Hebrew word · H5686
עָבַת
vay'abetuha
to weave
The verb appears only here in this form (intensive, piel). It is clearly related to the noun ʿăvōt, 'cord, rope, twisted thread' (Judg 15:13; Hos 11:4; Isa 5:18), and to ʿāvōt 'thick, leafy' (twisted, interwoven branches). The sense is to twist or braid strands together.
Appears once in the Hebrew Old Testament. ·
What it means
(Piel) to wind, weave, weave together
Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
The verb appears only here in this form (intensive, piel). It is clearly related to the noun ʿăvōt, 'cord, rope, twisted thread' (Judg 15:13; Hos 11:4; Isa 5:18), and to ʿāvōt 'thick, leafy' (twisted, interwoven branches). The sense is to twist or braid strands together.
- Against the English
KJV/YLT 'wrap it up' now sounds like 'finish it off'. BSB/WEB 'conspire together' gives the meaning but drops the picture. Some versions use 'weave'/'scheme together', which is closer.
- How it drifted
'Wrap up' in modern idiom means to conclude. In 1611 it meant to enfold or bind together, closer to the Hebrew rope image.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Isa 5:18 is a close image: those who 'drag iniquity with cords (ḥavlê) of falsehood and sin as with cart-ropes (ʿăvōt)'. Hos 11:4 uses ʿăvōt for the 'cords of love'. Micah may echo this ropemaking imagery.
Where it appears
Micah · 1
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Micah 7:3 וַֽיְעַבְּתֽוּהָ׃ and they weave it
Both hands are skilled at evil; the prince and the judge demand a bribe. When the powerful utters his evil desire, they all conspire together.
Here: 'And they twist it together.' The officials and judges braid the great man's wish into a strong cord, like rope-making. 'It' is feminine and most naturally refers to the 'craving'. The verb form appears only here in the Bible.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.