Topical Bible: Abandoned

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical terms, the concept of being "abandoned" often relates to the idea of being forsaken or left without support, guidance, or protection. This theme appears in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, reflecting both human experiences of abandonment and divine assurances against it.

Old Testament Context

1. Human Abandonment: The feeling of being abandoned is poignantly expressed in the Psalms. For instance, David cries out in Psalm 22:1 , "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" This psalm captures the deep sense of isolation and despair that can accompany feelings of abandonment, yet it also transitions into a declaration of trust in God's deliverance.

2. Divine Assurance: Despite human experiences of abandonment, the Old Testament frequently emphasizes God's faithfulness. In Deuteronomy 31:6 , Moses encourages the Israelites, saying, "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." This assurance is reiterated in Joshua 1:5 , where God promises Joshua, "No man shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."

3. Prophetic Warnings: The prophets often warned Israel of the consequences of abandoning God. In Jeremiah 2:13 , God laments, "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns—broken cisterns that cannot hold water." This highlights the spiritual peril of turning away from God.

New Testament Context

1. Christ's Experience: The theme of abandonment reaches its climax in the New Testament with the crucifixion of Jesus. In Matthew 27:46 , Jesus echoes the words of Psalm 22, crying out, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" This moment underscores the depth of Christ's suffering and the weight of sin He bore on behalf of humanity.

2. Apostolic Encouragement: The New Testament also offers encouragement against the fear of abandonment. In Hebrews 13:5 , believers are reminded, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'" This assurance is meant to provide comfort and confidence in God's unchanging presence.

3. Community and Support: The early church is depicted as a community where believers support one another, countering the experience of abandonment. Acts 2:44-45 describes the early Christians: "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need." This communal life reflects the ideal of mutual care and support.

Theological Implications

The biblical narrative presents abandonment as a multifaceted concept, encompassing both the human experience of feeling forsaken and the divine promise of steadfast presence. While individuals may feel abandoned by others or even by God, the overarching message of Scripture is one of hope and assurance in God's unwavering commitment to His people.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (imp. & p. p.) of Abandon.

2. (a.) Forsaken, deserted.

3. (a.) Self-abandoned, or given up to vice; extremely wicked, or sinning without restraint; irreclaimably wicked ; as, an abandoned villain.

Greek

4014. periaireo -- to take away (that which surrounds)
... Word Origin from peri and haireo Definition to take away (that which surrounds)
NASB Word Usage abandoned (1), casting off (1), take away (1), taken away (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4014.htm - 7k

620. apoleipo -- to leave, leave behind
... Word Origin from apo and leipo Definition to leave, leave behind NASB Word
Usage abandoned (1), left (3), remains (3). leave, remain. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/620.htm - 6k

1570. ekthetos -- cast out, ie exposed (to perish)
... Transliteration: ekthetos Phonetic Spelling: (ek'-thet-os) Short Definition: cast
out, exposed Definition: cast out, exposed (to the elements), abandoned. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1570.htm - 6k

2049. eremoo -- to desolate
... Cognate: 2049 (from 2048 , "wilderness, desolate area") -- make desolate, isolated
(left alone); lay waste, destroy (leave abandoned, deserted). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2049.htm - 7k

2048. eremos -- solitary, desolate
... a desert Definition: as an adj: deserted, desolate, waste; hence: the desert, to
the east and south of Palestine; of a person: deserted, abandoned, desolate. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2048.htm - 8k

863. aphiemi -- to send away, leave alone, permit
... Word Origin from apo and hiemi (to send) Definition to send away, leave alone, permit
NASB Word Usage abandoned (1), allow (5), allowed (2), divorce (2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/863.htm - 10k

1459. egkataleipo -- to leave behind, ie (in a good sense) let ...
... and kataleipo Definition to leave behind, ie (in a good sense) let remain over or
(in a bad sense) desert NASB Word Usage abandon (1), abandoned (1), deserted ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1459.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew

5010. naar -- probably to abhor, spurn
... 5009, 5010. naar. 5011 . probably to abhor, spurn. Transliteration: naar Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-ar') Short Definition: abandoned. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5010.htm - 5k

5800a. azab -- to leave, forsake, loose
... root Definition to leave, forsake, loose NASB Word Usage abandon (3), abandoned
(11), abandons (1), commits (1), deserted (1), failed (1), fails (1), forsake ...
/hebrew/5800a.htm - 6k

5203. natash -- to leave, forsake, permit
... root Definition to leave, forsake, permit NASB Word Usage abandon (7), abandoned
(5), allow (1), cast away (1), ceased (1), drawn (1), fall (1), forego (1 ...
/hebrew/5203.htm - 6k

Library

An Abandoned Heathen Temple.
... CHAPTER SIXTEEN. AN ABANDONED HEATHEN TEMPLE. On the 11th of October, 1839,
Mr Arthur joined Mr Jenkins at Goobbe, and by that time ...
/.../hodson/old daniel/chapter sixteen an abandoned heathen.htm

