Obadiah

Obadiah is a Hebrew biblical name meaning “servant of the Lord.” Several biblical people bear it, including the prophet associated with the Book of Obadiah and an official in Ahab's household. These figures should not automatically be combined into one biography, especially when describing wealth, occupation, or the circumstances of their lives.

Basketball player Obi Toppin provides a contemporary example of Obadiah with the short form Obi. Obie is another familiar spelling of that short form, while Ovadiah reflects a related transliteration. The full name has a specific service-to-God meaning, rather than a general description of obedience. Its scriptural history and usable short forms offer different ways to understand the same name family.