loss
Loss
Loss in Scripture takes many forms — death, exile, displacement, failed harvests, betrayal, the loss of God's sensed presence.
The Bible lets each loss speak (Job, Naomi, David, the exilic community) rather than rushing to silence the lament. Habakkuk's closing hymn (3:17–18) is the characteristic biblical posture: the fig tree fails, the harvest fails, and yet I will rejoice.
- 53Verses in the KJV
- 22Books of the 66
- 8Figures who met it
- 3Further reading
Across the canon
In the King James text (53 verses)
Every verse where Scripture speaks of loss, gathered by word. Quoted below: a spread across the whole canon, Old Testament and New — never more than two from any one book. The complete list is one click beneath them.
- Genesis 31:39
That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
Commentary on Genesis 31:392 voices
His piety also procured a blessing upon his master's effects that were under his hands. Note, Servants should take no less care of what they are entrusted with for their masters than if they were entitled to it as their own. He was very honest, and took none of that for his own eating which was not allowed him.
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
Nay, if there has been a neglect, yet it is unjust to punish above the proportion of the fault. That may be an inconsiderable damage to the master which would go near to ruin a poor servant. Those also are bad masters who deny to their servants that which is just and equal.
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
- Leviticus 6:3
Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:
Commentary on Leviticus 6:32 voices
Though all the instances relate to our neighbour, yet it is called a trespass against the Lord, because, though the injury be done immediately to our neighbour, yet an affront is thereby given to his Maker and our Master. He that speaks evil of his brother is said to speak evil of the law, and consequently of the Law-maker, Jam. iv.
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord--This law, the record of which should have been joined with the previous chapter, was given concerning things stolen, fraudulently gotten, or wrongfully kept. The offender was enjoined to make restitution of the articles to the rightful owner, along with a fifth part out of his own possessions.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871Reformed
- Deuteronomy 22:3
In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost thing of thy brother’s, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself.
Commentary on Deuteronomy 22:31 voice
The Jews say, "He that found the lost goods was to give public notice of them by the common crier three or four times," according to the usage with us; if the owner could not be found, he that found the goods might convert them to his own use; but (say some learned writers in this case) he would do very well to give the value of the goods to the poor.
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
- Psalms 119:176
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
Commentary on Psalms 119:1761 voice
Not only the sinner before conversion, but the believer after conversion, is unable to recover himself; but the latter, after temporary wandering, knows to whom to look for restoration.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871Reformed
- Isaiah 47:8
Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
Commentary on Isaiah 47:82 voices
Virgin - So, called, because she was tender and delicate. The empire is taken from thee, and translated to the Persians. Millstones - Thou shalt be brought to the basest slavery, which grinding at the mill was esteemed.
John Wesley (NT Notes)· Explanatory Notes upon the Bible, 1765Evangelical
It was the ruin of Jerusalem ( Lam. i. 9 ) that she remembered not her last end, therefore she came down wonderfully; and it was Babylon's ruin too. The children of men are easy, and think themselves safe, in their sinful ways, only because they never think of death, and judgment, and their future state.
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
- Lamentations 1:20
Behold, O Lord; for I am in distress: my bowels are troubled; mine heart is turned within me; for I have grievously rebelled: abroad the sword bereaveth, at home there is as death.
Commentary on Lamentations 1:201 voice
Is it nothing - The prophet speaks in the name of the Jewish church. Fire - A judgment as consuming, and afflictive as fire. Is bound - Put upon my neck on account of my transgressions.
John Wesley (NT Notes)· Explanatory Notes upon the Bible, 1765Evangelical
- Hosea 9:12
Though they bring up their children, yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: yea, woe also to them when I depart from them!
Commentary on Hosea 9:121 voice
In Gilgal, where all their wickedness is, there I hated them. There, where the abominations of sin are committed, there God abominates the sinners. In Gilgal he had bestowed many tokens of his favour upon their ancestors, but now that is the place where he hates them for their base ingratitude.