How the Gentiles Abandoned Idol Worship, and Turned to the ...
... Book III. Chapter LVII."How the Gentiles abandoned Idol Worship, and turned
to the Knowledge of God. Hence it was that, of those ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/chapter lvii how the gentiles abandoned.htm

False Gods Abandoned by Christians.
... Chapter XXV."False Gods abandoned by Christians. And, secondly, because
we"who, out of every race of men, used to worship Bacchus ...
/.../justin/the first apology of justin/chapter xxv false gods abandoned by.htm

Religion of Fathers to be Abandoned.
... Book V. Chapter XXX."Religion of Fathers to Be Abandoned. "Others say,
It is wicked if we do not worship those idols which have ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xxx religion of fathers to.htm

For this Deep and Disabling Reason Therefore, Its Cynical and ...
... Chapter 39 For this deep and disabling reason therefore, its cynical and
abandoned indifference to the truth? For this deep and ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 39 for this deep.htm

They who have Committed a "Sin unto Death" are not to be Abandoned ...
... Two Books Concerning Repentance. Book I. Chapter XIII. They who have
committed a "sin unto death" are not to be abandoned? They ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xiii they who have.htm

He Says: "You who are a Most Abandoned Traditor have Come Out In.. ...
... Book I. Chapter 18. " 20. He says: "You who are a most abandoned traditor
have come out in? "20. He says: "You who are a most ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 18 20 he.htm

The Threefold Kind of Man Feigned by These Heretics: Good Works ...
... Book I Chapter VI."The threefold kind of man feigned by these heretics: good works
needless for them, though necessary to others: their abandoned morals. ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter vi the threefold kind of.htm

Faustus Quotes Passages to Show that the Apostle Paul Abandoned ...
... Book XI. Faustus quotes passages to show that the Apostle Paul abandoned belief
in the incarnation, to which he earlier held. Augustin ...
/.../faustus quotes passages to show.htm

Concerning the Doctrines Held by the Sons of Constantine. ...
... Distinction between the Terms "Homoousios" and "Homoiousios." Whence it
came that Constantius quickly abandoned the Correct Faith. ...
/.../chapter xviii concerning the doctrines held.htm

Thesaurus

Abandoned (45 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Self-abandoned, or given up to vice; extremely wicked, or sinning without
restraint; irreclaimably wicked ; as, an abandoned villain. ...
/a/abandoned.htm - 19k

Reprobate (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (a.) Not enduring proof; one who is morally lost
or abandoned; rejected. ... 4. (n.) One morally abandoned and lost. ...
/r/reprobate.htm - 11k

Sea (4178 Occurrences)
... At Ain Abu Werideh, about 40 miles beyond the south end of the lake, Hull in
1883 discovered deposits of an abandoned shore line 1,400 ft. ...
/s/sea.htm - 87k

Forlorn (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (pp) of Forlese. 2. (vt) Deserted; abandoned; lost. 3. (vt) Destitute; helpless;
in pitiful plight; wretched; miserable; almost hopeless; desperate. ...
/f/forlorn.htm - 7k

Profligacy (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Decadence; dissoluteness; wild extravagance;
the state of being abandoned in moral principle and in vice. ...
/p/profligacy.htm - 8k

Abandonment (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of abandoning, or the state of
being abandoned; total desertion; relinquishment. 2. (n ...
/a/abandonment.htm - 7k

Revised
... A few of the readings printed in the appendices to the English Revised Version were
abandoned, but many new ones were introduced, including some that had been ...
/r/revised.htm - 12k

American
... A few of the readings printed in the appendices to the English Revised Version were
abandoned, but many new ones were introduced, including some that had been ...
/a/american.htm - 13k

Dead (580 Occurrences)
... At Ain Abu Werideh, about 40 miles beyond the south end of the lake, Hull in
1883 discovered deposits of an abandoned shore line 1,400 ft. ...
/d/dead.htm - 80k

Jesus (10891 Occurrences)
... The triumphal entry into Jerusalem proves that He never abandoned the claim to be
the fulfiller of all the Old Testament predictions about the kingdom of God ...
/j/jesus.htm - 101k

Resources

Why are there times in my life when finding God is so difficult? | GotQuestions.org

Is there supposed to be only one church? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to seek God's face? | GotQuestions.org

Abandoned: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Abandoned (45 Occurrences)

Acts 2:31
he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 15:38
but Paul thought it not well to take with them him who had abandoned them, going back from Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.
(DBY)

Acts 27:20
When neither sun nor stars shone on us for many days, and no small storm pressed on us, all hope that we would be saved was now taken away.
(See NAS RSV)

Romans 1:27
Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error.
(See NAS NIV)

2 Corinthians 4:9
persecuted, but not abandoned; cast down, but not destroyed;
(DBY NIV)

Ephesians 4:19
Such men being past feeling have abandoned themselves to impurity, greedily indulging in every kind of profligacy.
(WEY)

2 Peter 2:7
and saved righteous Lot, distressed with the abandoned conversation of the godless,
(DBY)

Jude 1:6
And angels who had not kept their own original state, but had abandoned their own dwelling, he keeps in eternal chains under gloomy darkness, to the judgment of the great day;
(DBY NAS NIV)

