H1350a H1350a
To redeem or act as kinsman; as participle: kinsman-redeemer, divine Redeemer, or avenger of blood — covering legal, theological, and judicial redemption.
Few Hebrew words carry as much legal, familial, and theological freight as גָּאַל. At its foundation lies the duty of the nearest kinsman (the gō'ēl) to buy back family property, redeem a relative from slavery, or marry a deceased brother's widow — vividly dramatized in the book of Ruth, where Boaz fulfills this role for Naomi's family. The same root ascends to become one of Scripture's great divine titles: God as Israel's Redeemer, especially in Isaiah 40-63, where the exodus from Babylon is cast as a new act of gō'ēl redemption. In a starkly different register, the gō'ēl haddām ('avenger of blood') of Numbers 35 pursues justice for a murdered kinsman. Spanish splits along similar lines — 'redimir' for the transactional sense, 'Redentor' for the divine title, and 'vengador' for the avenger — while Arabic uses فَدَى (ransom) and ثَأَرَ (avenge) to mark the same distinctions.
1. Redeem, buy back — Qal active finite forms: to redeem, ransom, or buy back — the core transactional sense covering the redemption of property, persons from servitude, or pledged items. Leviticus 25 lays out the legal framework: a kinsman 'redeems' a field that has been sold (Lev 25:25), or a person sold into bondage (Lev 25:48). God 'redeems' Israel from Egypt (Exod 6:6; 15:13). Spanish 'redimir,' French 'racheter,' German 'erlösen,' and Arabic فَدَى all converge on this buy-back meaning. With 46 occurrences, this is the most frequent sense. 46×
AR["(أَنْ-أَفْدِيَ-)","أَنْ-أَفْدِيَ","فَدَى","فَدَيْتَ","فَدَيْتُكَ","فِكَاكًا","لِ-يَفْدِيَ","يَفْتَكِي","يَفْدِي","يَفْدِيهِ"]·ben["(মুক্ত-করতে-)","তুমি-মুক্ত-করেছিলে","মুক্ত-করতে","মুক্ত-করতে-মুক্তকারী","মুক্ত-করবে-তাকে,","মুক্ত-করবে-তাকে;","মুক্ত-করবে-তাকে।","মুক্ত-করে","মুক্ত-করেছি-তোমাকে","মুক্ত-করেছেন"]·DE["Erloeser","du-erlöst","er-redeems","erloeste","moege-erloesen-ihn","redeeming","redeems","zu-loesen"]·EN["I-have-redeemed-you","You-redeemed","has-redeemed","he-has-redeemed","he-redeems","may-redeem-him","redeeming","redeems","to-redeem"]·FR["il-rachète","pourra-racheter-lui","rachetant","racheter","rachète","rédempteur","à-racheter"]·heb["גאל","גאלת","גאלתיך","יגאל","יגאלנו","ל-גאול"]·HI["छुड़ाए","छुड़ाएगा","छुड़ाएगा उसे","छुड़ाना","छुड़ाने","छुड़ाने-","छुड़ाया","छुड़ाया-मैंने-तुझे","छुड़ाया-है"]·ID["Aku-telah-menebus-engkau","Dia-menebus","Engkau-tebus","TUHAN-telah-menebus","Telah-menebus","[obj]","akan-menebus","dari-kaumnya","dari-persepuluhannya","ditebus","ia-menebus","menebus","menebus-","saudara-saudaranya","seseorang-menebus","untuk-menebus"]·IT["a-riscattare","egli-redeems","possa-redimere-lui","redeems","redentore","riscatto","riscatto'"]·jav["(kangge-nebus-)","Ingsun-sampun-nebus-panjenengan","Panjenengan-sampun-nebus","