Biblical Hebrew Forum

[K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Chavoux:

On 3/28/13, Chavoux Luyt <chavoux AT gmail.com> wrote:
> Shalom everybody and chag sameach!
>
> I have two questions:
> 1. What is the difference between malachah (מלאכה) and avodah (עבדה)? Are
> they simply synonyms or is there a difference in meaning?

There is a large area where the two meanings intersect, but there is a
difference: avodah (עבדה) seems to be the more general term, meaning
service as done by a slave, malachah (מלאכה) seems more restricted to
that work done for profit, as part of one’s profession.

> 2. In 1 Kings 9:22 it says: "ומבני ישראל לא נתן שלמה עבד כי הם אנשי המלחמה
> ועבדיו ושריו ושלשיו ושרי רכבו ופרשיו׃" ...
> Solomon did not make slaves of any of the children of Israel and yet they
> were his "slaves" (עבדיו)? It would appear that "eved" (עבד) can have two
> different meanings? Or is it because they were "his" slaves/servants that
> there is a difference? Does the possessive change the meaning word or is it
> simply a homonym (similar word, but different meanings)?

Just like in English, so the Hebrew term “slave” has a broader meaning
than just being owned by someone else. In the verse, we see it used in
a more narrow sense meaning people who make up a command labor force
with restricted freedom, while the Israelites were free from both the
command labor and the restrictions. Yet, in a broad sense, the
Israelites were Solomon’s “slaves” in that they were his subjects.
Context tells us how to understand the term.
>
> Thanks
> Chavoux Luyt
>
Karl W. Randolph.