The key word with which to begin developing a theology of work is the Hebrew verb עבד (avad), which occurs 289 times, predominantly in the qal form. The noun that shares the same root, עבדה (avodah), occurs 145 times, making this word group a substantial theme in the Old Testament. This is not even accounting for the substantive form, עבד (eved), which occurs an additional 800 times but is less applicable for our study here.

The עבד word group is translated throughout the English Old Testament in three main ways:

First, it is often translated as “service,” where one submits him- or herself to the allegiance of another, whether a slave to a master (Exodus 21:6), a son to his father (Malachi 3:17) or a subject to a king (2 Samuel 16:19). For example, in 1 Kings 12, King Rehoboam is asked by the rebellious northern tribes to lighten the load his father Solomon has placed upon them. In return, they promise to serve (avad) him as king. In the end, Rehoboam refuses.

Second, this word can be translated as “worship,” either referring to the worship of YHWH (Joshua 24:14; Ezekiel 20:40) or the worship of idols (Exodus 20:5; Psalm 97:7; Joshua 23:7). When He calls Moses to lead His people out of Egypt, God gives Moses this promise: “When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship [avad] God on this mountain” (Exodus 3:12).

Third, avad is also translated as “work.” This word is used in reference to vocations both “secular” (Exodus 5:18; Ezekiel 29:18) and “sacred” (Exodus 13:5; Numbers 3:8; Joshua 22:27), both paid (Genesis 29:27) and unpaid (Jeremiah 22:13). In Exodus 34:21, God gives further clarity to the fourth commandment regarding the Sabbath: “Six days you shall labor [avad], but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.”

Dave Huber is pastor of community life at Church at Charlotte (EFCA) in Charlotte, N.C. He is passionate about helping followers of Jesus connect their Sunday faith to their Monday lives.