5654. Obed Edom
Lexical Summary
Obed Edom: Obed Edom

Original Word: עֹבֵד אֱדוֹם
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Obed 'Edowm
Pronunciation: oh-BED eh-DOHM
Phonetic Spelling: (o-bade' ed-ome')
KJV: Obed-edom
NASB: Obed-edom
Word Origin: [from the active participle of H5647 (עָבַד - serve) and H123 (אֱדוֹם אֱדוֹם - stuff)]

1. worker of Edom
2. Obed-Edom, the name of five Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Obed-Edom, the name of five Israelites

From the active participle of abad and 'Edom; worker of Edom; Obed-Edom, the name of five Israelites:

see HEBREW abad

see HEBREW 'Edom

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from abad and Edom
Definition
"servant of Edom," an Isr. name
NASB Translation
Obed-edom (20).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
עֹבֵדאֱדֹם, and (2 Chronicles 25:24) אֱדוֺם׳ע

proper name, masculine (servant of (god) Edom, compare עבד אדם CISNo. 295; DrSm 206, 298 and references, RSSem i. 43; 2nd ed. 42 and references, HPS2Samuel 6:10; but BaeRel 10 servant of man, אֱדֹם = אָדָם, which is thought possible by NöZMG xlii (1888), 470 BuhlEdomiter 49); —

1 the Gittite who harboured the ark 2 Samuel 6:10,11 (twice in verse); 2 Samuel 6:12 (twice in verse) = 1 Chronicles 13:13,14 (twice in verse), 1 Chronicles 15:25; ᵐ5 Αβεδδαρα, ᵐ5L Αβεδδαδαν. 2 (=

1 ?) one of the chief Levitical singers and doorkeepers 1 Chronicles 15:18,21,24; 1 Chronicles 16:5,38 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 26:4,8 (twice in verse); 1 Chronicles 26:15; ᵐ5 Αβαεδωμ, Αβδεδωμ, etc., ᵐ5L Αβεδδομ.

3 the family of the same2Chronicles 25:24 (not in "" 2 Kings 14:14).

Topical Lexicon
Historical Overview

Obed-Edom appears twenty times in the Old Testament narrative and worship records. Scripture presents (1) the Gittite whose house sheltered the ark, (2) a Levitical gatekeeper and musician during David’s reign, and (3) a later temple treasurer in the days of Amaziah. Whether the first two references concern the same man or two men of the same name is debated, but the Bible unites them in a single theme: wholehearted hospitality to the presence of God and faithful stewardship of holy things.

Custodian of the Ark (2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13)

After Uzzah’s death, “David was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite” (2 Samuel 6:10). For three months the sacred chest rested there: “The ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household” (2 Samuel 6:11). News of this blessing reached the king (6:12), prompting David to retrieve the ark with proper reverence. The episode illustrates how God’s presence brings overflowing favor to those who receive Him in obedience.

Levitical Musician and Gatekeeper (1 Chronicles 15–16)

As David organized worship around the ark, Obed-Edom’s name resurfaces among the Levites:
• “Obed-Edom and Jeiel, the gatekeepers” (1 Chronicles 15:18).
• “Obed-Edom…were to lead the music with lyres” (15:21).
• “Obed-Edom and Jehiah were also to be gatekeepers for the ark” (15:24).
• Listed again with the musicians before the ark (16:5).

His dual role—standing guard over the entrance and leading praise—reflects two complementary ministries: protecting the sanctity of worship and actively exalting God. By giving a former ark-host the privilege of guarding and celebrating it publicly, the Lord turns private faithfulness into public service.

Household Legacy and Gate Allotment (1 Chronicles 26)

Obed-Edom’s sons and grandsons were appointed gatekeepers: “All these were descendants of Obed-Edom…capable men with the strength to do the work—sixty-two from Obed-Edom” (1 Chronicles 26:8). Lots assigned him the South Gate and the storehouse (26:15), placing the family in daily contact with temple treasures. Generational blessing, first hinted at in 2 Samuel 6, becomes measurable in manpower and responsibility.

