אָבַד
ʼâbad · H6 · Hebrew · 184 occurrences
Meanings
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to be lost
State of not being located in the place where it is expected to be
ExamplesDeuteronomy 22:3 “You shall also do this with his donkey, and you shall do the same with his garment, and you shall do likewise with any lost property of your countryman, which has been lost by him and you have found. You are not allowed to avoid them.
Psalm 31:12 I am forgotten like a dead person, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel.
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to wander, to stray
Action by which someone does not stay in a single expected location but moves about from place to place without a clear destination
ExamplesDeuteronomy 26:5 “And you shall respond and say before the LORD your God, ‘My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt and resided there, few in number; but there he became a great, mighty, and populous nation.
1 Samuel 9:3 Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Now take with you one of the servants and arise, go search for the donkeys.”
1 Samuel 9:20 “And as for your donkeys that wandered off three days ago, do not be concerned about them, for they have been found. And for whom is everything that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?”
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to give up as lost
Action by which someone decides to stop searching for an object that is not located in its expected place
ExamplesEcclesiastes 3:6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away.
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to vanish, to disappear, to be lost, to perish, to be broken, to be destroyed, to be ruined
Process by which humans or objects disappear or are removed from existence; either by (a usually unnatural) death, aggression, hardship, disaster, natural processes, acts of destruction, or direct divine intervention
ExamplesExodus 10:7 Then Pharaoh’s servants said to him, “How long shall this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may serve the LORD their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is destroyed?”
Leviticus 26:38 ‘Instead, you will perish among the nations, and your enemies’ land will consume you.
Deuteronomy 4:26 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today, that you will certainly perish quickly from the land where you are going over the Jordan to take possession of it. You will not live long on it, but will be utterly destroyed.
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to destroy, to kill
The action by which humans or deities remove other humans or objects from existence, by death, aggression, hardship, disaster, destruction, or direct divine intervention, often as punishment
ExamplesLeviticus 23:30 “As for any person who does any work on this very day, that person I will eliminate from among his people.
Deuteronomy 7:10 but He repays those who hate Him to their faces, to eliminate them; He will not hesitate toward him who hates Him, He will repay him to his face.
Deuteronomy 8:20 “Like the nations that the LORD eliminates from you, so you shall perish, because you would not listen to the voice of the LORD your God.
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to perish, to come to an end
Process by which an event comes to an end, usually under unfavorable circumstances
ExamplesProverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous is gladness, But the expectation of the wicked perishes.
Proverbs 11:7 When a wicked person dies, his expectation will perish, And the hope of strong people perishes.
Ecclesiastes 9:6 Indeed their love, their hate, and their zeal have already perished, and they will no longer have a share in all that is done under the sun.
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to destroy, to corrupt, to put an end
Action by which someone brings an event to an end, usually under unfavorable circumstances
ExamplesDeuteronomy 7:24 “And He will hand over their kings to you, so that you will eliminate their name from under heaven; no one will be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them.
Deuteronomy 12:3 “And you shall tear down their altars and smash their memorial stones to pieces, and burn their Asherim in the fire, and cut to pieces the carved images of their gods; and you shall eliminate their name from that place.
Job 14:19 Water wears away stones, Its torrents wash away the dust of the earth; So You destroy a man’s hope.
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to destroy a life > to kill people
Literally: to destroy a life; hence: action by which someone causes another person to die a violent death
ExamplesEzekiel 22:27 “Her leaders within her are like wolves tearing the prey, by shedding blood and destroying lives in order to make dishonest profit.
How it’s used In 10 roles
Every occurrence, grouped by the words it is grammatically related to.
the word studied the word it goes with
Who or what does itSubject
170 occurrences in 75 groups
- Not stated (infinitive) 21
- Not stated: I 17
- Not stated: you (more than one) 13
- Not stated: they 11
- Not stated: you (one person) 10
- Not stated: he, she or it 9
- Other words · 63 groups that occur once or twice (74) 74
What it acts on, or what is saidObject
58 occurrences in 43 groups
- הֶםthem 11
- קוֹלvoice, sound 3
- ךָּyou 3
- Other words · 40 groups that occur once or twice (45) 45
With prepositionsPrepositional phrases
53 occurrences in 44 groups
- מִןfrom+ אֶרֶץland, earth, ground 5
- מִןfrom+ בְּלִיwithout, not 3
- מִןfrom+ פָּנִיםface, presence, before 3
- Other words · 41 groups that occur once or twice (46) 46
With adverbsAdverbs
11 occurrences in 7 groups
- לֹאnot 3
- כֵּןthus 2
- מְהֵרָהquickly 2
- אָזat that time 1
- יַחַדtogether 1
- כְּבָרalready 1
Whose, or of whatGenitive or possessive
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- עֵצָהcounsel, advice, plan 1
What it doesIt is the subject
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- בּוֹאto come, to go in, to bring 1
What is done to itIt is the object
9 occurrences in 7 groups
- בָּקַשׁto seek, to search, to look for 2
- אָמַרto say 2
- זָכַרto remember 1
- יָדַעto know 1
- נָגַדto tell, to inform, to report 1
- עוּדto warn 1
What is said to be itIt is the predicate
2 occurrences in 2 groups
- עֵתtime, moment, period 1
- רִנָּהshout of joy, cry 1
After prepositionsPrepositional phrases
15 occurrences in 4 groups
- לto/for 10
- עַדto, as far as, until 4
- בin/on/with 1
- כlike/as 1
In phrases “… of it”It is the genitive
1 occurrences in 1 groups
- בְּרָכָהblessing, praise, gift 1
When two words share a role, as in “Paul and Barnabas said”, the verse appears under each, so a section’s counts can add up to more than the number of occurrences.
MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Near synonyms 1 word
- אָפֵס ʼâphêç · H656 · to be finished, to disappear, to be gone
- אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) and אָפֵס share the sense of cessation or termination—perishing, failing, coming to an end or to nothing.
In the other Testament 1 word
- ἀπόλλυμι apóllymi · G622 · to ruin, to destroy, destruction
- Greek ἀπόλλυμι directly translates Hebrew אָבַד across its core semantic range of destruction and perishing, serving as the standard LXX rendering for the Hebrew verb's literal and figurative senses of loss, ruin, and cessation of existence.
Semantic domains 5 entries
- Non-Space002002001018
- אָבַד describes something ceasing to occupy space or being swept away, as when Egypt is said to be destroyed (Numbers 21:29).
- Think002004002013
- The word can describe the failure or collapse of a plan or purpose, not only physical destruction, as when a person dies and his plans perish (Psalm 146:4).
- Non-Exist002002002006
- This lexeme's own occurrences attest this sense of something passing entirely out of existence: “For the nation and the kingdom which will not serve you will perish, And the nations will be utterly ruined” (Isaiah 60:12).
- Dead002001001018
- This lexeme's own occurrences attest the death of a specific person: “And then I will go in to the king, which is not in accordance with the law; and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).
- End002003003010
- This lexeme's own occurrences attest this sense of termination or coming to an end: “By the breath of God they perish, And by the blast of His anger they come to an end” (Job 4:9).
Word family 7 words
Words formed from the same root. They share a form, not always a meaning.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon H6. abad אָבַד verb perish (MI אבד, Assyrian abâtu DlW 184 Aramaic אֲבַד, ). — Qal…
אָבַד verb perish (MI אבד, Assyrian abâtu DlW 184 Aramaic אֲבַד, ). —
Qal Perfect ׳א Num 21:30 +; אָֽבְדוּ Psa 10:16 + (+ Eze 6:3 ᵐ5 Co) etc.; Imperfect יאֹבַד Job 3:3; Jer 4:9; יאֹבֵ֑דּ Job 20:7 Job 20:2t.; 3 feminine singular תּאֹבַד Deu 22:3-4t.; תּאֹבֵ֑ד Job 8:13 Job 8:3t.; יאֹבְדוּ Jdg 5:31 Jdg 5:3t.; יאֹבֵ֑דוּ Job 4:9 +; 3 feminine plural וַתּאֹבַדְנָה 1Sa 9:3; תּאֹבֵדוּן Deu 4:26 +; נאֹבֵ֑ד Jon 1:6; Jon 3:9; נאֹבְדָה Jon 1:14, etc.; Infinitive absolute אָבדֹ Deu 4:26 Deu 4:2t.; construct אֲבדֹ Deu 7:20; Pro 11:10; אֲבָדְךָ Deu 28:20; אָבְדֶ֑ךָ Deu 28:22; אֲבָדְכֶם Jos 23:13; אָבְדָם Obadiah 12; Pro 28:28; Participle אוֺבֵד Deu 26:5 + 7:t.; construct אֹבַד Deu 32:28 (before ע ? see Di. Bö§ 378); etc.