Revelation 2:4
But I have this against you, that you left your first love.
(See RSV)

Genesis 24:27
He said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken his loving kindness and his truth toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me in the way to the house of my master's relatives."
(See NIV)

Leviticus 26:43
The land also will be left by them, and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them: and they will accept the punishment of their iniquity; because, even because they rejected my ordinances, and their soul abhorred my statutes.
(See NAS)

Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked. You have grown fat. You have grown thick. You have become sleek. Then he forsook God who made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
(See NIV)

Judges 4:15
Yahweh confused Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his army, with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
(See NIV)

Judges 5:6
"In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied. The travelers walked through byways.
(See NIV)

Judges 6:13
Gideon said to him, "Oh, my lord, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wondrous works which our fathers told us of, saying,'Didn't Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?' But now Yahweh has cast us off, and delivered us into the hand of Midian."
(See NAS NIV)

1 Samuel 30:13
David asked him, "To whom do you belong? Where are you from?" He said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days ago I fell sick.
(See NIV)

1 Samuel 31:7
When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those who were beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.
(See NAS NIV)

2 Samuel 5:21
They left their images there; and David and his men took them away.
(See NAS NIV)

1 Kings 18:18
He answered, "I have not troubled Israel; but you, and your father's house, in that you have forsaken the commandments of Yahweh, and you have followed the Baals.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 7:7
Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 10:7
When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook their cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 14:12
They left their gods there; and David gave commandment, and they were burned with fire.
(See NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 7:22
They shall answer, Because they abandoned Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshiped them, and served them: therefore has he brought all this evil on them.
(WEB)

2 Chronicles 11:14
For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons cast them off, that they should not execute the priest's office to Yahweh;
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 12:1
It happened, when the kingdom of Rehoboam was established, and he was strong, that he forsook the law of Yahweh, and all Israel with him.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 12:5
Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, who were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, Thus says Yahweh, You have forsaken me, therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.
(See RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 16:5
It happened, when Baasha heard of it, that he left off building Ramah, and let his work cease.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 24:18
They forsook the house of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols: and wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness.
(See NAS NIV)

Nehemiah 9:28
But after they had rest, they did evil again before you; therefore left you them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried to you, you heard from heaven; and many times you delivered them according to your mercies,
(See NAS NIV)

Job 18:4
You who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or shall the rock be removed out of its place?
(See NAS NIV)

Job 20:19
For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor. He has violently taken away a house, and he shall not build it up.
(See RSV)

Psalms 78:60
So that he forsook the tent of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men;
(See NAS NIV)

Isaiah 1:4
O nation full of sin, a people weighted down with crime, a generation of evil-doers, false-hearted children: they have gone away from the Lord, they have no respect for the Holy One of Israel, their hearts are turned back from him.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 2:6
For you, O Lord, have given up your people, the family of Jacob, because they are full of the evil ways of the east, and make use of secret arts like the Philistines, and are friends with the children of strange countries.
(See NAS NIV)

Isaiah 10:14
My hand has found the riches of the peoples like a nest, and like one gathers eggs that are abandoned, have I gathered all the earth. There was no one who moved their wing, or that opened their mouth, or chirped."
(WEB NAS NIV)

Isaiah 17:9
In that day your towns will be like the waste places of the Hivites and the Amorites which the children of Israel took for a heritage, and they will come to destruction.
(See NAS NIV)

Isaiah 27:10
For the fortified city is solitary, a habitation abandoned and forsaken like a wilderness; there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume its boughs.
(DBY JPS NIV)

Isaiah 32:14
For the fair houses will have no man living in them; the town which was full of noise will become a waste; the hill and the watchtower will be unpeopled for ever, a joy for the asses of the woods, a place of food for the flocks;
(See NAS NIV)

Isaiah 54:7
For a short time I gave you up; but with great mercies I will take you back again.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 7:29
Let your hair be cut off, O Jerusalem, and let it go, and let a song of grief go up on the open hilltops; for the Lord is turned away from the generation of his wrath and has given them up.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 12:7
I have forsaken my house, I have cast off my heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
(See NAS RSV)

Jeremiah 49:25
How is the city of praise not forsaken, the city of my joy?
(See NIV)

Lamentations 2:7
The Lord has cast off his altar, he has abhorred his sanctuary; He has given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces: They have made a noise in the house of Yahweh, as in the day of a solemn assembly.
(See NAS NIV)

Hosea 4:10
They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned giving to Yahweh.
(WEB)

Zephaniah 2:4
For Gaza will be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation. They will drive out Ashdod at noonday, and Ekron will be rooted up.
(See NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Abandoned

Related Terms

Apostasy (6 Occurrences)

Repentance (28 Occurrences)

Apostate (5 Occurrences)

Abandoned (45 Occurrences)

Kenosis

Off (5363 Occurrences)

Departure (22 Occurrences)

Backsliding (19 Occurrences)