ἀπολύτρωσις
Redemption
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What does ἀπολύτρωσις (apolýtrōsis) mean in the Bible?
ἀπολύτρωσις (apolýtrōsis) is a Greek word meaning "redemption". ἀπο-λύτρωσις, -εως, ἡ (ἀπολυτρόω, to release on payment of ransom, cf. It highlights the costly deliverance accomplished by Christ. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah, Redemption.
Full entry for ἀπολύτρωσις (G629) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
Deliverance from sin and evil through Christ's ransom payment, not merely release or forgiveness alone.
(ἀπολυτρόω, to release on payment of ransom, cf. λύτρον), [in LXX: Da (LXX) Dan.4:30 with * ;] release effected by payment of ransom, redemption, deliverance; metaphorically, Heb.11:35; of deliverance thr. Christ from evil and the consequences of sin: Luk.21:28, Rom.3:24 (Vau., in l) 8:23, 1Co.1:30, Eph.1:7, 14 4:30, Col.1:14, Heb.9:15. (On the extent to WH. the word retains the sense of ransom, see ICC, Rom.3:24, Westc., He., 297 ff.; see also ICC, Eph., 11; DCG, ii, 605; Cremer, 410; Deiss., LAE, 331; Lft., Notes, 271, 316; Tr., Syn., § 77.)
Why This Word Matters
It highlights the costly deliverance accomplished by Christ. Colossians 1:9–14
Refers to the future redemption of the body promised to believers. Luke 21:25–28
Refers to final deliverance secured by Christ. Romans 3:21-26
Highlights the substitutionary and liberating nature of Christ’s saving work. Romans 8:18-27
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
New Testament Witnesses
Additional Occurrences
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain