King James Bible Dictionary

REDEE'M, verb transitive [Latin redimo; red, re, and emo, to obtain or purchase.]

1. To purchase back; to ransom; to liberate or rescue from captivity or bondage, or from any obligation or liability to suffer or to be forfeited, by paying an equivalent; as, to redeem prisoners or captured goods; to redeem a pledge.

2. To repurchase what has been sold; to regain possession of a thing alienated, by repaying the value of it to the possessor.

If a man [shall] sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold.

Leviticus 25:25.

3. To rescue; to recover; to deliver from.

Th' Almighty from the grave hath me redeem'd.

Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles. Psalms 25:22. Deuteronomy 7:8.

The mass of earth not yet redeemed from chaos.

4. To compensate; to make amends for.

It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows.

By lesser ills the greater to redeem

5. To free by making atonement.

Thou hast one daughter who redeems nature from the general curse.

6. To pay the penalty of.

Which of you will be mortal to redeem man's mortal crime?

7. To save.

He could not have redeemed a portion of his time for contemplating the powers of nature.

8. To perform what has been promised; to make good by performance. He has redeemed his pledge or promise.

9. In law, to recall an estate, or to obtain the right to re-enter upon a mortgaged estate by paying to the mortgagee his principal, interest, and expenses or costs.

10. In theology, to rescue and deliver from the bondage of sin and the penalties of God's violated law, by obedience and suffering in the place of the sinner, or by doing and suffering that which is accepted in lieu of the sinner's obedience.

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. Galatians 3:13. Titus 2:14.

11. In commerce, to purchase or pay the value in specie, of any promissory note, bill or other evidence of debt, given by the state, by a company or corporation, or by an individual. The credit of a state, a banking company or individuals, is good when they can redeem all their stock, notes or bills, at par.

To redeem time, is to use more diligence in the improvement of it; to be diligent and active in duty and preparation. Ephesians 5:1.

REDEE'MABLE, adjective

1. That may be redeemed; capable of redemption.

2. That may be purchased or paid for in gold and silver, and brought into the possession of government or the original promiser.

The capital of the debt of the United States may be considered in the light of an annuity redeemable at the pleasure of the government.

REDEE'MABLENESS, noun The state of being redeemable.

REDEE'MED, participle passive Ransomed; delivered from bondage, distress, penalty, liability, or from the possession of another, by paying an equivalent.

Heb. goel; i.e., one charged with the duty of restoring the rights of another and avenging his wrongs (Leviticus 25:48, 49; Numbers 5:8; Ruth 4:1; Job 19:25; Psalms 19:14; 78:35, etc.). This title is peculiarly applied to Christ. He redeems us from all evil by the payment of a ransom (q.v.). (See REDEMPTION.)

REDEE'MER, noun

1. One who redeems or ransoms.

2. The Savior of the world, JESUS CHRIST.

REDEE'MING, participle present tense Ransoming; procuring deliverance from captivity, capture, bondage, sin, distress or liability to suffer, by the payment of an equivalent.