Pronunciation Guide: ah-vay-DAH (emphasis on final syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s H10: אֲבֵדָה (ăḇēḏāh) refers to something lost or a lost thing, specifically in the context of property or possessions that have gone astray from their rightful owner. This noun derives from the root אבד (abad), which carries the meaning of being lost, strayed, or perishing. In biblical law and narrative, it often appears in contexts discussing the responsibility to return lost property to its owner.

Etymology and Morphology

• Noun (feminine)
• Root: אבד (abad)
• Appears primarily in legal and narrative texts
• Used in contexts of property laws and moral obligations
• Related to Aramaic אבדה (abdah)

אֲבֵדָה Morphology:

• Singular (Noun): אֲבֵדָה (ăḇēḏāh) — “lost thing”
• Plural (Noun): אֲבֵדוֹת (ăḇēḏōṯ) — “lost things”
• Construct State: אֲבֵדַת (ăḇēḏaṯ) — “lost thing of”
• With Pronominal Suffixes: אֲבֵדָתוֹ (ăḇēḏāṯō) — “his lost thing”

Origin & History

The concept of אֲבֵדָה has deep roots in ancient Near Eastern legal codes, where the responsibility for returning lost property was considered a fundamental social and moral obligation. The renowned Jewish scholar Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, 1040-1105 CE) comments extensively on this term in his commentary on Exodus 22:9, emphasizing the sacred duty to safeguard and return lost property.

The Talmud dedicates an entire tractate, Bava Metzia, to the laws of lost property (אֲבֵדָה), demonstrating its significance in Jewish law and tradition. The medieval scholar Maimonides (1138-1204 CE) systematized these laws in his Mishneh Torah, explaining that the obligation to return lost property stems from the biblical command to love one’s neighbor as oneself.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A lost item or property that has strayed from its owner
• Something that has gone missing and requires restoration
• Property that needs to be returned to its rightful owner
• An object that has been separated from its proper place or person

אֲבֵדָה Translation Options:

• “Lost thing” – Most literal translation, emphasizing the object’s status
• “Lost property” – Contextual translation focusing on ownership
• “Something lost” – General translation suitable for broader contexts
• “Strayed possession” – Emphasizing the separation from rightful ownership

Biblical Usage

The term אֲבֵדָה appears in contexts emphasizing moral responsibility and community care. Its first appearance in Proverbs 27:20 relates to the concept of loss in a metaphorical sense. The word is particularly significant in Torah legislation regarding property rights and social responsibilities.

• “Hell and destruction (אֲבֵדָה) are never full” Proverbs 27:20
• “For every matter of trespass, whether it be for ox, for donkey, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing (אֲבֵדָה) lost thing” Exodus 22:9
• “With all lost things (אֲבֵדָה) lost property of thy brother’s” Deuteronomy 22:3

Cultural Insights

In ancient Israelite society, the concept of אֲבֵדָה was intimately connected with the principle of mutual responsibility (ערבות הדדית – arevut hadadit). Finding lost property created an immediate obligation to protect and return it, reflecting the communal nature of ancient Israelite society. This was not merely a legal requirement but a religious duty, demonstrating love for one’s neighbor in practical terms.

The laws of אֲבֵדָה were so significant that they influenced the development of modern property law in many Western legal systems. The requirement to actively seek out the owner of lost property and maintain it until its return was revolutionary for its time and continues to influence ethical business practices today.

Theological Significance

The concept of אֲבֵדָה provides a profound metaphor for God’s redemptive work. Just as humans are obligated to return lost property, Yahweh is portrayed as the ultimate Restorer of that which is lost. This theme finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah Jesus, who declared that He came to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).

The obligation to care for and return lost property reflects God’s character of restoration and redemption. It points to the divine pattern of finding what was lost, whether it be lost property, lost people, or lost relationship with God Himself. This connects powerfully with the New Testament parables of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son (Luke 15).

Personal Application

Understanding אֲבֵדָה challenges us to consider our role in God’s ministry of restoration. When we encounter something or someone who is “lost,” we have a divine opportunity to participate in God’s redemptive work. This might involve returning literal lost property, but it also extends to helping restore broken relationships, supporting those who have strayed from faith, or participating in God’s mission to reach the lost.

This concept reminds us that nothing and no one is ever truly lost to God. Even in our own moments of feeling lost or separated from Him, we can trust that He is actively working to restore us to Himself.

Related Words

• אָבַד (abad) – “to perish, be lost” – The verbal root expressing the state of being lost or destroyed See H6
• תָּעָה (ta’ah) – “to wander, go astray” – Often used in parallel with אבד to describe physical or spiritual wandering See H8582
• מָצָא (matsa) – “to find” – The opposite action of losing, often used in contexts of returning אֲבֵדָה See H4672
• שׁוּב (shuv) – “to return, restore” – Used in contexts of returning lost items to their owners See H7725

Did you Know?

• In modern Hebrew, אֲבֵדָה still refers to lost property, and Israeli airports and public transportation systems have special אֲבֵדוֹת departments for handling lost and found items.
• The laws of returning lost property (השבת אבידה – hashavat avedah) are so important in Jewish tradition that they are one of the few biblical commandments for which one is required to incur expenses to fulfill, with the promise of later reimbursement.
• The concept of אֲבֵדָה influenced the development of the common law principle of “finders keepers,” which actually contradicts the biblical requirement to actively seek out the original owner.

Remember This

אֲבֵדָה reminds us that in God’s economy, nothing is ever truly lost – everything and everyone has the potential for restoration and redemption through His divine care and our participation in His work.

Part of speech: Feminine Noun

Tags: restoration, property, loss, redemption, responsibility, community, ethics, Torah law, divine attributes, social justice, moral obligations, finding, returning, care, stewardship