Lexical Summary aboth: cords, ropes, cordage Original Word: עֲבֹת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance band, cord, rope, thick bough branch, wreathen chain Or rabowth {ab-oth'}; or (feminine) tabothah {ab- oth-aw'}; the same as aboth; something intwined, i.e. A string, wreath or foliage -- band, cord, rope, thick bough (branch), wreathen (chain). see HEBREW aboth NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom abath Definition cord, rope, cordage NASB Translation bonds (1), clouds (1), cordage (3), corded (1), cords (8), ropes (8). Brown-Driver-Briggs עֲבֹת noun masculineJudges 15:13#NAME?feminineJudges 15:14 + (twisted) cord, rope; cordage; interwoven foliage (?); — absolute ׳ע Exodus 28:14 2t.; construct עֲבוֺת Isaiah 5:18; Psalm 129:4; suffix 3masculine singular עֲבֹתוֺ Job 39:10, 3masculine plural עֲבֹתֵ֑ימוֺ Psalm 2:3; plural עֲבֹּתִים Judges 15:13 +, עֲבֹתֹת +, Exodus 28:14 +, etc.; — 1 cord, rope: a. as fetter, Judges 15:13,14; Judges 16:11,12; Ezekiel 3:25; Ezekiel 4:8; Job 39:10 (of wild ox), so also probably Psalm 118:27 bind the festal victim (חַג) with cords Ew Ol De Hup-Now Dr and others; > with branches Che, compare Bae Du; figurative of authority Psalm 2:3 ("" מוֺסְרוֺתֵימוֺ), Psalm 129:4. b. עֲבוֺת הָעֲגָלָה Isaiah 5:18 i.e. with which a cart is drawn (in simile; "" חַבְלֵי הַשָּׁוְא); figurativeעֲבֹתוֺת אַהֲבָה Hosea 11:4 with the cords of love, of ׳יs drawing Israel ("" חַבְלֵי אָדָם). c. cordage, cord, of (twisted) golden chains on high priest's breast-piece (all P): מַעֲשֵׂה עֲבֹת, cordage-work Exodus 28:14,22; Exodus 39:15; שַׁרְשְׁרֹת הָעֲבֹתֹת Exodus 28:14 the chains of cords (cordlike chains); שְׁתֵּי (הָ)עֲבֹתֹת the two cords Exodus 28:24; Exodus 28:25; Exodus 39:17,18. 2 interwoven foliage (?) in phrase (עַלֿ)בֵּין עֲבֹתִים of top of a vine Ezekiel 19:11 (clouds Ew Hi-Sm Toy, read then עָבוֺת); of cedar, Ezekiel 31:3,10,14, but in these certainly clouds, so ᵐ5 Ew Hi-Sm Co and others עֹג see עוֺג Topical Lexicon Scope of Meaning and Imagery Across its twenty-four occurrences עֲבֹת functions as a vivid picture of strength that can either secure or restrain. In narrative prose it describes tangible cords, ropes, harnesses, or braided chains. In poetry and prophecy it extends to metaphorical bonds—of sin, oppression, covenant love, or proud self-sufficiency—and even to the thick intertwined boughs of mighty trees. However the word is used, the image is consistently that of something strong, intertwined, and binding. Craftsmanship in the Priestly Garments (Exodus 28; 39) The first cluster of references appears in the instructions for the ephod and breastpiece of the high priest. “You are to make braided chains of pure gold, like corded rope, and attach them to the breastpiece” (Exodus 28:22). Six verses describe these golden cords that linked the memorial stones on the shoulders to the breastpiece over the heart. The same detail is repeated in Exodus 39 when the work is completed. These cords express the unity of the high priest’s ministry—shouldering the tribes’ names while carrying them upon his heart—and the unbroken strength of the mediatorial office that prefigures the perfect High Priest. The gold speaks of purity and deity; the braided construction, of corporate solidarity before God. Bonds of Human Strength and Divine Deliverance (Judges 15–16; Psalms 2; 129) In the Samson cycle the word appears six times for the ropes that fail to restrain the Spirit-empowered judge. “The ropes on his arms became like flax burned with fire” (Judges 15:14). Human devices, however new or numerous, cannot hinder the purpose of God. This theme re-emerges in the Psalter: “Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords from us” (Psalm 2:3) is the cry of rebellious nations against the LORD and His Anointed, yet their rebellion is futile. Conversely, the righteous can sing, “The LORD is righteous; He has cut me free from the ropes of the wicked” (Psalm 129:4). Whether cords symbolize