Abda (biblical figure)

The name Abda (Hebrew עַבְדָּא) 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 (1 Kings 4:6). 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 (Nehemiah 11:17), also called Obadiah (1 Chronicles 9:16). 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]