The concept of a payment made to secure the release of a captive person or thing, or to atone for an offense, is a significant theme in the Old and New Testaments. It involves the act of paying a price to redeem or buy back someone or something from bondage, punishment, or death. For example, the Exodus narrative describes the Israelites being freed from slavery in Egypt, with the Passover lamb’s blood serving as a protective covering that spared them from the final plague. This deliverance can be interpreted as a form of redemption.
The significance of this principle lies in its representation of God’s justice and mercy. It underscores the idea that freedom from sin and its consequences requires a sacrifice. Throughout history, the theological interpretations have emphasized the restorative power inherent in the act of paying a price for release, highlighting themes of atonement, forgiveness, and reconciliation between humanity and the divine.
