עֲבוֹט
𐤏𐤁𐤅𐤈
ʻăbôwṭ
H5667 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An article or object temporarily handed over as security for a loan or debt—i.e., a pledge. The term primarily denotes a physical item given to guarantee repayment or fulfillment of an obligation. Used in legal and economic contexts, especially in laws concerning lending and borrowing, the term emphasizes the transactional act of securing a loan by offering material collateral.
Semantic Range
pledge, article taken in pledge, security, pawn, collateral
Root / Etymology
Derived from the triliteral root עבט (ע-ב-ט), which conveys the sense of taking or giving a pledge or becoming surety. The noun עֲבוֹט functions as a concrete nomen actionis referring to the tangible object handed over as a guarantee. The form עֲבוֹט is the standard noun, while the alternative spelling עֲבֹט reflects minor orthographic variation; both derive from the same verbal root.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the ancient Israelite economic and legal system, עֲבוֹט refers to any personal property or item taken as collateral for a debt. Torah law in Exodus 22:25–27 and Deuteronomy 24:6, 10–13 provides specific regulations about what items could be taken as עֲבוֹט and mandates the prompt return of essential pledges (e.g., a cloak used as a blanket) to prevent hardship. The practice reflects social norms regarding fairness, compassion, and protection of vulnerable lenders and borrowers. The noun appears exclusively in legal contexts, and is distinct from the related term חָבַל (to take as security, pledge or bind), though both refer to collateral in lending. Later biblical and post-biblical Hebrew distinguished more technical legal terminology for collateral. Translating עֲבוֹט as “pawn” or “pledge” can obscure the relational, sometimes temporary nature prescribed by Torah law. Modern Jewish, Christian, and secular translations use “pledge,” “security,” or occasionally “collateral,” but these English terms do not always reflect the specific legal and social function of עֲבוֹט in ancient Israelite society.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or עֲבֹט; from עָבַט; a pawn; pledge.
Bantu Hebrew
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עבט (ʿ-b-ṭ) — to take a pledge, give a pledge, bind by pledge, become surety
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5667-03 |
הַ/עֲב֖וֹט | haavot | HTd/Ncmsa |
pledge | the pledged-items | 2 |
H5667-02 |
בַּ/עֲבֹטֽ/וֹ | baavoto | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in his pledge | in his collateral | 1 |
H5667-01 |
עֲבֹטֽ/וֹ | avoto | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his pledge | his pledged collateral | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5667-01 |
Deuteronomy 24:10 | עֲבֹטֽ/וֹ | avoto | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his pledge | his pledged collateral |
H5667-03 |
Deuteronomy 24:11 | הַ/עֲב֖וֹט | haavot | HTd/Ncmsa |
the pledge | the pledged-items |
H5667-02 |
Deuteronomy 24:12 | בַּ/עֲבֹטֽ/וֹ | baavoto | HR/Ncmsc/Sp3ms |
in his pledge | in his collateral |
H5667-03 |
Deuteronomy 24:13 | הַ/עֲבוֹט֙ | haavot | HTd/Ncmsa |
pledge | the pledged-items |