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.