Sampun-nebus","bok-nebus","bok-nebus-piyambakipun","bok-nebus-piyambakipun.","kangge-nebus","nebus","sampun-nebus"]·KO["(무르기를-)","구속하셨나이다","구속하셨느니라","구속하셨다","내가-구속하였느니라-너를","무르기를","무르는-것으로","무른다면","무를","무를-것이다-그를"]·PT["Redimiu","o-resgatará","para-resgatar","que-remiste","redimi-te","redimiu","resgatar"]·RU["выкупая","выкупит","выкупит-его","выкупить","искупил","искупил-Ты","искупил-Я-тебя"]·ES["de-cierto","lo-redimirá","para-redimir","redime","redimiere","redimir","redimiste","redimió","te-redimí"]·SW["amekomboa","amemkomboa","atakomboa","atamkomboa","kukomboa","nimekukomboa","ulikomboa"]·TR["(kurtarmak-)","geri-alacak","geri-alacak-onu","geri-alım-","geri-alırsa","kurtardi","kurtardim-seni","kurtardın","kurtarmak","kurtarmak-için"]·urd["تُو-نے-چھڑایا","فدیہ-دینا","فدیہ-دینے-کو","میں-نے-تجھے-فدیہ-دیا","میں-نے-تجھے-چھڑایا","چھڑائے","چھڑائے-گا-اُسے","چھڑانا","چھڑایا","چھڑایا-ہے"]
Exod 6:6, Exod 15:13, Lev 25:25, Lev 25:33, Lev 25:48, Lev 25:49, Lev 25:49, Lev 27:13, Lev 27:13, Lev 27:15, Lev 27:19, Lev 27:19 (+34 more)
▼ 5 more senses below
Senses
2. Divine Redeemer (title) — Qal substantivized participle as a divine epithet: God (especially YHWH) as Israel's Redeemer. Concentrated in Isaiah 41-63, where it appears with possessive suffixes — 'your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel' (Isa 41:14; 43:14; 44:24; 48:17; 54:5). Also in Job 19:25 ('I know that my Redeemer lives') and Psalms (19:14; 78:35; 103:4). Spanish 'Redentor,' French 'Rédempteur,' and German 'Erlöser' serve as exact equivalents. This sense transcends the legal-kinsman framework and enters the theological realm of salvation and covenant faithfulness. 20×
AR["الفاديَ","الْفَادِي","فَادٍ","فَادِي","فَادِيكَ","فَادِيكُمْ","فَادِيكِ","فَادِينَا","فَادِيهِمْ","فَادِيَّ","وَ-فَادِيكِ","وَفَادِيكِ","وَفَادِيهِ","وَفَادِيَّ","وَلِيَّهُمْ","وَلِيُّهُمْ"]·ben["-আমাদের-মুক্তিদাতা","-এবং-তোমার-মুক্তিদাতা","-তোমার-মুক্তিদাতা","আমাদের-মুক্তিদাতা","আমার-মুক্তিদাতা","এবং-আমার-মুক্তিদাতা","এবং-তার-মুক্তিদাতা","এবং-তোমার-মুক্তিদাতা","তাদের-মুক্তিদাতা","তোমাদের-মুক্তিদাতা","তোমার-মুক্তিদাতা","মুক্তিদাতা","যিনি-মুক্ত-করছেন","যিনি-মুক্ত-করেন"]·DE["Erloeser","der-erlöst","der-mich-erlöst-hat","erloeste","ihr-redeemer","mein-Loeser","und-Erloeser","und-mein-redeemer"]·EN["Our-Redeemer","Redeemer-of","a-Redeemer","and-his-Redeemer","and-my-redeemer","and-your-Redeemer","my-Redeemer","our-Redeemer","the-redeeming","their-Redeemer","their-redeemer","who-redeems","your-Redeemer"]·FR["et-racheter","et-rédempteur","le-racheter","le-redeeming","racheter","racheter-eux","racheter-moi","rédempteur"]·heb["גואל","גואלי","גואלך","גואלכם","גואלם","גואלנו","ה-גאל","ה-גואל","ו-גואלו","ו-גואלי","ו-גואלך"]·HI["उनका-छुड़ाने-वाला","उनका-छुड़ानेवाला","और-छुड़ाने-वाला-उसका","और-छुड़ाने-वाला-तेरा","और-तेरा-छुड़ाने-वाला","और-तेरा-छुड़ानेवाला","और-मेरे-छुड़ानेवाले","छुड़ाने-वाला","छुड़