Jehovah Provides "a Ransom in Exchange for Many" - Ransom-An Equivalent

Jehovah's solution was both supremely merciful and profoundly just-one that no human could ever have devised. Yet, it was elegantly simple. It is variously referred to as a purchase, a reconciliation, a redemption, a propitiation, and an atonement. (Psalm 49:8; Daniel 9:24; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:20; Hebrews 2:17)  But the expression that perhaps best describes matters is the one used by Jesus himself. He said: "The Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his soul a ransom [Greek, ly'tron] in exchange for many." -Matthew 20:28.

What is a ransom? The Greek word used here comes from a verb meaning "to let loose, to release."  This term was used to describe  money paid in exchange for the release of prisoners of war. Basically, then, a ransom can be defined as something paid to buy something back.  In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word for "ransom" (ko'pher) comes from a verb meaning "to cover."  For example, God told Noah that he must "cover" (a form of the same word) the ark with tar.  (Genesis 6:14)  This helps to appreciate that to ransom also means to cover over sins. -Psalm 65:3.

Next time: Jehovah Provides "a Ransom in Exchange for Many" -Conclusion of Ransom-An Equivalent

From the book: Draw Close to Jehovah