פָּדָה (pa.dah)
pa.dah
to ransom
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 40 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb padah means to ransom or redeem by paying a specific price. Its root sense involves cutting away or severing, which provides the imagery for buying someone’s freedom from bondage. This concept appears frequently in the Torah, particularly regarding the redemption of firstborn sons and animals. For instance, Exodus 13:13 instructs that a firstborn donkey must be redeemed with a sheep, establishing a tangible exchange to secure life.
In the Psalms, the word shifts from legal ritual to theological assurance. Psalm 49:7 declares that no person can ransom themselves or pay God a price for their own life, highlighting human limitation. Instead, the psalmist points to God as the one who ultimately redeems the soul from the power of Sheol. This usage underscores that true liberation comes not from human effort but from divine intervention.
Translators often render padah as "redeem" or "deliver," depending on context. While it shares ground with other words for salvation, padah consistently carries the weight of a transactional rescue. Whether applied to livestock in Leviticus or Israel’s national deliverance in Deuteronomy 7:8, the term emphasizes that freedom is purchased, not merely granted.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew verb padah carries the weight of a transaction. It describes a rescue that is purchased, not merely granted. In ancient Israel, this word was used when a family paid a price to free a firstborn son or an unclean animal from death. This tangible exchange reminded them that life belongs to God and that freedom requires a cost.
As the Old Testament unfolds, this legal ritual expands into a profound theological truth. The Psalms and Prophets remind us that while humans cannot pay for their own salvation, God redeems His people by His own mighty hand. He does not ask us to earn our way out of trouble; instead, He steps in to buy our freedom from the power of sin and death.
This promise offers deep comfort. When you face adversity or feel trapped by circumstances, remember that your value is established by the One who redeems. You are not left to struggle alone against overwhelming odds. God’s love is demonstrated through His willingness to pay the price for your deliverance, securing your place as His own.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 40 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will redeem7×
- he has ransomed4×
- you will redeem [it]3×
- you redeemed3×
- and/ he redeemed/ you3×
- to/ redeem2×
- redeem/ me2×
- and/ [the] [people] ransomed of2×
- you will ransom/ me1×
- you ransomed1×
- you have redeemed1×
- you had redeemed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תִפְדֶּ֖ה3×
- תִּפְדֶּֽה\׃2×
- תִּפְדֶּ֣ה2×
- תִּפְדֶּ֔ה2×
- פָּדָ֥ה2×
- פָּדִ֙יתָ֙2×
- וּ/פְדוּיֵ֨י2×
- אֶפְדֵּ֔/ם2×
- תִּפָּדֶ֑ה1×
- תִּפְדּֽוּ/נִי\׃1×
- תִפְדֶּ֗ה1×
- פָּדֹ֣ה1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 13:13
Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and you shall redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons.
This verse establishes the literal cost of redemption, requiring a lamb to substitute for a firstborn donkey, highlighting the principle of exchange.
-
Deuteronomy 7:8
but because Yahweh loves you, and because he desires to keep the oath which he swore to your fathers, Yahweh has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Here the word shifts from ritual to national history, showing that God redeemed Israel from Egypt specifically because He loved them and kept His oath.
-
Job 33:28
He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit. My life will see the light.’
Eliphaz uses this term to describe personal deliverance, noting that God has redeemed the soul from going into the pit and preserving life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word padah mean?
How is padah different from other words for salvation?
Where does this word appear most frequently?
Every Occurrence (40 verses across 16 books)
Exodus 4 verses
Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck;…
Exodus 13:15When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, Yahweh killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn…
Exodus 21:8If she doesn’t please her master, who has married her to himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He shall have no…
Exodus 34:20You shall redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb. If you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck. You…