פִּדְיוֹם

פִּדְיוֹם

a ransom

Definition

פִּדְיוֹם refers to a ransom or redemption price, specifically a monetary payment made to secure the release of someone or something. In Exodus 21:30, it denotes the compensation a master must pay to save his ox from death if it kills someone, highlighting its use in legal contexts. In Numbers 3:49, it is the silver collected to redeem the firstborn Israelite males, emphasizing a substitutionary payment. Psalm 49:8 uses it metaphorically to speak of the priceless ransom for a person's life, which ultimately cannot be paid by wealth alone.

Biblical Usage

This word appears only three times in the Old Testament, each in distinct contexts. In Exodus 21:30, it is used in civil law regarding negligence. In Numbers 3:49, it appears in a religious setting for the redemption of the firstborn. In Psalm 49:8, it is employed in wisdom literature to reflect on human mortality and value. All instances involve a payment that averts a consequence—death, service, or captivity.

Etymology

Derived from the root פָּדָה (pādâ, H6299), meaning 'to redeem' or 'to ransom.' The noun form פִּדְיוֹם emphasizes the concrete price or means of redemption. Related forms include פִּדְיוֹן (pidyôn) and פִּדְיֹם (pidyôm), showing slight morphological variations. The root is part of a word family central to concepts of deliverance and substitution in the Hebrew Bible.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it underpins the concept of substitutionary atonement—a price paid to secure freedom. It points forward to the ultimate ransom provided by God, as echoed in passages like Mark 10:45. Understanding פִּדְיוֹם enriches reading by highlighting how physical payments in the Old Testament foreshadow spiritual redemption, emphasizing that deliverance often requires a costly exchange. In ancient Israelite culture, a ransom was a practical means to resolve liabilities, such as compensating for a life or redeeming a person from dedicated service. Unlike modern abstract ideas of redemption, פִּדְיוֹм often involved tangible silver or goods, reflecting an economy where value was concretely measured. This differs from today's more metaphorical use of 'ransom.' כֹּפֶר (kōpher, H3724) — a covering or atonement money, often for appeasement; גְּאֻלָּה (gĕʼullâ, H1353) — redemption by a kinsman, focusing on family duty and restoration.

Word Details