Hebrew Words for Work

There are three main words in Hebrew for work. Melaka is the word used when God rested from his labor (work). God commanded Israel to cease from melaka on the Sabbath, to stop the usual 6 days a week occupation or job.

Melaka refers more to being in business or employment, rather than service as a slave or servant (abad).

melaka

Enhanced Strongs Dictionary

h4399. מְלָאכָה melâ’ḵâ; from the same as 4397; properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor): — business, + cattle, + industrious, occupation, (+ -pied), + officer, thing (made), use, (manner of) work((-man), -manship).

NIV Word Study Dictionary

H4856 מְלָאכָה mᵉlā’kâ, n.f. [167] work, deed, duty, craft, service; thing, something:

ma’aseh

Enhanced Strongs Dictionary

h4639. מַעֲשֶׂה ma‘ăśeh; from 6213; an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property: — act, art, + bakemeat, business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making, occupation, thing offered, operation, possession, x well, ((handy-, needle-, net-))work(ing, -manship), wrought.

NIV Word Study Dictionary

H5126 מַעֲשֶׂה maʽᵃśeh, n.m. [236] [→ 5127, 5128, 5129; cf. 6913]. work, labor, deed; something made, something done:– work (61), works (16),

abad

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Enhanced Strong's Dictionary

h5647. עָבַד ‘âḇaḏ; a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.: — x be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, + husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,

NIV Word Study Dictionary

H6268 עָבַד ʽābad, v. [291] [Q] to work, serve, labor, do; to worship, minister, work in ministry; [N] to be plowed, be cultivated; [Pu] to be worked; [H] to reduce to servitude, enslave, cause to serve; [Ho] to be caused to serve, worship (a god)