עֶבֶד
évedmasculine
The English word "slave" is translated into Hebrew as עֶבֶד (éved). Wiktionary also lists אָמָה (amá) and שִׁפְחָה (shifkhá).
Meaning: person owned by another (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| עֶבֶד | éved | masculine |
| אָמָה | amá | feminine |
| שִׁפְחָה | shifkhá | feminine |
עֶבֶד refers to a person owned by another. In religious texts, the term refers to an indentured servant or bondservant.
Which one should you use?
While שִׁפְחָה is the standard word for a female slave, אָמָה is a specific biblical term for a female servant or slave.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine plural form of עֶבֶד is עֲבָדִים.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is éved.
Did you know?
- In many biblical contexts, the term עֶבֶד was used as a title of respect for high-ranking officials or even kings, similar to calling someone 'the servant of the King'.
- While עֶבֶד describes a slave, the term שִׁפְחָה shares a root with the word for 'family' משפחה. This suggests that female servants were historically viewed as being integrated into the household structure.
- The Hebrew word for 'work', עֲבוֹדָה, is derived from the same root as עֶבֶד, suggesting that 'work' is fundamentally tied to the concept of 'service' or 'servitude'.
Examples in context
- הוא היה עֶבֶד בממלכה.hu haya eved bamamlaka.He was a slave in the kingdom.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “slave” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
