Lexical Summary obdan: Destruction, ruin, loss Original Word: אָבְדָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance destruction From 'abad; a perishing -- destruction. see HEBREW 'abad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as abdan, q.v. Topical Lexicon Destruction in the Hebrew Mindset אָבְדָן speaks of utter ruin, the kind of loss from which recovery is humanly impossible. The root idea is not momentary damage but complete annihilation—lives, property, heritage wiped away. Because Scripture views human life as a stewardship under God, the thought of such irreversible loss carries moral weight: destruction is never merely a tragic accident but a violation of the created order that calls for divine response. Context in the Book of Esther The single occurrence appears on Esther’s lips as she pleads with King Ahasuerus: “How could I bear to see the disaster that would befall my people? How could I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” (Esther 8:6). In the storyline, Haman’s irrevocable decree has placed every Jew in the empire under sentence of death. Esther uses אָבְדָן to name the horrifying end that awaits if the edict stands. The word crystallizes the stakes of her intercession: either God overturns the decree, or covenant people face total eradication. Theological Dimensions 1. Covenant Faithfulness. To speak of Israel’s destruction is to question whether God’s promises can fail (Genesis 12:2–3; Jeremiah 31:35–37). Esther’s prayerful appeal therefore becomes an appeal to God’s steadfast love underlying those promises. Intercessory Concern and Ministry Implications Esther’s question—“How could I bear…?”—models the Christ-like heart that feels another’s peril as its own. The church is called to carry such burdens (Galatians 6:2), standing in the gap for peoples threatened by spiritual or physical ruin. Her example encourages: Prophetic and Eschatological Echoes Across Scripture the ultimate alternative to destruction is salvation in the Day of the Lord (Joel 2:32; Zephaniah 3:17). Esther’s deliverance foreshadows the final rescue when God’s enemies are overthrown and every decree of death is overturned (Revelation 20:14). The word אָבְדָן thus becomes a marker of the cosmic conflict between death and life. Christological Perspective Jesus Christ confronts humanity’s deepest אָבְדָן—eternal separation from God—and overcomes it at the cross. He identifies with Esther’s question on a grand scale: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). By taking destruction upon Himself, He secures an irreversible salvation (Hebrews 7:25). Practical Application for the Church Today • Keep watch against cultural “edicts” that devalue life or suppress gospel witness; respond with truth and sacrificial love. Forms and Transliterations בְּאָבְדַ֖ן באבדן bə’āḇəḏan bə·’ā·ḇə·ḏan beaveDanLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Esther 8:6 HEB: אוּכַל֙ וְֽרָאִ֔יתִי בְּאָבְדַ֖ן מוֹלַדְתִּֽי׃ ס KJV: to see the destruction of my kindred? INT: endure to see the destruction begotten 1 Occurrence |
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