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
- Matthew 5:13
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Commentary on Matthew 5:132 voices
To understand what they have to do--they are to be governed by the moral law. Here is, (1.) A general ratification of the law, and a recommendation of it to us, as our rule,
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
Ye - Not the apostles, not ministers only; but all ye who are thus holy, are the salt of the earth - Are to season others.
John Wesley (NT Notes)· Explanatory Notes upon the Bible, 1765Evangelical
- Luke 14:34
Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Commentary on Luke 14:341 voice
If Christianity will not prevail to cure men of their worldliness and sensuality, if that remedy has been tried in vain, their ease must even be concluded desperate. [2.] It is of no use. It is not fit, as dung is, for the land, to manure that, nor will it be the better if it be laid in the dunghill to rot; there is nothing to be got out of it.
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
- Acts 27:21
But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
Commentary on Acts 27:211 voice
"The hardships which the crew endured during a gale of such continuance, and their exhaustion from laboring at the pumps and hunger, may be imagined, but are not described" [SMITH]. Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened to me, &c.--not meaning to reflect on them for the past, but to claim their confidence for what he was now to say:
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871Reformed
- 1 Corinthians 3:15
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:151 voice
His weakness and corruption will be the lessening of his glory, though he may in the general have been an honest and an upright Christian. This part of his work will be lost, turning no way to his advantage, though he himself may be saved. Observe, Those who hold the foundation of Christianity, though they build hay, wood, and stubble, upon it, may be saved.
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
- Philippians 3:7
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Commentary on Philippians 3:71 voice
"I should have reckoned myself an unspeakable loser of, to adhere to them, I had lost my interest in Jesus Christ." He counted them loss; not only insufficient to enrich him, but what would certainly impoverish and ruin him, if he trusted to them, in opposition to Christ.
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710Puritan
Show all 53 verses, book by book ▾
Genesis2
Exodus2
Leviticus1
Numbers1
1 Samuel2
1 Kings1
Ecclesiastes1
Ezekiel8
Hosea1
Mark1
Acts1
2 Corinthians1
Philippians1
Words searched, at word start, across the King James text: loss… · lost… · bereave…
Lives that met it (8)
Curated character profiles whose own account speaks of loss.
- JobSuffering Servant · PatriarchalJob was a blameless man who suffered catastrophic loss. His story explores suffering, divine justice, and faith that perseveres without answers.
- RehoboamFirst King of Judah · Divided Kingdom - JudahSolomon's son whose foolish response to the people caused the kingdom to split.
- Joash of Judah8th King of Judah · Divided KingdomThe child king hidden in the Temple who was crowned at age seven and repaired the Temple under the guidance of the priest Jehoiada. After Jehoiada's death he turned to idolatry and murdered Zechariah, Jehoiada's son, before being assassinated by his own servants.
- Zimri5th King of Israel · Divided KingdomThe fifth king of Israel who reigned for only seven days — the shortest recorded reign of any Israelite king. He assassinated Elah, but the army chose Omri instead, who marched on Tirzah. When Omri breached the city, Zimri burned the palace around himself and died.
- Jehu10th King of Israel · Divided KingdomAnointed by Elisha's messenger to destroy Ahab's house, Jehu executed Joram, Jezebel, all seventy sons of Ahab, and destroyed Baal worship in Israel. Yet he did not turn from the golden calves of Jeroboam, and his dynasty lasted four generations.
- Shallum15th King of Israel · Divided KingdomThe fifteenth king of Israel who assassinated Zechariah to take the throne but himself reigned for only one month before being killed by Menahem, making him one of the shortest-reigning kings in history.
- Pekahiah17th King of Israel · Divided KingdomThe seventeenth king of Israel who reigned only two years before being assassinated by his officer Pekah and fifty Gileadites in the citadel of the palace in Samaria.
- Pekah18th King of Israel · Divided KingdomThe eighteenth king of Israel who allied with Syria in the Syro-Ephraimite War against Judah. Isaiah prophesied their failure. He lost massive territory to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria and was finally assassinated by Hoshea.