What is redemption in the Bible?
Redemption means being bought back and set free. The Bible says God redeems his people from slavery to sin through the death of Jesus, paying the price we could not pay.
To redeem something is to buy it back, the way a slave could be freed by paying a price. Scripture uses this picture for what God does: he redeems people from bondage — first Israel from Egypt, and ultimately all believers from sin.
The price of this redemption was the death of Jesus. Peter writes that we were redeemed ‘not with perishable things such as silver or gold… but with the precious blood of Christ’ (1 Peter 1:18–19). In him ‘we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins’ (Ephesians 1:7).
Redemption means freedom and belonging: freed from sin’s penalty and power, and brought into God’s family as his own. It is a gift of grace, not something we earn.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.