1 perish, die, of individuals (mostly late) Numbers 17:27 (|| נוע & (v.Numbers 17:28) מות, (also Deu 26:5 ? compare below) Jon 1:6, Jon 1:14; Job 31:19; compare Job 29:13; Pro 31:6; Est 4:14, Est 4:16 (twice in verse); Mic 4:9; Jer 40:15 compare Isa 57:1; Pro 11:10; Pro 28:28; Ecc 7:15; Psa 119:92; emphasis on mortality Job 4:20; Psa 146:4; Ecc 9:6; Saul & Jonathan, under figure of weapons 2Sa 1:27; lion Job 4:11; caravan Job 6:18 (compare Di); compare ׳א חָסִיד מִןהָֿאָרֶץ Mic 7:2, ׳וא מֵעַזָּה מֶלֶח Zec 9:5; perish, be exterminated (judgment for sin), of Israel Lev 26:38; Deu 8:19 (twice in verse); Deu 8:20; Deu 28:20; Deuteronomy 20:22; Deu 30:18 (twice in verse); Jer 27:10, Jer 27:15; compare Jer 6:21; Obadiah 12; compare Psa 80:17; Isa 27:13; other nations Deu 7:20; Jer 10:15; Jer 51:18; Psa 2:12; Psa 10:16; Psa 83:18; compare Psa 9:4; Amo 1:8; Isa 41:11; Isa 60:12 compare Jon 3:9 see also Exo 10:7; Num 21:29-30, (JE) Jer 48:46; house of Ahab 2Ki 9:8; wicked in General Jdg 5:31; Job 4:9 compare Job 4:7, Psa 37:20; Psa 49:11; Psa 68:3 (|| simile of melting wax), Psa 73:27; Psa 92:10; also Pro 19:9; Pro 21:18; א ׳לָנֶצַח Job 20:7; compare א רְשָׁעִים ׳דֶּרֶח Psa 1:6; followed by הָאָ֑רֶץ מֵעַל (of annihilation of Israel) Deu 4:26 (twice in verse); Deu 11:17; Jos 23:13, Jos 23:16 (D); followed by הַקָּהָל מִתּוֺח (of Korah's company) Num 16:33 (JE); perish, be ruined, destroyed, of inanimate things, e.g. land Jer 9:11 (|| כַמִּדְבָּר נִצְּתָה compare Jer 48:8; harvest Joe 1:11; Jonah's gourd Jon 4:10; riches Jer 48:36; Ecc 5:13; vessel Psa 31:13; houses Amo 3:15 (so often Assyrian Dlw); city Eze 26:17 (but strike out ᵐ5 Co); compare bamôth Eze 6:3 ᵐ5 Co; heavens & earth Psa 102:27.
2 figurative perish, vanish, subject memory Job 18:17; Psa 9:7; name Psa 41:6 (i.e. be forgotten); vigour Job 30:2; wisdom Isa 29:14; compare עֵצוֺת אֹבַד Deu 32:28; אֱמוּנָה Jer 7:28 (|| נִכְרְתָה); חָזוֺן Eze 12:22; יוֺם Job 3:3 (i.e. be blotted out); לֵב Jer 4:9 (i.e. courage fail); תִּקְוָה Psa 9:19; Pro 10:28; Pro 11:7; Eze 19:5; Eze 37:11; Job 8:13; so תַּאֲוָה Psa 112:10 (i.e. comes to naught); תּוֺחֶלֶת Pro 11:7, followed by מִן + agent Lam 3:18; עֵצָה + תּוֺרָה followed by מן + persons negligent Jer 18:18; Eze 7:26, compare Jer 49:7; especially ׳א מִןֿ מָנוֺס (i.e. they could not escape) Amo 2:14; Jer 25:35; Job 11:20; Psa 142:5.
3 be lost, strayed, asses 1Sa 9:3, 1Sa 9:20; sheep Jer 50:6; Eze 34:4, Eze 34:16; Psa 119:176 (figurative of erring men); perhaps Deu 26:5.
Pi`el causative of Qal. — Perfect אִבַּד 2Ki 21:3 2Ki 21:2t.; suffix וְאִבֶּדְךָ Co Eze 28:16 compare below; אִבַּדְתִּי Jer 15:7; וְאִבַּדְתִּ֫י Eze 6:3 (ᵐ5 Co וְאָֽבְּדוּ) etc.; Imperfect יְאַבֵּד Ecc 9:18; וִיאַבֵּד Ecc 7:7; Zep 2:13; Zep 2:1singular suffix וָאַבֶּדְךָ Eze 28:16 (for ׳וָאֲאַבּ Ew§ 72 c Ol§ 79 a Kö I:338 Ges§ 68 fin; but Co 3 masculine singular; see also Co Eze 38:14); תְּאַבְּדוּן Deu 12:2 etc.; Infinitive absolute אַבֵּד Deu 12:2-3t.; construct id. Eze 22:27 + etc.; Participle מְאַבְּדִים Jer 23:1.
