Ransom
“Covering, atonement price”
Summary
A ransom is a price paid to secure freedom from captivity or liability, applied supremely to Christ who gave His life as a ransom for many.
☩Old Testament Background
The Hebrew word kopher, meaning "covering" or "atonement," is translated "ransom" in several passages. It refers to a price paid to recover a person or thing from captivity or to substitute for a forfeited life. In Exodus 21:30, a ransom could be paid for the life of a man whose ox had killed someone. The half-shekel poll tax paid by every Israelite was called "atonement money" and served as a ransom for their souls. Significantly, Psalm 49:7-8 declares that no man can by any means redeem his brother or give to God a ransom for him, for the redemption of the soul is too costly.
☩Christ as Ransom
Jesus declared that the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. The Greek word lutron denotes a price paid to secure freedom, particularly for slaves or prisoners. Paul expands this in 1 Timothy 2:6, using the intensified form antilutron: Christ Jesus "gave himself a ransom for all." The ransom price was not silver or gold but the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish. This ransom effects deliverance from the bondage of sin and its penalty.
☩Theological Significance
The ransom terminology teaches that humanity was enslaved to sin and unable to secure its own freedom. Christ's death was not merely exemplary but substitutionary, paying what humanity owed but could never pay. The word "for" (anti in Greek) indicates exchange or substitution: His life for ours. The ransom was paid to God's justice, not to Satan, satisfying the righteous demands of God's law broken by human sin. Through this ransom, believers receive redemption, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of God's grace.
Related Verses17 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Ransom," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Ransom," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Ransom," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Ransom," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 5.George Morrish, "Ransom," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 6.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Ransom," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).