While there are several different words in Hebrew that communicate the idea of worship (especially when it comes to the aspect of “service before God”), the same word that is used for working the ground (עֲבודָה – ‘Avodah) is used for the service/worship of God.
The commission to work, which we associate today with struggle and toil, was given to Adam before the fall took place, not after. In other words, when God tasked Adam with working the ground in the Garden of Eden, it was not yet something affected by sin, death and misery, but was still holy, pure and just (Gen.2:8, 15).
For this reason when we think of our workplace, we must think of it as a place for God’s service at the same time. This means that when we are at work, we are there to serve God in every possible way.
Yet there is another caveat that we can see in the Hebrew text that we cannot see in the translation. Not only was Adam given the holy duty to worshipfully work the ground, but we are also told that Adam himself was created from the very ground he was now commissioned to work. We can see this clearly, because in Hebrew “ground” is (אֲדָמָה – ’Adamah). It has the same exact root as the name Adam (אָדָם).
Taking this opportunity I want to invite you to take a formal Biblical Hebrew class. To begin, click HERE.
Does the hebrew reading of gen 3:21, indicate it was the skins of a n animal? God clothed Adam and Eve with?
Not directly in Hebrew, only by inference.
I have just been told that my religious beliefs dont belong on a professional social media network. May I post your your website as a reference on this professional network?
I am not sure what do you mean?
Caro Dr. El
Na minha bíblia traduzida ao Portugues,está escrito: Gn 2,15 D´ustomou o Homem e colocou-o no Jardim do Edem de delícias para o Cultivar e guardar..
Muito boa a sua colocação de o trabalho como serviço a Deus, pois as vezes ao nos sentirmos cansados parece que carregamos o fardo de Adão, depois do castigo.
שאלום
Toda
Maria
BS”D
Oi María!:
Obrigado pelo tuo comentário. Gostaría que postear na página em português.
http://iibsblogs.wpengine.com/pt-br/servindo-deus-como-fez-adao-uma-visao-em-hebraico-biblico-pelo-dr-eli-lizorkin-eyzenberg/
Bençoes!
Eric.
I read, in anytime, who Abel did the right sacrifice to the Lord when gave the first born of his sheeps, and Cain whatever thing he took from his vegetables and grains, being awared about the fisrt fruit from the harvest. So, God was diminished by this act of Cain( a very bad idea, because God is really jealous about this actions from us).
Shalom,
One word about Cain… Read To the Hebrew 11:4 :”By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh” So, Abel had faith, Cain have not.