Abda (biblical figure) explained

The name Abda means servant, or perhaps is an abbreviated form of servant of YHWH.^[1] There are two people by this name in the Hebrew Bible.

• An Abda mentioned in passing when Solomon set Adoniram son of Abda in charge of forced labor for Solomon's building projects . The forced labor is referred to by the word "levy" in the Revised Version and "tribute" in the King James Version.
• A Levite of the family of Jeduthun, also called Obadiah . He was the son of Shammua and served in Jerusalem under Nehemiah.^[2]

Where the Masoretic Text has Abda, the Septuagint, depending on the location and manuscript, has names such as Abao, Ephra, Edram, Ioreb, Obeb, and Abdias.^[3]

Notes and References

1. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, (1915) "Abda"
2. Book: Fretz, Mark J.. Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. 1: A-C. 1992. Doubleday. New York. 0385193513. 8. David Noel Freedman. Abda.
3. Cheyne and Black (1899), Encyclopaedia Biblica, entry for "Abda."