Origin and Meaning of Obadiah

Servant of the Lord

Origin: Hebrew - Derived from the Hebrew name 'Obadyah', with 'Obad' meaning 'servant' and 'Yah' being a short form of 'Yahweh', the name of God in Hebrew.

• Obadiah is a significant name in the Bible, bearing the name of a minor prophet in the Old Testament who authored the Book of Obadiah.
• The name is used across various cultures and has variants in different languages, such as Abdias in Spanish and Obadias in Portuguese.
• Notable bearers of the name include Obadiah Holmes, an early American Baptist leader, and Obadiah Willard, a colonial American politician and soldier.
• Though it has not been extremely popular in modern times, the name Obadiah is sometimes chosen for its biblical significance in certain religious communities.
• Related names include Obediah, Obed, and variations like Abdiel, which also draw from the theme of servitude in relation to God.