λυτρόω
lytróō
G3084 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To release or set free by payment of a ransom; to liberate from captivity or bondage (literal or metaphorical) by means of a price or equivalent. In broader usage, to deliver, rescue, or liberate, often with the nuance of cost or exchange involved. Contextually, the word emphasizes the transaction or means by which release occurs, not merely the resultant freedom.
Semantic Range
to release by ransom, to liberate by payment, to deliver or rescue (with emphasis on the price paid), to redeem from slavery or captivity, to effect freedom through a price
Root / Etymology
From λύτρον (lytron, 'ransom, price of release'), itself derived from the verb λύω ('to loose, untie'). Thus, λυτρόω means 'to release by paying a ransom.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, λυτρόω is used with reference to the freeing of slaves, prisoners, or captives by paying a ransom or securing their release through legal or financial means. The concept was familiar in Greek and Hellenistic society, anchored in both economic and legal customs. In the Septuagint (LXX), λυτρόω often translates Hebrew גָּאַל (ga'al, "to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer") and פָּדָה (padah, "to ransom, buy out"), carrying both legal and familial connotations. In New Testament usage, λυτρόω maintains the sense of release by means of payment, but is frequently used metaphorically, especially in reference to deliverance from sin, bondage, or mortality—often without explicit reference to the agent or price paid, but presupposing a means of liberation. Standard English equivalents such as 'redeem' or 'ransom' can obscure the explicit nuance of a price or cost of liberation. Unlike related verbs ἐλευθερόω ('to free, set at liberty') and σῴζω ('to save, rescue'), λυτρόω centers on the cost or transactional element underpinning the act of release. Usage in Koine extends this sense into metaphoric realms, but the transactional background remains essential in understanding the verb's force.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from λύτρον; to ransom (literally or figuratively):--redeem.
Root Family
λυτρόω (lytroō) — to ransom, to liberate by payment, to redeem
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3084-02 |
λυτρώσηται | lutrosetai | V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG |
he might redeem | he might ransom for himself | he might redeem for himself | 1 |
G3084-03 |
λυτροῦσθαι | lutrousthai | V PRS MID INF |
to redeem | to ransom for oneself | to ransom for oneself | 1 |
G3084-01 |
ἐλυτρώθητε | elutrothete | V AOR PASS IND 2P PL |
you were redeemed | you were ransomed | you were redeemed | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3084-03 |
Luke 24:21 | λυτροῦσθαι | lutrousthai | V PRS MID INF |
to redeem | to ransom for oneself | to ransom for oneself |
G3084-02 |
Titus 2:14 | λυτρώσηται | lutrosetai | V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG |
he might redeem | he might ransom for himself | he might redeem for himself |
G3084-01 |
1 Peter 1:18 | ἐλυτρώθητε | elutrothete | V AOR PASS IND 2P PL |
you were redeemed | you were ransomed | you were redeemed |