עֹבַדְיָה
Obadjah, the name of thirteen Israelites
Definition
עֹבַדְיָה (Obadiah) is a Hebrew proper name meaning 'servant of Yahweh' or 'worshiper of Yahweh.' It is borne by at least thirteen distinct individuals in the Old Testament. The most prominent is the prophet Obadiah, author of the book bearing his name, which pronounces judgment on Edom (Obadiah 1:1). Another key figure is the godly steward of King Ahab's palace who protected one hundred prophets of the Lord from Jezebel's persecution (1 Kings 18:3-16). Other individuals include a descendant of David (1 Chronicles 3:21) and a chief of the tribe of Issachar (1 Chronicles 7:3).
Biblical Usage
The name appears 19 times across historical and prophetic books. It is used primarily in narrative contexts to identify specific individuals, most frequently the palace steward in 1 Kings 18. The prophetic book of Obadiah uses the name only in its title (Obadiah 1:1). Other occurrences are in genealogical lists within 1 Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah, indicating its continued use as a personal name in post-exilic Israel.
Etymology
The name derives from the active participle of the verb עָבַד (ʿāvad, H5647), meaning 'to serve' or 'to work,' combined with a shortened form of the divine name יָהּ (Yah, H3050), a name for God. The fuller form is עֹבַדְיָהוּ (Obadyahu). It literally means 'servant of Yah,' reflecting a personal devotion to Yahweh.
Semantic Range
The name 'Obadiah' encapsulates a core biblical identity: being a servant of the Lord. The most famous bearer, Ahab's steward, demonstrated this through courageous faith and protection of God's prophets during national apostasy (1 Kings 18:3-4). The prophet Obadiah's message reinforces that Yahweh is sovereign over all nations. The name itself serves as a reminder that true identity and purpose are found in faithful service to God.
In ancient Israel, names were often theophoric, containing a divine element, and conveyed hopes or statements about one's relationship with God. 'Obadiah' explicitly declares one's allegiance to Yahweh as a servant. This was a common naming convention, similar to modern names like 'Theodore' (gift of God). The multiple individuals with this name highlight its popularity as an expression of piety and covenant identity.
עֶבֶד (ʿeved, H5650) — The common noun for 'servant' or 'slave,' while Obadiah is a compound proper name meaning 'servant of Yah.'
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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