ाने-वाला-तेरा","छुड़ाने-वाला-हमारा","छुड़ाने-वाले-तुम्हारे","छुड़ानेवाला","छुड़ानेवाला-उनका","जो-छुड़ाता-है","तेरा-छुड़ानेवाला","तेरे-छुड़ाने-वाले","मेरा-छुड़ाने-वाला","हमारा-छुड़ाने-वाला"]·ID["Penebus","Penebus-kami","Penebus-kita","Penebus-mereka","Penebus-mu","Penebusmu","dan-Penebus-Nya","dan-Penebus-mu","dan-Penebusmu","dan-penebusaku","penebus-mereka","penebusKu","yang-menebus"]·IT["e-il-mio-redentore","e-redentore","il-redeeming","loro-redeemer-loro","mio-Redeemer-mio","redentore","riscatto'"]·jav["Ingkang-nebus","Juru-tebus","Juru-tebus-ipun","Juru-tebus-kawula","Juru-tebus-kita","Juru-tebus-panjenengan","Jurusalametipun","Panebus","ingkang-nebus","lan-Juru-tebus-panjenengan","lan-Juru-tebusipun","saha-Juru-Tebus-kula"]·KO["구속자","구속자가","구속자가-그들의","구속자는-그들-의","구원하시는-이-가","구원하신","그들-의-구속자","그리고-구속자여","그리고-그의-구속자","그리고-너의-구속자","그리고-너의-구속자는","그리고-너의-구속자이다","그리고-네-구속자는","나의-구속자가","너의-구속자","너희의-구속자","네-구속자","우리의-구속자십니다","우리의-구속자의"]·PT["Nosso-Redentor","O-que-resgata","Redentor-de","Seu-Redentor","e-meu-redentor","e-redentor-dele","e-redentor-teu","e-teu-Redentor","meu-Redentor","o-que-resgata","redentor","redentor-deles","redentor-nosso","redentor-teu","redentor-vosso","seu-Redentor","teu-Redentor"]·RU["Избавитель-ваш","Избавитель-их","Избавитель-мой","Избавитель-твой","Избавляющий","Искупитель","Искупитель-наш","Искупитель-твой","и-Избавитель-его","и-Избавитель-твой","и-Искупитель-твой","и-избавитель-мой","избавляющий","искупитель-их"]·ES["El-que-rescata","Nuestro-redentor","Redentor","el-que-redime","mi-Redentor","nuestro-Redentor","redentor-de","redentor-de-ellos","su-Redentor","su-redentor","tu-redentor","y-mi-redentor","y-su-redentor","y-tu-Redentor","y-tu-redentor"]·SW["Mkombozi","Mkombozi-wako","Mkombozi-wangu","Mkombozi-wao","Mkombozi-wenu","Mkombozi-wetu","anayekomboa","mkombozi","mkombozi-wao","mkombozi-wetu","na-Mkombozi-wake","na-Mkombozi-wako","na-mkombozi-wako","na-mkombozi-wangu"]·TR["-kurtaran","Kurtarcım","Kurtarici","Kurtaricimiz","Kurtaricin","Kurtariciniz","Kurtaricisi-","kurtaran","kurtaranıdır","kurtarıcıları","kurtulucusu","ve-Fidyecin","ve-Kurtaricin","ve-Kurtaricisi","ve-Kurtarıcım","ve-kurtaricin"]·urd["اور-اُس-کا-فدیہ-دینے-والا","اور-تیرا-فدیہ-دینے-والا","اور-تیرا-چھڑانے-والا","اور-میرے-چھڑانے-والے","اُن-کا-چھڑانے-والا","تمہارا-فدیہ-دینے-والا","تیرا-فدیہ-دینے-والا","تیرا-چھڑانے-والا","فدیہ-دینے-والا","فدیہ-دینے-والا-اُن-کا","چھڑانے-والا","چھڑانے-والا-میرا","ہمارا-فدیہ-دینے-والا","ہمارا-چھڑانے-والا"]
3. Avenger of blood — Qal substantivized participle in the collocation gō'ēl haddām (גֹּאֵל הַדָּם): the avenger of blood, the kinsman who pursues and executes the manslayer. Concentrated in Numbers 35:12-27 and Joshua 20:2-9, where cities of refuge protect the unintentional killer from the avenger. Spanish 'vengador de sangre,' French 'vengeur du sang,' and Arabic ثَأَرُ الدَّم clearly distinguish this judicial-retributive function from redemption or divine deliverance. A legally defined role in Israel's justice system. 13×
