The Hebrew word עבד (ʿavad, pronounced uh-VAHD) is a Biblical Hebrew verb meaning "to work, do, serve." The noun form of the same letters, עֶבֶד (ʿeved, pronounced EH-ved), means "slave, servant," as he would be "one who works or does." So Genesis 24:34, for instance, reads, "So he said, 'I am Abraham's servant (עֶבֶד)'." Likewise, Exodus 20:9 reads, "Six days you shall labor (תעבד) and do all your work."

It is also worth noting that the name of the Hebrew prophet Obadiah is rooted in the word עבד (ʿavad), with the Hebrew name Obadyah or Obadyahu meaning "servant of YHWH."