אֲבֵדָה (a.ve.dah)
a.ve.dah
something lost
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun aḇēdāh refers simply to something that has been lost or is missing. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Deuteronomy 22:3, where it describes an item belonging to a neighbor that needs to be returned. The word captures the state of loss itself, marking an object as separated from its rightful owner.
In this specific context, the law commands the finder to keep the lost thing safe until the owner claims it. This usage highlights a social responsibility: what is lost does not become the property of the finder by default. The term stands in contrast to found items that might be claimed, emphasizing the temporary nature of the loss and the duty to restore what was misplaced.
Its rarity in Scripture suggests it is a general descriptive term rather than a technical legal category. By focusing on the object’s condition as "lost," the text directs attention to the act of recovery and restitution. The word serves as a simple label for the gap between possession and loss, grounding the ethical command to return property in the physical reality of what has gone astray.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word aḇēdāh describes something that has been lost or gone astray. It appears only once in Scripture, in Deuteronomy 22:3, where it refers to a neighbor’s lost property. The law commands the finder not to ignore what is missing but to take care of it until the owner returns.
This simple instruction reveals a deeper truth about how we should treat what belongs to others. When something is lost, it does not become ours by chance. Instead, we are called to act as stewards, protecting what is not ours until it can be restored. This practice builds trust and reflects God’s care for justice and community.
In our daily lives, this word reminds us that loss is not the end of responsibility. Whether it is a misplaced item or a broken relationship, we are invited to act with integrity and kindness. By caring for what is lost, we reflect the heart of God, who seeks to restore and reconcile.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the> thing lost of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֲבֵדַ֥ת1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 22:3
So you shall do with his donkey. So you shall do with his garment. So you shall do with every lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost and you have found. You may not hide yourself.
This verse uses aḇēdāh to define the specific obligation to safeguard and return any lost item belonging to a fellow Israelite.