AR["مِنَ-الْوَلِيِّ","مِنْ-وَلِيِّ","وَليِّ-","وَلِيُّ","وَلِيُّ-الدَّمِ","وَلِيِّ","وَلِيِّ-الدَّمِ"]·ben["থেকে-সেই-প্রতিশোধকারী","প্রতিশোধক","প্রতিশোধকারী","প্রতিশোধকারীর","প্রতিশোধকারীর-থেকে","প্রতিশোধকের"]·DE["Raecher-von","avenger-von","von-Raecher-von","von-der-Raecher"]·EN["avenger-of","from-avenger-of","from-the-avenger"]·FR["avenger-de","de-avenger-de","de-le-avenger"]·heb["גאל","גואל","מ-גאל","מ-גואל"]·HI["छुड़ाने-वाला","छुड़ाने-वाले-के","बदला-लेने-वाला","बदला-लेने-वाले","लहू-का-बदला-लेने-वाला","लहू-का-बदला-लेने-वाले","लहू-के-छुड़ाने-वाले","से-बदला-लेने-वाले","से-लहू-का-बदला-लेने-वाले"]·ID["Penebus","dari-pembalas","dari-penebus","pembalas","penebus"]·IT["avenger-di","da-avenger-di","da-il-vendicatore","vendicatore-di"]·jav["Pemales","juru-wales","males-getih","pemales","saking-pemales","saking-tukang-males-getih","tukang-males-getih"]·KO["기업을-무르는-자가","보복자","보복자-에서","보복하는-자로부터-","복수하는-자","복수하는-자가","복수하는-자의"]·PT["Vingador-de","de-vingador","de-vingador-de","vingador-de"]·RU["мстителем","мститель","мстителя","от-мстителя"]·ES["Vengador-de","del-vengador","del-vengador-de","el-vengador-de","vengador-de"]·SW["Mlipiza-kisasi-wa","kutoka-kwa-mlipiza-kisasi","kutoka-mlipiza-kisasi-wa","mlipiza-kisasi-wa","mlipizaji"]·TR["-dan-kan-öcünden","-den-intikam-alanı","fidyecisinin","intikam-alanı","intikam-alanının","öc-alanı","öc-alanının"]·urd["انتقام-لینے-والا","انتقام-لینے-والے","انتقام-لینے-والے-سے","بدلہ-لینے-والا","بدلہ-لینے-والے","بدلہ-لینے-والے-نے","سے-بدلہ-لینے-والے","ولی"]
4. Kinsman-redeemer — Qal substantivized participle: the gō'ēl as kinsman-redeemer, the near relative with the legal right and duty to redeem property, marry a kinsman's widow, or protect family interests. The book of Ruth is the paradigmatic text: Boaz identifies himself as a gō'ēl (Ruth 3:9, 12) and negotiates with a closer kinsman (Ruth 4:1-6) before formally redeeming Naomi's land and taking Ruth as wife. Spanish 'redentor/pariente redentor,' French 'rédempteur,' and German 'Löser' reflect this social-legal institution. Distinguished from sense 1 (the act) by focusing on the person and role rather than the transaction. 13×
AR["الْوَلِيُّ","فَادٍ","فَادِيهِ","لِلْوَلِيِّ","مِنْ-وَلِيِّنَا","وَ-فَادِيهِ","وَلِيًّا","وَلِيٌّ"]·ben["আমাদের-মুক্তিদাতাদের-মধ্যে","এবং-তার-আত্মীয়দের","তার-মুক্তিদাতা","মুক্তিদাতা","মুক্তিদাতা,","সেই-মুক্তিদাতা","সেই-মুক্তিদাতাকে"]·DE["Loeser","der-Loeser","ein-redeemer","erloeste","redeemer","sein-redeemer","und-sein-kinsmen","zu-loesen"]·EN["a-redeemer","and-his-kinsmen","from-our-redeemers","his-redeemer","redeemer","the-redeemer","to-the-redeemer"]·FR["de-notre-redeemers","et-son-kinsmen","le-rédempteur","redeemer","son-redeemer","un-rédempteur","à-le-rédempteur"]·heb["גאל","גאלו","גואל","ה-גואל","ו-גואליו","ל-גואל","מ-גואלינו"]·HI["उसका-छुड़ाने-वाला","और-छुड़ानेवालों-उस-के","छुड़ाने-वाला","छुड़ानेवाला","छुड़ानेवाले","छुड़ानेवाले-से","छुड़ानेवालों-से"]·ID["dan-penebus-darahnya","dari-penebus-penebus-kita","kepada-penebus-itu","penebus","penebus-itu","penebusnya","seorang-penebus"]·IT["a-il-redeemer","da-nostro-redeemers","e-suo-kinsmen","il-redeemer","redeemer","suo-redeemer","un-redeemer"]·jav["dhateng-kang-panebus","juru-tebus","kang-panebus","lan-para-sanak-kadangipun","panebus","panebus-ipun","saking-kang-nebus"]·KO["그-기업-무르는-자가","그리고-그의-기업-보복자들과","그의-무른-자가","기업-무르는-자가","기업-무르는-자라","기업-무르는-자를","기업-무르는-자입니다","무르는-자","무른-자가","에게-그-기업-무르는-자에게","우리의-기업-무르는-자들-중에"]·PT["ao-redentor","de-nossos-redentores","e-seus-redentores","o-redentor","redentor","resgatador","seu-resgatador"]·RU["выкупающего","выкупающий-его","выкупителя","и-родственников-его","из-искупителей-наших","искупитель","искупителю"]·ES["al-redentor","de-nuestros-redentores","el-redentor","ni-sus-vengadores","redentor","su-redentor"]·SW["Gal","bila-mkombozi","kwa-mkombozi","mkombozi","mkombozi-wake","mkombozi-wetu","na-waokozi-wake"]·TR["-kurtarıcı","-kurtarıcıya","geri-alıcı","geri-alıcısı","kurtaranı","kurtarıcı","kurtarıcılarımızdan-","ve-kan-akrabalarını"]·urd["اور-اُس-کے-خون-کا-بدلہ-لینے-والے","فدیہ-دینے-والا","فدیہ-دینے-والے-سے","فدیہ-دینے-والے-نے","ولی","چھڑانے-والا","چھڑانے-والا-اُس-کا","ہمارے-فدیہ-دینے-والوں-سے"]
5. Be redeemed (Nifal passive) — Niphal passive: to be redeemed or bought back, said of property or persons who are the object of redemption. Levitical legislation specifies when houses, fields, and persons 'shall be redeemed' or 'are not redeemed' (Lev 25:30, 49, 54; 27:20, 27, 28, 33). Spanish 'ser redimido,' French 'être racheté,' and German 'erlöst werden' confirm the passive voice. A grammatically and semantically distinct sense — the property or person is the subject, not the kinsman. 8×
AR["تُفْدَوْنَ","وَيَفْتَدِي","يُفْتَكَى","يُفْدَى"]·ben["এবং-মুক্ত-হবে।","তোমরা-মুক্ত-হবে","মুক্ত-করা-হয়","মুক্ত-হবে","মুক্ত-হবে;","মুক্ত-হবে।","মুক্ত-হয়","মুক্ত-হয়,"]·DE["Erloeser","er-ist-erloeste","es-ist-erloeste","es-soll-sein-erloeste","und-er-ist-erloeste"]·EN["and-he-is-redeemed","he-is-redeemed","it-is-redeemed","it-shall-be-redeemed","you-will-be-redeemed"]·FR["cela-devra-être-racheta","cela-est-racheta","et-il-est-racheta","il-est-racheta","rédempteur"]·heb["ו-נגאל","יגאל","תיגאלו"]·HI["और-छुड़ाया जाए","चाँदीके","छुड़ाया जाए","छुड़ाया जाएगा"]·ID["ditebus","ia-ditebus","kamu-akan-ditebus","lagi","setiap","tangannya-menjangkau"]·IT["e-egli-e-redense","egli-e-redense","esso-dovra-essere-redense","esso-e-redense","redentore"]·jav["dipun-tebus","dipun-tebus.","dipun-tebus;","lan-dipun-tebus.","panjenengan-badhé-dipuntebus"]·KO["구속받으리라","그리고-무른다면","무른다","무른다면"]·PT["e-será-resgatado","for-resgatada","for-resgatado","sereis-redimidos","será-resgatado"]·RU["будет-выкуплен","будете-искуплены","выкупаться-будет","выкупится","и-выкупится"]·ES["es-redimida","es-redimido","fuere-redimido","será-redimido","seréis-redimidos","y-se-redimirá"]·SW["atakombolewa","itakombolewa","mtakombolewa","na-atajikomboa"]·TR["geri-alınacak","geri-alınırsa","kurtulacaksiniz","ve-geri-alınacak"]·urd["اور-چھڑایا-جائے","چھڑائی-جائے-گی","چھڑائے-جاؤ-گے","چھڑایا-جائے","چھڑایا-جائے-گا"]
