Day 73 of 75 · Judgment and liberation
ʿ-B-D
ʿabda: slave
עבד · עבדא
ܥܳܒ݂ܶܕ݂ · ܥܰܒ݂ܕ݁ܳܐ
The feel
ʿ-B-D means to do, make or act, and the verb appears 357 times. The same root names the worker bound to another, the ʿabda. Where the Greek reads doulos (72 times), the Qala says slave where most translations say servant, because an ʿabda was owned and could not simply leave.
The root family
| Form | Pattern | Transliteration | Script | Standard | Qala rendering |
|---|
| ʿbad | Peal verb | ʿābed (participle) | עבד ܥܳܒ݂ܶܕ݂ | to do, to make | do, make, act (357×) |
| ʿabda | noun, m. | ʿabdā | עבדא ܥܰܒ݂ܕ݁ܳܐ | servant | slave: where the Greek reads doulos (72×) |
| ʿbada | noun, action pattern | ʿbādā | עבדא ܥܒ݂ܳܕ݂ܳܐ | work, deed | deeds, works (Jn 3:19; 9:4) |
In the Gospels the verb appears in the Peal, ʿbad, to do, make or act (teʿbdunāh, Matthew 6:1), and classical Syriac also builds an Ethpeel, etʿbed, to be done, and a Shaphel, šaʿbed, to enslave.
In his voice
Matthew 6:1
Be careful not to do what is right in front of others just to be seen by them. If you do, you have no reward with your Father in the heavens.
teʿbdunāh, "you do it." The root's verb of doing. What is right has to be done, and it can be done for show.
Matthew 13:27
The slaves of the householder came to him and said, 'Master, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did the weeds come from?'
ʿabdawy, "his slaves." The Greek has douloi, and most translations say servants. The Qala says slaves to keep their bound condition in view.
Matthew 25:21
His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Come, share your master's joy.'
ʿabdā, "slave." The master praises someone who owns nothing and sets him over much.
Practice
Choose one routine task today and do it as work given to you. When it is done, ask whose purpose it served, and say ʿabda aloud.
Connections