1 cause to perish, destroy, kill, object person (mostly late) 2Ki 11:1; Est 3:9; Est 4:7; Est 8:5; Est 9:24; || הרג Est 9:6, Est 9:12; || הרג + השׁמיד Est 3:13; Est 7:4; Est 8:11; || המם Est 9:24; compare Psa 119:95; object נְפָשׁוֺת Eze 22:17 (strike out ᵐ5 Co); in judgment, subject ׳י Psa 5:7; compare Pro 1:32; followed by מִתּוֺח Eze 28:16; object a people 2Ki 13:7; 2Ki 19:18 = Isa 37:19; Job 12:13; in judgment Deu 11:4; Jer 12:17; Jer 15:7; Zep 2:13; Psa 9:6; compare Psa 21:11; object inanimate things especially idols, bamôth etc., Num 33:52 (twice in verse); (J) Deu 12:2 (twice in verse); 2Ki 21:3; Eze 6:3 (but compare ᵐ5 Co above); bars of Zion Lam 2:9 (|| שִׁבַּר).
2 figurative cause to vanish, blot out, do away with names of idols Deu 12:3; voice of Babylon Jer 51:55; memory of dead Isa 26:14; substance Pro 29:3; understanding Ecc 7:7; good ( טוֺבָה q. v.) Ecc 9:18.
3 cause to stray, lose; object Israel under figure of flock Jer 23:1 (|| הֵפִיץ); absolute Ecc 3:6 (|| בִּקֵּשׁ).
Hiph`il Perfect וְהֶאֱבִּיד Num 24:19; הֶאֱבַ֑דְתָּ Job 14:19 etc.; Imperfect אֹבִידָה Jer 46:8 (Ges§ 68, 2 R. 1). Infinitive construct הַאֲבִיד 2Ki 10:19 + etc.; Participle מַאֲבִיד Deu 8:20.
1 destroy, put to death, in judgment, (subject ׳י) object person Lev 23:30 (followed by עַמָּהּ מִקֶּרֶב; || כָּרַת Lev 23:29); Jer 49:38 (followed by מִשָּׁם); Obadiah 8 (followed by מֵאֱדוֺם); object nation, Ammon Eze 25:7 (followed by מןהֿארצות; || כָּרַת), compare Eze 25:16; Canaanites Deu 8:20 (followed by מִמְּנֵיכֶם); Canaan = Philistines Zep 2:5 (|| כָּרַת); especially Israel Deu 28:51, Deu 28:63 (|| הִשְׁמִיד), compare Jos 7:7; also absolute Jer 18:7 (|| וְלִנְתוֺץ לִנְתוֺשׁ); = Jer 1:10 (+ וְלַהֲרוֺס) = Jer 31:28 (+ וּלְהָרֵעַ); animals Eze 32:13 (followed by רַבִּים מַיִם מֵעַל); compare Deu 7:10; Psa 143:12 (|| הִצְמִית); (human subject), object servants of Baal 2Ki 10:19, object nation Deu 9:3, compare Num 24:19 (E; followed by מֵעִיר); 2Ki 24:2; compare Jer 46:8; object inanimate, chariots Mic 5:9; idols Eze 30:13 (strike out B Co).
2 figurative, object name of kings Deu 7:24 (followed by הַשָּׁמַיִם מִתַּחַת); hope Job 14:19; voice of mirth etc. Jer 25:10 (compare Jer 51:55
Pi`el above)
[אֲבַד] verb perish (Biblical Hebrew); —
Pe`al mpl.3masculine plural יֵאבַ֫דוּ (not וּן+?§ 26, 1) Jer 10:11 they shall persish, pass away.
Haph`el (Old Aramaic האבד Lzb205 Cooke189) destoy: Imperfect2masculine singular אַלתְּֿהוֺבֵד (K§ 41 c) Dan 2:24(c.ל person); 3 masculine plural יְהוֺבְדוּן Dan 2:18(indefinite subject; accusative of person); Infinitive לְהוֺבָדָא Dan 2:12; Dan 2:24 (both with ל person), דָה- Dan 7:26 (absolute).
Hoph`al (K§ 41 c WCG 225) be destroyed: Perfect3masculine singular הוּבַד Dan 7:11.
אבה (assumed as √ of following).
Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), public domain
Topical studies with this word 5 entries
Meanings adapted from the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0 and the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew (from the Semantic Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew), © United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0; MACULA Greek Linguistic Datasets, available at https://github.com/Clear-Bible/macula-greek/, licensed CC BY 4.0; MACULA Hebrew Linguistic Datasets © 2022-2024 by Biblica, Inc., CC BY 4.0. Westminster Leningrad Codex (tanach.us). OpenScriptures Hebrew Bible morphology (hb.openscriptures.org), CC BY 4.0.
Sources
eRhema lexical overview, based on the UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew and the UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament (© United Bible Societies, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Macula Hebrew and Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0); released under CC BY-SA 4.0
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