tyranny or rebellion, the outcome is the same—Yahweh snaps them with ease. Agricultural and Daily Life Illustrations (Job 39:10; Isaiah 5:18) The word is rooted in ordinary experience. Job is asked, “Can you bind the ox with a harness in the furrow, or will he harrow the valleys after you?” (Job 39:10). Isaiah issues a woe to those who “draw iniquity with cords of falsehood and sin with cart ropes” (Isaiah 5:18), picturing people hitched to their own evil like beasts hauling a load. Everyday farm imagery turns into moral exhortation: sin may feel manageable, yet its rope grows thicker until the sinner is enslaved. Prophetic Symbol-Acts of Restriction (Ezekiel 3:25; 4:8) Ezekiel is literally bound with cords as a sign to the exiles: “I will bind you with ropes, so that you cannot go out among the people” (Ezekiel 3:25). The prophet’s enforced silence and immobilization dramatize the judgment soon to fall on Jerusalem. In Ezekiel 4:8 the cords are divine in origin—proof that when the word of God foretells confinement, no human resolve can break free. Branches of Lofty Cedars—Pride and Collapse (Ezekiel 19:11; 31:3, 10, 14) Four times עֲבֹת describes the thick intertwined boughs of towering trees: Israel’s royal line (Ezekiel 19) and Assyria likened to a stately cedar (Ezekiel 31). What looks invincible is cut down when it exalts itself. The imagery shifts from cords that bind to branches that boast, yet the lesson is identical: any strength not rooted in humility before God is destined to be broken. Cords of Covenant Love (Hosea 11:4) In one of the tenderest uses the Lord says, “I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.” The same word that elsewhere chains prisoners is here transformed into a gentle tether of affectionate guidance. Divine love binds not to restrict but to keep close, remove burdens, and nourish. Liturgical Service and Sacrificial Commitment (Psalm 118:27) “Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.” The worshiper willingly fastens the victim so that it cannot escape until the offering is complete. The verse anticipates the voluntary self-giving of Christ, who allowed Himself to be bound that sinners might be set free. Ministry Implications • Teach God’s people that every cord is ultimately in His hands: He alone fashions bonds that protect and breaks bonds that enslave. Whether decorative gold chains on a sacred garment, new ropes on Samson’s arms, cart ropes of sin, or cords of everlasting love, עֲבֹת illustrates the biblical paradox: what binds most firmly becomes either an instrument of bondage or a channel of blessing, depending on whether it is forged by human rebellion or divine grace. Forms and Transliterations בַּעֲבֹת֣וֹת בַּעֲבֹתִ֑ים בַּעֲבֹתִ֣ים בעבתות בעבתים הָֽעֲבֹתֹ֔ת הָעֲבֹתִ֜ים הָעֲבֹתֹ֔ת הָעֲבֹתֹ֖ת הָעֲבֹתֹ֣ת העבתים העבתת וְכַעֲב֥וֹת וכעבות עֲב֣וֹת עֲבֹ֑ת עֲבֹת֑וֹ עֲבֹתִ֑ים עֲבֹתִ֔ים עֲבֹתִ֣ים עֲבֹתִ֨ים עֲבֹתֵֽימוֹ׃ עֲבֹתֹ֣ת עֲבוֹתִ֑ים עֲבוֹתִ֔ים עבות עבותים עבת עבתו עבתים עבתימו׃ עבתת ‘ă·ḇō·ṯê·mōw ‘ă·ḇō·ṯîm ‘ă·ḇō·ṯōṯ ‘ă·ḇō·ṯōw ‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯîm ‘ă·ḇō·wṯ ‘ă·ḇōṯ ‘ăḇōṯ ‘ăḇōṯêmōw ‘ăḇōṯîm ‘ăḇōṯōṯ ‘ăḇōṯōw ‘ăḇōwṯ ‘ăḇōwṯîm aVot avoTeimov avoTim avoTo avoTot ba‘ăḇōṯîm ba‘ăḇōṯōwṯ ba·‘ă·ḇō·ṯîm ba·‘ă·ḇō·ṯō·wṯ baavoTim baavoTot hā‘ăḇōṯîm hā‘ăḇōṯōṯ hā·‘ă·ḇō·ṯîm hā·‘ă·ḇō·ṯōṯ haavoTim haavoTot vechaaVot wə·ḵa·‘ă·ḇō·wṯ wəḵa‘ăḇōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 28:14 HEB: אֹתָ֖ם מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה עֲבֹ֑ת וְנָתַתָּ֛ה אֶת־ NAS: them of twisted cordage work, KJV: at the ends; [of] wreathen work INT: shall make work cordage shall put chains Exodus 28:14 Exodus 28:22 Exodus 28:24 Exodus 28:25 Exodus 39:15 Exodus 39:17 Exodus 39:18 Judges 15:13 Judges 15:14 Judges 16:11 Judges 16:12 Job 39:10 Psalm 2:3 Psalm 118:27 Psalm 129:4 Isaiah 5:18 Ezekiel 3:25 Ezekiel 4:8 Ezekiel 19:11 Ezekiel 31:3 Ezekiel 31:10 Ezekiel 31:14 Hosea 11:4 24 Occurrences |
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