Redemption, in everyday life

The purchase of a person's freedom or the buying back of an object from the possession of another. Scripture provides illustrations of these everyday meanings of the word.

The OT redemption of property, animals and individuals

Redemption of property

Leviticus 25:24–28 See also Leviticus 27:15–20; Ruth 4:1–6; Jeremiah 32:8

Thus for every piece of property you possess, you must provide for the redemption of the land. If your brother becomes impoverished and sells some of his property, his nearest of kin may come and redeem what his brother has sold. Or if a man has no one to redeem it for him, but he prospers and acquires enough to redeem his land, he shall calculate the years since its sale, repay the balance to the man to whom he sold it, and return to his property. But if he cannot obtain enough to repay him, what he sold will remain in possession of the buyer until the Year of Jubilee. In the Jubilee, however, it is to be released, so that he may return to his property.

Redemption of animals

Exodus 13:13 See also Exodus 34:20; Leviticus 27:13, Leviticus 27:27; Numbers 18:14–17

You must redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb, and if you do not redeem it, you are to break its neck. And every firstborn of your sons you must redeem.

Redemption of individuals

Exodus 30:12–16 See also Exodus 13:12–13, Exodus 21:8, Exodus 21:28–32, Exodus 34:19–20; Leviticus 25:47–55; Numbers 3:44–51

“When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered. Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD. Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD. In making the offering to the LORD to atone for your lives, the rich shall not give more than a half shekel, nor shall the poor give less. Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD to make atonement for your lives.”

The redemption of the nation of Israel

Exodus 6:6 See also Deuteronomy 9:26; 2 Samuel 7:23–24 parallel 1 Chronicles 17:21–22; Nehemiah 1:10; Psalm 77:15, Psalm 78:35, Psalm 106:10; Isaiah 43:1–3; Micah 6:4

Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.

Redemption as release from sin

Psalm 130:8 See also Isaiah 40:2

And He will redeem Israel from all iniquity.

The role of the redeemer

In helping close relatives regain property or freedom

Leviticus 25:25 See also Leviticus 25:47–49, Leviticus 27:15–20; Ruth 2:20, Ruth 3:9, Ruth 4:1–8

If your brother becomes impoverished and sells some of his property, his nearest of kin may come and redeem what his brother has sold.

In avenging death

Numbers 35:12, Numbers 35:19–21