Rid; Riddance
The Original Meaning of Rid
The English word "rid" in older Bible translations carries a meaning that has largely faded from modern usage. While we typically use "rid" today to mean "remove" or "dispose of," the word originally meant "rescue" or "deliver." This older sense is the primary meaning in several key biblical passages, though the word also appears in its more familiar sense of removal or clearing away.
Rid as Rescue and Deliverance
In Genesis 37:22, Reuben urged his brothers not to kill Joseph but to cast him into a pit, intending to "rid him out of their hands" — meaning to rescue him and return him to their father. This usage reveals Reuben's protective instinct and his plan to secretly save Joseph from the murderous intent of the other brothers.
Exodus 6:6 contains one of the most powerful uses of the word, where God promises Israel: "I will rid you out of their bondage." Here the word carries the full weight of divine deliverance — God Himself rescuing His people from Egyptian slavery. This promise is part of the great declaration of redemption that precedes the Exodus.
Psalm 82:4 calls upon rulers to "rid" the poor and needy from the hand of the wicked — to rescue and deliver the vulnerable from those who exploit them. Psalm 144:7 and 144:11 similarly use "rid" to mean rescue from dangerous enemies.
Riddance as Complete Removal
The related word "riddance" appears in two significant passages. In Leviticus 23:22, God commands that when harvesting, the Israelites should not make a complete riddance of the corners of their fields — they should leave some grain for the poor and the stranger. This law ensured that even the process of clearing a field left provision for the vulnerable.
Zephaniah 1:18 uses "riddance" in a more ominous context: God will make a "sudden riddance" of all who dwell in the land. Here the word shifts to its sense of thorough removal or destruction, describing the completeness of divine judgment against persistent unfaithfulness.
The Theological Arc
The dual meaning of "rid" in Scripture traces an important theological arc. God "rids" (rescues) His people from bondage and oppression, demonstrating His character as Savior and Deliverer. But He also "rids" (removes) wickedness and evil from among His people, demonstrating His holiness and justice. Both actions flow from the same divine nature: a God who loves His people enough to save them and who is holy enough to purge evil from their midst.
From Old Testament to New
The concept of divine riddance finds its fullest expression in the New Testament. Christ came to "rid" humanity from the bondage of sin — to deliver and rescue (Galatians 1:4; Colossians 1:13). At the same time, the final judgment will bring a complete "riddance" of evil from God's creation (Revelation 21:4, 27). The double meaning that runs through the Old Testament word reaches its climax in the gospel's dual promise of deliverance and purification.
Biblical Context
The word 'rid' appears in Genesis 37:22 (Reuben's plan to rescue Joseph), Exodus 6:6 (God's promise to deliver Israel), Psalm 82:4 and 144:7, 11 (calls for divine rescue), and Leviticus 26:6. 'Riddance' appears in Leviticus 23:22 (harvesting laws) and Zephaniah 1:18 (divine judgment). The concept spans from patriarchal narratives to prophetic warnings.
Theological Significance
The biblical use of 'rid' reveals God as both Deliverer and Judge. He rescues His people from bondage (the Exodus), demands provision for the vulnerable (gleaning laws), and promises to remove evil completely (prophetic judgment). These twin themes of rescue and removal converge in the gospel, where Christ delivers believers from sin's power and promises the ultimate removal of all evil.
Historical Background
The English word 'rid' comes from Old Norse 'rydhja,' meaning to clear or rescue. The KJV translators used it in its older sense, which was still current in early 17th-century English. The Hebrew words behind these translations include natsal (to rescue, deliver), kalah (to complete, finish), and garar (to sweep away). Understanding the etymological shift helps modern readers grasp the original force of these passages.