Temple Treasurer under Amaziah (2 Chronicles 25:24)

A man bearing the same name is later entrusted with safeguarding the valuables of the temple. When King Jehoash of Israel plundered Jerusalem he “took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the house of God with Obed-Edom” (2 Chronicles 25:24). This notice confirms that the title remained synonymous with trustworthy stewardship long after David’s time, whether through the same bloodline or simply the enduring reputation attached to the name.

Possible Harmonization of the Gittite and the Levite

The term “Gittite” need not imply Philistine origin; Levitical towns in Benjamin (such as Gath-rimmon) bore the same root. The Chronicler explicitly calls him a Korahite Levite (1 Chronicles 26:1, 4), solving the apparent tension: Obed-Edom could be a Levite who had lived in a Gittite-named town before hosting the ark. Scripture therefore presents no contradiction but rather a fuller portrait of a Levite unexpectedly honored in his rural home and then drafted into full-time service in Jerusalem.

Theological Themes

1. God’s presence blesses receptive households.
2. Reverence for holiness demands both proper procedure and glad worship.
3. Faithful service invites generational impact; the sixty-two descendants stand as concrete evidence.
4. Spiritual promotion often follows tested stewardship: from country host to city gatekeeper to treasurer.
5. God bridges ethnic and geographic boundaries to dwell with any who honor Him; whether Gittite or Levite, the decisive factor is obedience.

Practical Lessons

• Welcome God’s presence even when others shrink back.
• Guard the holiness of worship while participating wholeheartedly in praise.
• Cultivate reliability; doors of greater responsibility open to those proven faithful.
• Pray for household blessing that multiplies through generations.

Forms and Transliterations
אֱד֖וֹם אֱד֗וֹם אֱדֹ֔ם אֱדֹ֖ם אֱדֹ֗ם אֱדֹ֛ם אֱדֹ֜ם אֱדֹ֧ם אֱדֹֽם׃ אֱדֹם֙ אדום אדם אדם׃ ’ĕ·ḏō·wm ’ĕ·ḏōm ’ĕḏōm ’ĕḏōwm eDom
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
2 Samuel 6:10
HEB: בֵּ֥ית עֹבֵֽד־ אֱד֖וֹם הַגִּתִּֽי׃
NAS: to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
KJV: into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
INT: David to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite

2 Samuel 6:11
HEB: בֵּ֣ית עֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֛ם הַגִּתִּ֖י שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה
NAS: in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite
KJV: in the house of Obededom the Gittite
INT: of the LORD the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three

2 Samuel 6:11
HEB: אֶת־ עֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֖ם וְאֶת־ כָּל־
NAS: blessed Obed-edom and all
KJV: blessed Obededom, and all his household.
INT: blessed and the LORD Obed-edom and all his household

2 Samuel 6:12
HEB: בֵּ֨ית עֹבֵ֤ד אֱדֹם֙ וְאֶת־ כָּל־
NAS: the house of Obed-edom and all
KJV: the house of Obededom, and all that [pertaineth] unto him, because of the ark
INT: the LORD the house of Obed-edom and all after

2 Samuel 6:12
HEB: מִבֵּ֨ית עֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֛ם עִ֥יר דָּוִ֖ד
NAS: from the house of Obed-edom into the city
KJV: from the house of Obededom into the city
INT: of God the house of Obed-edom the city of David

1 Chronicles 13:13
HEB: בֵּ֥ית עֹבֵֽד־ אֱדֹ֖ם הַגִּתִּֽי׃
NAS: to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.
KJV: into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
INT: to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite

1 Chronicles 13:14
HEB: בֵּ֨ית עֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֛ם בְּבֵית֖וֹ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה
NAS: with the family of Obed-edom in his house
KJV: with the family of Obededom in his house
INT: with the family of Obed-edom his house three

1 Chronicles 13:14
HEB: בֵּ֥ית עֹבֵֽד־ אֱדֹ֖ם וְאֶת־ כָּל־
NAS: the family of Obed-edom with all
KJV: the house of Obededom, and all that he had.
INT: and the LORD the family of Obed-edom all after

