Word studies · Greek · Strong's G629
ἀπολύτρωσις · apolýtrōsis · appears 10 times in the New Testament
In one line: Freedom purchased at a price, not simply given.
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
Ephesians 1:7
Apolytrōsis is release secured by payment — freedom bought, not merely granted.
Paul uses apolytrōsis for what God has accomplished in Christ: sinners released from guilt and captivity “through his blood.” The word also points forward — believers still await “the redemption of our bodies,” so redemption names both a finished purchase and a rescue not yet complete.
Apolytrōsis is built from apo, “away from,” and lytron, the ransom price paid to free a slave or prisoner of war. In the Greek world the compound described a release actually purchased, which is why the New Testament pairs it so naturally with the language of a price and of blood.
Modern “redeem” has drifted toward the merely figurative — redeeming a coupon, or a reputation. The Greek keeps the transaction concrete: someone was held, someone paid, and the held one walked out — which is why Scripture can say “you were bought with a price.”
Apolytrōsis (G629) appears only 10 times in the New Testament, and 8 of those are in Paul's letters.
Redemption insists that freedom from sin cost something rather than being waved through. It also frames the Christian life as belonging to a new owner: released from one master, the redeemed are now “not your own,” which turns liberty into loyalty rather than autonomy.
Live today as someone bought back rather than someone getting away with it. Name one habit you keep returning to, and treat it as territory already purchased by Christ rather than as ground you still owe.
(the act) ransom in full, i.e. (figuratively) riddance, or (specially) Christian salvation
When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
Luke 21:28and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:24It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:30in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Colossians 1:14Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Hebrews 9:15Press and hold redemption in any chapter and this study opens on the verse you are reading, with the lexicons, every occurrence and the commentaries beside it. The Bible is free to read.
Scripture quoted from the Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Strong's definitions are public domain. Counts come from The Pillar's own tagged text.