### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ὠνέομαι (ōnéomai), Strong's `{{G5608}}`, carries the primary meaning of "to purchase" or "to buy." Derived from a root signifying "a sum or price," it inherently emphasizes the act of acquiring something through an exchange of value. As a middle voice verb, the action of buying is typically performed by the subject for their own benefit or on their own behalf. While its base definition is straightforwardly commercial, its usage in the New Testament extends beyond mere literal transactions to profound spiritual and theological concepts. The definition notes its synonymy with the earlier πίμπρημι (pímprēmi), reinforcing its core meaning of acquisition by payment.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term ὠνέομαι appears a limited number of times in the New Testament, but its occurrences are significant:
* **[[Acts 7:16]]**: In Stephen's sermon, he recounts how Abraham "bought" (ὠνέομαι) a tomb in Shechem. Here, the word is used in its most literal sense, referring to a historical commercial transaction for a burial plot. This establishes the baseline understanding of the term as a direct acquisition through payment.
* **[[Revelation 3:18]]**: Jesus admonishes the lukewarm church in Laodicea, urging them to "buy from me gold refined by fire... and white garments... and eye salve." This is a profoundly figurative use of ὠνέομαι. The "buying" here is not monetary but represents a spiritual exchange: repentance, faith, and obedience as the "price" for true spiritual riches, purity, and discernment, which only Christ can provide. It contrasts their perceived material wealth with their actual spiritual poverty.
* **[[Revelation 5:9]]**: In a pivotal passage of worship, the Lamb is praised because "with your blood you have bought for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation." This is the most theologically weighty use of ὠνέομαι. Christ's sacrifice on the cross is depicted as a divine "purchase," where His blood is the ultimate price paid to redeem humanity for God. This signifies a transfer of ownership from sin and death to God.
* **[[Revelation 13:17]]**: Describing the oppressive system of the beast, it states that "no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark." This returns to a literal, yet dystopian, application of "buying." The inability to "buy" (ὠνέομαι) or sell highlights the economic control and coercion exerted by the beast, making participation in its system a prerequisite for basic survival and commerce.
* **[[Revelation 14:3]]**: The 144,000 are described as those who "were bought from the earth." This echoes the redemptive act of [[Revelation 5:9]], signifying their special status as those redeemed and set apart by God, acquired through Christ's atoning work.
### Related Words & Concepts
ὠνέομαι exists within a semantic field of words related to acquisition, transaction, and redemption:
* **ἀγοράζω (agorazō - `{{G60}}`)**: Also meaning "to buy," often with the nuance of buying in the marketplace (agora). While ἀγοράζω is more common in the New Testament for general buying, ὠνέομαι can carry a stronger emphasis on the price paid or the specific act of acquiring. Both are used for both literal and figurative "buying" (e.g., [[1 Corinthians 6:20]] uses ἀγοράζω for being bought with a price).
* **πωλέω (pōleō - `{{G4453}}`)**: The antonym, "to sell."
* **λυτρόω (lytroō - `{{G3084}}`)** and **ἐξαγοράζω (exagorazō - `{{G1805}}`)**: These verbs mean "to redeem" or "to buy back/out," often implying a liberation through payment of a ransom. They are profoundly linked to the theological "buying" of humanity by Christ, where the price is His blood, leading to freedom from sin and death.
* **Concepts**: The word ὠνέομαι brings to mind concepts such as **price**, **value**, **ownership**, **acquisition**, **redemption**, and **cost**. In its spiritual applications, it highlights the immense **value of human souls** in God's eyes and the **immeasurable cost** of their salvation.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ὠνέομαι is most profoundly revealed in its application to Christ's redemptive work. The declaration in [[Revelation 5:9]] that Christ "bought for God" humanity with His blood is foundational to Christian theology. This single word encapsulates several critical truths:
* **Divine Ownership**: Those who are "bought" belong to the One who paid the price. Humanity, once enslaved to sin, is purchased by Christ and thereby becomes God's possession. This establishes a new covenant relationship based on divine acquisition.
* **The Cost of Redemption**: The price paid was not silver or gold, but the precious blood of the Lamb. This underscores the gravity of sin, which necessitated such a sacrifice, and simultaneously magnifies God's immeasurable love and grace in providing the means of salvation.
* **Sovereignty of God**: God, through Christ, actively intervenes to reclaim His creation. The act of "buying" is a powerful demonstration of His sovereign will and power to save.
* **Transformation**: For the redeemed, being "bought" means a radical change in status, allegiance, and destiny. They are no longer "of the earth" in the same way, but are set apart for God ([[Revelation 14:3]]).
Furthermore, the figurative use in [[Revelation 3:18]] serves as a potent call to spiritual transformation. The "buying" of spiritual gold, garments, and salve from Christ signifies that true spiritual wealth is not passively received but actively pursued through repentance, faith, and obedience, which constitute a "cost" of discipleship. This contrasts sharply with the world's system of buying and selling, as seen in [[Revelation 13:17]], where economic activity is tied to allegiance to an oppressive power.
### Summary
The Greek verb ὠνέομαι (ōnéomai), `{{G5608}}`, fundamentally means "to purchase" or "to buy," implying an acquisition through the payment of a price. While its literal usage is seen in accounts of commercial transactions, its profound theological significance emerges in its figurative applications within the New Testament. Most notably, it describes Christ's redemptive act of "buying" humanity for God with His own blood ([[Revelation 5:9]], [[Revelation 14:3]]), thereby establishing divine ownership and highlighting the immeasurable cost of salvation. Additionally, in [[Revelation 3:18]], it serves as an imperative for believers to actively "buy" (acquire) spiritual riches from Christ through repentance and faith, emphasizing the necessary spiritual effort and commitment. Thus, ὠνέομαι transcends a mere commercial term, becoming a powerful descriptor of divine love, redemptive sacrifice, and the call to spiritual transformation.
TRV