EBED-MELECH ē’ bĭd mĕl’ ĭk (עֶֽבֶד־מֶ֨לֶכְ, LXX Αβδεμελεχ, servant of a king, royal servant). A common name, but in the OT specifically that of the Ethiopian eunuch in the court of Zedekiah who received permission to rescue Jeremiah from a miry dungeon (Jer 38:7-13), and as a reward his life was to be spared when Jerusalem was sacked (39:15-18).

The title of “’ebed” or “slave” was employed in Akkad. circles to designate a class of court official hired usually for a specific purpose, in contrast to the older patriarchal institution of elders or tribal heads. David apparently initiated the title in Israel, and it occurred also in Ammon and Edom. As a proper noun, “Ebedmelech” is known from Assyrian and Nabatean sources.