This term signifies “being set free, brought back.” God having smitten the firstborn of the Egyptians, claimed all the firstborn of Israel, and received the Levites instead of them; but there not being an equivalent number of the Levites, the residue of the firstborn were redeemed by money: they were thus set free (Num. 3:44-5144And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 45Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord. 46And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites; 47Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:) 48And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. 49And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites: 50Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary: 51And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses. (Numbers 3:44‑51)). So the land, or one who sold himself, could be redeemed (Lev. 25:23-24,47,5423The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. 24And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land. (Leviticus 25:23‑24)
47And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family: (Leviticus 25:47)
54And if he be not redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubilee, both he, and his children with him. (Leviticus 25:54)). The Israelites were redeemed out of Egypt by the mighty power of God (Ex. 15:1313Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. (Exodus 15:13)). From thence the subject rises to the redemption of the soul or life, forfeited because of sin. Man cannot give to God a ransom for his brother: for the redemption of the soul is precious, or costly, and it (that is, redemption) ceaseth, or must be given up, forever: that is, all thought of attempting to give a ransom must be relinquished—it is too costly (Psa. 49:7-87None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: 8(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) (Psalm 49:7‑8)).
In the New Testament there are two words translated “redemption,” embracing different thoughts. The one is λυτρόω, λὐτρωσις, ἀπολύτρωσις, “to loose, a loosing, a loosing away,” hence deliverance by a ransom paid, redeemed.
The other word is ἐξαγοράζω, “to buy as from the market.” Christ has redeemed believers from the curse of the law (Gal. 3:1313Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:13); Gal. 4:55To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:5)). Christians are exhorted to be “redeeming the time,” that is, buying or securing the opportunity (Eph. 5:1616Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:16); Col. 4:55Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. (Colossians 4:5)). A kindred word, ἀγοράςω, is translated in the AV “to buy,” except in Revelation 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9) and Revelation 14:3-43And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. (Revelation 14:3‑4), where it is rendered “redeem,” but would be better “buy.” The difference is important in such a passage as 2 Peter 2:11But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1), where it couldn’t be said “redeemed,” for those spoken of are such as deny Christ’s rights of purchase, and bring on themselves swift destruction though they had been “bought.” Christ “bought” all, but only believers are “redeemed.” Christians sometimes speak of “universal redemption” without really meaning it, because they do not observe the difference between “buying” and “redeeming.” Ephesians 1:1414Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14) embraces both thoughts: “the redemption of the purchased possession.”
Redemption is sometimes used in the sense of the right or title to redeem (Psa. 130:77Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. (Psalm 130:7); Rom. 3:2424Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24)); and this right God has righteously secured to Himself in Christ, and in virtue of it He presents Himself to man as a Justifier. Hence redemption was secured for God before man entered into the virtue of it. But believers have it now by faith, in the sense of forgiveness of sins, in Christ, where it is placed for God (Eph. 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)). And in result redemption will extend to the body (Rom. 8:2323And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23); Eph. 4:3030And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)). In application, the term redemption covers the power in which it is made effectual, as well as the ground or condition on which it is founded; this was set forth in type in the case of Israel.