Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the concept of "missing" can be explored through various themes such as lost individuals, missing items, or the spiritual state of being lost. The Bible provides numerous narratives and teachings that address these themes, often highlighting God's redemptive power and the importance of seeking what is lost.
Lost IndividualsOne of the most poignant examples of missing individuals in the Bible is the Parable of the Lost Sheep, found in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus tells this parable to illustrate God's concern for those who have gone astray: "What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?" (
Luke 15:4). This parable emphasizes God's relentless pursuit of those who are spiritually missing, underscoring His desire for their return to the fold.
Similarly, the Parable of the Prodigal Son (
Luke 15:11-32) depicts a son who becomes "missing" from his family by choosing a life of sin and separation. His eventual return and the father's joyous reception highlight the theme of redemption and forgiveness, illustrating the joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.
Missing ItemsThe Bible also addresses the theme of missing items, often using them as metaphors for spiritual truths. In the Parable of the Lost Coin, a woman loses one of her ten silver coins and diligently searches for it until she finds it. Jesus uses this account to convey the value of each soul: "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (
Luke 15:10).
Another example is found in the Old Testament, where the Ark of the Covenant goes missing after being captured by the Philistines (1 Samuel 4-6). The absence of the Ark, which symbolized God's presence among His people, serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of reverence for the divine.
Spiritual State of Being LostThe Bible frequently addresses the spiritual state of being lost or missing from God's intended path. In the Book of Isaiah, the prophet calls the people of Israel to return to God, highlighting their waywardness: "All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way" (
Isaiah 53:6). This verse underscores humanity's tendency to stray from God's will and the need for divine intervention.
Jesus' mission is often described in terms of seeking and saving the lost. In
Luke 19:10, He declares, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" . This mission reflects the heart of the Gospel, emphasizing the importance of reconciliation with God through Christ.
ConclusionThe theme of "missing" in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing lost individuals, missing items, and the spiritual state of being lost. Through parables, historical narratives, and prophetic calls, the Scriptures reveal God's deep concern for the lost and His desire for their restoration. The Bible consistently portrays God as a seeker of the missing, offering hope and redemption to all who return to Him.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Miss.
2. (v. i.) Absent from the place where it was expected to be found; lost; wanting; not present when called or looked for.
Greek
266. hamartia -- a sin, failure... failure. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: hamartia Phonetic Spelling:
(ham-ar-tee'-ah) Short Definition: a sin Definition: prop:
missing the mark
...255. alusiteles -- unprofitable
... derived from 1 "not" and 3089 , "to loose") -- properly, to hold together (cohere),
ie "not profitable because"; (figuratively)missing benefit because not...
3871. parakalupto -- to cover (by hanging something beside), to...
... 3871 (from 3844 , " close-beside" and 2572 , "hide") -- properly, hidden close-beside,
out of sight; due to someone "missing the forest because too close to...
264. hamartano -- to miss the mark, do wrong, sin
... due to . Like 266 , 264 () is regularly used in ancient times of an archer
missing the target (Homer, Aesch., etc). Every decision...
1818. exapatao -- to seduce wholly, deceive
... 1818 ("deceived into illusion") emphasizes the of deception -- iemissing
true reality because "biting on the that brings the !"....
Strong's Hebrew
5737c. adar -- to be lacking, fail... 5737b, 5737c. adar. 5738 . to be lacking, fail. Transliteration: adar Short
Definition:
missing. Word Origin a prim. root Definition
...6485. paqad -- to attend to, visit, muster, appoint
... root Definition to attend to, visit, muster, appoint NASB Word Usage am indeed
concerned (1), any reason (1), any reason he ismissing (1), appoint (12...
Library
"TwoMissing" --"Go Ye. "
... A Passion for Winning Men: The Motive-power of Service. (Mark vi:30-34.) "Two
Missing"""Go Ye.".... He looked again. Yes, two weremissing....
Missing the Master's Meaning.
... MoneyMissing the Master's Meaning. Christian men, generally, seem to have
missed the meaning of Jesus' words. I think it due largely...
August the Twenty-SixthMissing the Lord
... AUGUST The Twenty-sixthMISSING THE LORD. "Thou knowest not the time of thy
visitation." "Luke 19:37-44. Yes, that has been my sad experience....
March the Seventh ThingsMissing in Heaven
... MARCH The Seventh THINGSMISSING IN HEAVEN. REVELATION xxi.1-7. What a number of
"conspicuous absences" there are to be in "the home-land!". No more sea!...
TheMissing Stone.
... TheMissing Stone.... After admiring it for a time, he discovered that one stone was
missing. All finished but just one little stone; that was left out....
TheMissing Factor in Current Theories
... II THEMISSING FACTOR IN CURRENT THEORIES. But it is not so much in ignoring
Man that evolutionary philosophy has gone astray; for...
A Threefold Thought of Sin and Forgiveness
... of Bathsheba, was not only rebellion against God, but it was, according to this
text, in the second clause, 'a sin,' by which is meant literallymissing an aim...
Species, or Units of Nature.
... The blanket of oblivion, which Mr. Darwin and his friends spread over the difficulty,
is "millions of years." In that length of time themissing species, or...
To My Younger Brethren
... 5. Notation for Footnote 4, which ismissing in the original, has been supplied.
6. A word that ismissing at the beginning of Footnote...
{Transcriber's Note: this Book is Commonly Known as "The Baltimore...
... This e-text collection is substantially based on files generously provided by
http://www.catholic.net/ with somemissing material transcribed and added for...
Thesaurus
Missing (17 Occurrences)... wanting; not present when called or looked for. Multi-Version Concordance
Missing (17 Occurrences). Numbers 31:49 and they say unto Moses
...Perdition (14 Occurrences)
... "To be lost" in the religious sense may mean "to bemissing" and "to be ruined,"
The former meaning attaches to it in the teaching of Jesus, who compares the...
Miss (7 Occurrences)
... 11. (vi) To be absent, deficient, or wanting. 12. (n.) The act ofmissing; failure
to hit, reach, find, obtain, etc. 13. (n.) Loss; want; felt absence. 14....
Fourth (87 Occurrences)
... In 1875 Bensly published themissing fragment with an Introduction and critical
notes. In 1895 Bensly and James published a critical...
Mission (14 Occurrences)
Esdras
... The present writer suggests that themissing part is Nehemiah 8:13-10, which begins,
"And on the second day were gathered together (assembled) the heads of...
Javan (12 Occurrences)
... See HDB, II, 552b. (2) Place (Ezekiel 27:19); the name ismissing in Septuagint.
David Francis Roberts. Multi-Version Concordance Javan (12 Occurrences)....
Lost (85 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) Parted with unwillingly or unintentionally;
not to be found;missing; as, a lost book or sheep....
Library
... of the Deluge, however, by Mr. George Smith in 1873 led the proprietors of the Daily
Telegraph to send him to Nineveh in the hope that themissing portions of...
Wronging (6 Occurrences)
... I will meditate on your precepts. (See NIV). Proverbs 8:36 And whoso ismissing
me, is wronging his soul, All hating me have loved death! (YLT)....
Resources
The missing link'has it been found? | GotQuestions.orgWhy are the newer translations of the Bible missing verses? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are appropriate reasons for missing church? | GotQuestions.orgMissing: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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