1 Chronicles 15:18
HEB: וּמִקְנֵיָ֨הוּ וְעֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֛ם וִֽיעִיאֵ֖ל הַשֹּׁעֲרִֽים׃
NAS: Mikneiah, Obed-edom and Jeiel,
KJV: and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel,
INT: Eliphelehu Mikneiah Obed-edom and Jeiel the gatekeepers

1 Chronicles 15:21
HEB: וּמִקְנֵיָ֙הוּ֙ וְעֹבֵ֣ד אֱדֹ֔ם וִֽיעִיאֵ֖ל וַעֲזַזְיָ֑הוּ
NAS: Mikneiah, Obed-edom, Jeiel
KJV: and Mikneiah, and Obededom, and Jeiel,
INT: Eliphelehu Mikneiah Obed-edom and Jeiel and Azaziah

1 Chronicles 15:24
HEB: הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעֹבֵ֤ד אֱדֹם֙ וִֽיחִיָּ֔ה שֹׁעֲרִ֖ים
NAS: of God. Obed-edom and Jehiah
KJV: of God: and Obededom and Jehiah
INT: the ark of God Obed-edom and Jehiah also gatekeepers

1 Chronicles 15:25
HEB: בֵּ֥ית עֹבֵֽד־ אֱדֹ֖ם בְּשִׂמְחָֽה׃ ס
NAS: from the house of Obed-edom with joy.
KJV: out of the house of Obededom with joy.
INT: from the house of Obed-edom joy

1 Chronicles 16:5
HEB: וּבְנָיָהוּ֩ וְעֹבֵ֨ד אֱדֹ֜ם וִֽיעִיאֵ֗ל בִּכְלֵ֤י
NAS: Benaiah, Obed-edom and Jeiel,
KJV: and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel
INT: Eliab Benaiah Obed-edom and Jeiel instruments

1 Chronicles 16:38
HEB: וְעֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֛ם וַאֲחֵיהֶ֖ם שִׁשִּׁ֣ים
NAS: and Obed-edom with his 68 relatives;
KJV: And Obededom with their brethren,
INT: Obed-edom relatives threescore

1 Chronicles 16:38
HEB: וּשְׁמוֹנָ֑ה וְעֹבֵ֨ד אֱדֹ֧ם בֶּן־ יְדִית֛וּן
NAS: relatives; Obed-edom, also the son
KJV: and eight; Obededom also the son
INT: threescore and eight Obed-edom the son of Jeduthun

1 Chronicles 26:4
HEB: וּלְעֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֖ם בָּנִ֑ים שְׁמַֽעְיָ֤ה
NAS: Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah
KJV: Moreover the sons of Obededom [were], Shemaiah
INT: Obed-edom had sons Shemaiah

1 Chronicles 26:8
HEB: מִבְּנֵ֣י ׀ עֹבֵ֣ד אֱדֹ֗ם הֵ֤מָּה וּבְנֵיהֶם֙
NAS: [were] of the sons of Obed-edom; they and their sons
KJV: All these of the sons of Obededom: they and their sons
INT: these of the sons Obed-edom they and their sons

1 Chronicles 26:8
HEB: וּשְׁנַ֖יִם לְעֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹֽם׃
NAS: for the service, 62from Obed-edom.
KJV: [were] threescore and two of Obededom.
INT: threescore and two Obed-edom

1 Chronicles 26:15
HEB: לְעֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹ֖ם נֶ֑גְבָּה וּלְבָנָ֖יו
NAS: For Obed-edom [it fell] to the south,
KJV: To Obededom southward; and to his sons
INT: Obed-edom the south his sons

2 Chronicles 25:24
HEB: עִם־ עֹבֵ֣ד אֱד֗וֹם וְאֶת־ אֹצְרוֹת֙
NAS: of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures
KJV: of God with Obededom, and the treasures
INT: of God with Obed-edom and the treasures house

20 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 5654
20 Occurrences


’ĕ·ḏō·wm — 20 Occ.

5653
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