (4), concerning* (1), sake* (1).

[אוֺדָה] noun feminine cause (perhaps originally circumstance, compare Sabean אוד enclosing wall) — only plural אוֺדֹת Genesis 21:11 +; אֹדוֺת Numbers 12:1 +; (8 t. + 2 Samuel 13:16 see infra); אֹדוֺתַי Joshua 14:6; אֹדוֺתֶיךָ ib.; — cause, always with על, & construct, except Jeremiah 3:8, where followed by אֲשֶׁר; ׳עַלאֿ because of Genesis 21:11,25; Exodus 18:8; Numbers 12:1; Numbers 13:24; Judges 6:7; Jeremiah 3:8; = concerning (on occasion of) Genesis 26:32; Joshua 14:6 (twice in verse); in 2 Samuel 13:16 read, for אלאֹֿדוֺת, אַל אָחִי כִּי ᵐ5^L It. We Dr.

Overview

אוֹדוֹת (Strong’s 182) functions as a preposition meaning “concerning, about, because of, on account of.” It links a statement or action to its motive, subject, or effect. Across eleven Old Testament occurrences the term illuminates how Scripture explains causation, grounds testimony, and underscores responsibility—whether human or divine.

Family Tension and Divine Promises in Genesis

• Genesis 21:11 records Abraham’s anguish “because of” Ishmael when Sarah urges Hagar’s dismissal. The word highlights paternal affection even while the covenant line remains with Isaac.
• Genesis 21:25 shows Abraham reproving Abimelech “about” a disputed well. אוֹדוֹת identifies the practical issue testing faith and integrity between neighbors.
• Genesis 26:32 reports Isaac’s servants announcing “about” a newly discovered well. The term marks God’s providential answer to famine and conflict, reinforcing promises of land and blessing.

Testimony to God’s Acts (Exodus and Joshua)

• Exodus 18:8—Moses tells Jethro “about all that the LORD had done.” אוֹדוֹת frames a missionary moment: testimony births worship as Jethro blesses God.
• Joshua 14:6 (twice in the Hebrew text)—Caleb appeals to Joshua, “You know what the LORD said to Moses concerning you and me.” The word anchors Caleb’s claim in divine speech, portraying faith that waits forty-five years yet remains vigorous.

Catalyst for Sin and Conflict (Numbers and Samuel)

• Numbers 12:1—Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses “because of” the Cushite wife. אוֹדוֹת exposes jealousy masked as ethnic criticism, setting the stage for divine defense of Moses.
• 2 Samuel 13:16—Tamar cries, “Sending me away is a greater wrong than the other you did to me.” The phrase “for this wrong” (אוֹדוֹת) lays bare the compounded injustice of Amnon’s sin and abandonment, highlighting the Bible’s candid treatment of sexual violence.

Corporate Distress and Supplication (Judges)

Judges 6:7 notes Israel crying to the LORD “because of” Midian. The term establishes the causal link between covenant unfaithfulness, oppression, and repentance, preparing the call of Gideon.

Ground for Place Names and Memorials

Numbers 13:24 explains the Valley of Eshcol was named “because of” the cluster of grapes the spies cut. אוֹדוֹת preserves memory in geography, inviting future generations to recall both fruitfulness and unbelief.

Divine Judgment on Covenant Infidelity (Jeremiah)

Jeremiah 3:8—“I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away.” The term lays bare the legal grounds for God’s “certificate of divorce,” communicating His holiness and the seriousness of spiritual adultery while maintaining hope for restoration.

Theological Significance

1. Moral Causation: אוֹדוֹת consistently spotlights reasons behind events, affirming human accountability and divine justice.
2. Testimony and Remembrance: By introducing narratives “about” the LORD’s deeds, it models the importance of recounting salvation history.
3. Promise and Fulfillment: In Caleb’s appeal it ties future inheritance to past word, encouraging believers to trust unfailing promises.
4. Prayer and Lament: Israel’s cry “because of” Midian instructs the church to bring concrete circumstances before God.
5. Prophetic Warning: Jeremiah’s usage warns that persistent sin has real consequences.

Ministry Applications

• Preaching: Trace causal statements introduced by אוֹדוֹת to show how motives shape outcomes and how God intervenes.
• Counseling: Encourage believers to articulate specific reasons in confession and thanksgiving, following biblical pattern.
• Discipleship: Use Caleb’s example to teach perseverance rooted in what God has spoken “concerning” us in Christ.
• Intercession: Lead corporate prayer that names present distresses “because of” which the church seeks deliverance, mirroring Judges 6:7.
• Spiritual Formation: Cultivate memorial practices—journals, testimonies, place names—that remind families and congregations “about” the LORD’s faithful acts.

Conclusion

אוֹדוֹת is far more than a grammatical connector. It invites readers to examine causes, remember works, confess sins, claim promises, and live responsively before the covenant-keeping God who weaves motives and outcomes into His redemptive story.

אֹד֛וֹת אֹד֣וֹת אֹד֥וֹת אֹדוֹת֙ אֹדוֹתֶ֖יךָ אֹדוֹתַ֛י אדות אדותי אדותיך אוֹדֹ֞ת אוֹדֹ֣ת אוֹדֹ֥ת אודת ’ō·ḏō·w·ṯay ’ō·ḏō·w·ṯe·ḵā ’ō·ḏō·wṯ ’ō·w·ḏōṯ ’ōḏōwṯ ’ōḏōwṯay ’ōḏōwṯeḵā ’ōwḏōṯ oDot odoTai odoTeichaInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts