Original Word: אֲבֵדָה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: abedah
Pronunciation: ah-veh-DAH
Phonetic Spelling: (ab-ay-daw')
KJV: lost
NASB: lost thing, lost, what was lost
Word Origin: [from H6 (אָבַד - perish)]

1. (concretely) something lost
2. (abstractly) destruction, i.e. Hades

lost

From 'abad; concrete, something lost; abstract, destruction, i.e. Hades -- lost. Compare 'abaddoh.

see HEBREW 'abad

see HEBREW 'abaddoh

Word Origin
from abad
Definition
a lost thing
NASB Translation
lost (1), lost thing (2), what was lost (1).

אֲבֵדָה noun feminine a lost thing — absolute except Deuteronomy 22:3 construct אֲבֵדַת — Exodus 22:8; with מָצָא Leviticus 5:22,23; with אָבַד + מָצָא Deuteronomy 22:3; — (אבדה Proverbs 27:20 Kt compare אֲבַדּוֺ below)

Meaning and Concept

אֲבֵדָה denotes property that has strayed from its owner—anything mislaid, missing, or otherwise detached from rightful possession. Scripture treats such loss not as a mere accident but as a moral test of covenant fidelity, revealing whether Israel will mirror the character of the LORD, who seeks and restores what is lost.

Occurrences in the Hebrew Canon

1. Exodus 22:9 frames the term within judicial procedure: “In every case of wrongdoing involving an ox, a donkey, a sheep, a garment, or anything else lost, about which someone says, ‘This is mine,’ the case between the parties shall come before the judges.”
2. Leviticus 6:3–4 addresses perjury and restitution when someone “finds lost property and lies about it.”
3. Deuteronomy 22:3 extends the principle to everyday life: “You are to do the same with his donkey, his garment, or anything your brother has lost and you have found. You must not ignore it.”

The distribution—two legal settings (Exodus, Leviticus) and one community‐life setting (Deuteronomy)—signals that concern for אֲבֵדָה spans court, cult, and common field alike.

Legal and Ethical Implications

• Restitution: In both Exodus and Leviticus, failure to return lost goods requires full restitution plus an added fifth (Leviticus 6:5), underscoring that indifference or deceit compounds the original loss.
• Judicial Integrity: Exodus 22:9 places disputes before appointed judges, safeguarding against vigilantism while upholding property rights.
• Prohibition of Passive Neglect: Deuteronomy 22:1–3 commands active intervention—“do not hide yourself.” Neglect is morally equivalent to theft because community welfare depends on mutual responsibility.

Theology of Restoration

The Torah’s treatment of אֲבֵדָה anticipates wider biblical themes:
• Divine Character: The LORD “restores the fortunes of His people” (Psalm 14:7). Human restoration of lost property reflects God’s own restorative nature.
• Shepherd Motif: Returning stray livestock foreshadows the Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find the one that is lost (Luke 15:4). The ethic moves from property to persons, culminating in the Messiah’s mission: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
• Covenant Community: By ensuring that no possession or person remains uncared for, Israel becomes a tangible sign of the Kingdom where nothing that belongs to God is ultimately lost (John 6:39).

Historical Background

Ancient Near Eastern law codes (e.g., Code of Hammurabi §§9–10) also addressed found objects, yet the Torah uniquely grounds restitution in the worship of YHWH. The priestly involvement in Leviticus 6 places the offense not only against a neighbor but “against the LORD,” integrating civil duty with sacrificial atonement.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Integrity in Small Matters: Faithfulness in handling another’s property measures readiness for “true riches” (Luke 16:10–11).
• Pastoral Care: Leaders imitate the divine pattern by pursuing members who drift, supplying practical aid until full restoration is achieved.
• Community Witness: Congregations that maintain lost-and-found procedures, benevolence funds, and restitution counseling embody biblical justice to a watching world.

Summary

אֲבֵדָה calls believers to active stewardship, truthful confession, and generous restitution. In returning what is lost, the community enacts the gospel previewed in Torah and perfected in Christ, who restores all that sin has scattered.

אֲבֵדַ֥ת אֲבֵדָ֗ה אֲבֵדָ֛ה אבדה אבדת הָאֲבֵדָ֖ה האבדה ’ă·ḇê·ḏāh ’ă·ḇê·ḏaṯ ’ăḇêḏāh ’ăḇêḏaṯ aveDah aveDat hā’ăḇêḏāh hā·’ă·ḇê·ḏāh haaveDahInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts