ἀρρᾰβών G0728
deposit, down payment, guarantee; first installment ensuring full payment to come
This noun signifies a deposit or earnest money that guarantees future full payment. Paul uses it exclusively in a spiritual sense: God has given believers the Spirit as 'a deposit' guaranteeing our inheritance (Eph 1:14), as 'earnest' of what is to come (2 Cor 1:22; 5:5). The commercial term from Semitic business practice becomes a powerful theological metaphor. The Spirit's present indwelling is both proof of ownership and advance installment of future resurrection glory. What we experience now is the down payment on full redemption.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Exclusively Pauline, describing the Holy Spirit as God's guarantee of future inheritance. Second Corinthians 1:22 and 5:5 speak of God giving 'the deposit' (ἀρραβῶνα) of the Spirit in our hearts—earnest money ensuring complete redemption. Ephesians 1:14 calls the Spirit 'the guarantee' (ἀρραβὼν) of our inheritance until God's possession is redeemed. The commercial background (Semitic loanword, Hebrew 'ērābōn') enriches Paul's theology: present Spirit = down payment on future glory. Spanish 'arras,' French 'arrhes,' German 'Unterpfand' (pledge) preserve the commercial guarantee concept. 3×
AR["عُربونَ", "عُربونُ"]·ben["বায়না"]·DE["Unterpfand"]·EN["guarantee", "pledge"]·FR["arrhes", "ἀρραβὼν"]·heb["עֵרָבוֹן"]·HI["बयन", "बयाना"]·ID["jaminan"]·IT["arrabōn", "caparra"]·jav["jaminan", "tanggel", "tanggungan"]·KO["보증", "보증금", "보증을"]·PT["penhor"]·RU["залог"]·ES["anticipo", "arras"]·SW["dhamana"]·TR["kaparo-", "o-", "teminat"]·urd["بیعانہ"]
Related Senses
H5414 1. give, bestow (1855×)H3947 1. take, seize, grasp (Qal) (940×)G2192 1. possess / have (680×)G1325 1. give, bestow (336×)H5159 1. inherited land or property (170×)G2983 1. receive, obtain (134×)H3423 1. Qal: take possession of land (130×)G2983 2. take, take up (113×)G2398 1. one's own, belonging to oneself (91×)G3860 1. hand over, deliver to custody (78×)H7998 1. spoil, plunder, booty (74×)G1325 2. be given, be granted (70×)H5414 2. put, place, set (68×)H7999a 1. pay, repay, recompense (63×)H7069 1. Buy, purchase (59×)H1892 1. vanity, futility, absurdity (58×)H5159 2. heritage as covenant portion (52×)H6299 1. redeem or ransom (Qal active) (49×)H4376 1. Sell (Qal active) (47×)H1350a 1. Redeem, buy back (46×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀρρᾰβών, ῶνος, ὁ, earnest-money, caution-money, deposited by the purchaser and forfeited if the purchase is not completed, ἀ. δοῦναί τινοςRefs 4th c.BC+: plural, deposits required from public contractors, Refs __2 generally, pledge, earnest, τὴν τέχνην ἔχοντες ἀ. τοῦ ζῆνNT+4th c.BC+ __3 present, bribe, Refs 1st c.AD+. (Semitic, probably Phoenician, word, Hebrew 'ērābōn: frequently written ἀραβών, NT+2nd c.BC+ __II ἀρραβών· πρόδομα, καὶ ἄγκιστρον, Refs 5th c.AD+