6. The redeemed (passive participle) — Qal passive participle substantivized: 'the redeemed ones,' those whom God has redeemed from exile, oppression, or death. Isaiah uses this as a collective designation for the returning exiles — 'the redeemed of the LORD shall return' (Isa 35:9; 51:10), and the remnant are called 'The Redeemed' (Isa 62:12). Psalm 107:2 opens with 'Let the redeemed of the LORD say so.' Spanish 'los redimidos,' Arabic المَفْدِيُّون, and Korean 구속받은 자들 all converge on this collective passive identity. A theologically rich designation for God's delivered people. 4×
AR["الْمَفْدِيُّونَ","مَفديّو","مَفْدُوِّي","مَفْدِيُّونَ"]·ben["মুক্তরা","মুক্তিপ্রাপ্ত","মুক্তিপ্রাপ্তদের","মুক্তেরা"]·DE["Erloeser","der-erlöst-von"]·EN["and-shall-walk","the-redeemed","the-redeemed-of"]·FR["racheter","rédempteur"]·heb["גאולי","גאולים"]·HI["छुड़ाए-गए","छुड़ाए-हुए"]·ID["orang-orang-tebusan","yang-ditebus"]·IT["redentore","riscatto'"]·jav["ingkang-dipuntebus","ingkang-tinubus","tiyang-ingkang-dipuntebus"]·KO["구속받은-자들-이","구속받은-자들이","구속받은-자들이라"]·PT["os-remidos","redimidos","remidos","remidos-de"]·RU["избавленные","искупленные","искупленными-","искупленных"]·ES["Redimidos-de","los-redimidos","los-redimidos-de","redimidos?"]·SW["waliokombolewa","waliokombolewa-na","waliokombolewa-wa"]·TR["kurtarilmislar","kurtarilmislari-","kurtarilmislarin","kurtarılmışları-"]·urd["چھڑائے-ہوئوں-کا","چھڑائے-ہوئے"]
Related Senses
H5921a 1. upon, on, over (spatial) (5443×)H0413 1. directional: to, toward (5366×)H1121a 1. son, male offspring, descendant (4914×)H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)H4428 1. king, human ruler (2518×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)H6440 1. before, in front of (spatial) (1870×)H5414 1. give, bestow (1855×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H3027 1. physical hand (body part) (1596×)H1697 1. word, speech, utterance (1235×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3947 1. take, seize, grasp (Qal) (940×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. גָּאַל vb. redeem, act as kinsman (NH, Niph. be redeemed; also גּוֹאֵל, גְּאוּלָּה)— Qal Pf. ג׳, etc. Is 44:23 + 14 times; Impf. יִגְאַל, etc. Lv 25:33 + 18 times; Imv. גְּאַל, etc. Ru 4:6 + 3 times; Inf. abs. גָּאֹל Lv 27:13 + 2 times cstr. לִגְאוֹל Ru 4:4 + 2 times; sf. לְגָאֳלֵךְ Ru 3:13; Pt. גֹּאֵל Lv 25:26 + 24 times, גּוֹאֵל Is 59 ψ 103:4; sf. גֹּאַלְךָ Is 48:17, גֹּאֲלֵךְ Is 54:8 (sf.…