English · KJV
H6306

פִּדְיוֹם

pidyôwm /pid-yome'/ Ask about this word
Rootor פִּדְיֹם
Meaningalso פִּדְיוֹן; or פִּדְיֹן; from פָּדָה; a ransom
KJV usageransom, that were redeemed, redemption.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pidyôwm — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word pidyôwm, represented by H6306, is a term for a ransom. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible. The word, which can also be found in forms like pidyōm and pidyōn, consistently refers to the price paid for redemption or the act of ransom itself.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H6306 is used in specific legal and theological contexts. It can refer to a literal payment, such as the ransom for a life required under the law Exodus 21:30. It is also used in the context of the Israelites, where Moses H4872 took the redemption money for those firstborn who were over and above the number of the Levites H3881 Numbers 3:49. This money was then given to Aaron H175 and his sons H1121 according to the word H6310 of the LORD H3068 Numbers 3:51. The term also carries a profound spiritual meaning, as seen when the redemption of a soul H5315 is described as precious H3365 Psalms 49:8.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand upon the concept of redemption and payment:

  • H6302 pâdûwy (that were redeemed): This passive participle signifies those who are the subject of the redemption. It is used in tandem with H6306 to describe the money collected for those who were redeemed by the Levites H3881 Numbers 3:49.
  • H3724 kôpher (ransom): This word specifically refers to a redemption-price or satisfaction. It appears in the law where if a sum of money is laid on a person, it serves as the payment for the ransom of his life Exodus 21:30.
  • H3701 keçeph (money, silver): This term denotes the physical payment used for redemption. In Numbers, Moses H4872 is commanded to take the redemption money from the people Numbers 3:49.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6306 centers on the concept of substitutionary payment and the value of life.

  • Commanded Redemption: The word is used in the context of a divine command where a monetary payment serves as a substitute. The redemption money H3701 for the firstborn Israelites was an act commanded H6680 by the LORD H3068 through Moses H4872 Numbers 3:51.
  • Ransom for Life: It establishes a legal and theological principle that a ransom H6306 can be paid for a person's life H5315, averting a more severe penalty Exodus 21:30.
  • The Limit of Ransom: While a physical life could be ransomed with money, the scriptures indicate the redemption of the soul H5315 is uniquely precious H3365 and that this type of payment "ceaseth for ever" H5769, highlighting a spiritual transaction that transcends monetary value Psalms 49:8.

Summary

In summary, H6306 provides a specific term for the price of ransom or redemption. While appearing only a few times, its use is significant, defining both legal requirements for ransoming a life Exodus 21:30 and the ceremonial payment for redeeming the firstborn Numbers 3:49. Ultimately, the term points toward the profound theological concept that while a physical price can be paid in some instances, the redemption of a soul H5315 is of a value that is precious H3365 and eternal Psalms 49:8.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • פִּדְיֹן
  • פִּדְיוֹם

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H4872 מֹשֶׁה from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses. H3881 לֵוִיִּי or לֵוִי; patronymically from לֵוִי; a Levite or descendant of Levi; Leviite. H175 אַהֲרוֹן of uncertain derivation; Aharon, the brother of Moses; Aaron. H1121 בֵּן from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, inclu H6310 פֶּה from פָּאָה; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge H3068 יְהֹוָה from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹו

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Numbers (2 verses); never once in the other 36.

1
Exodus
2
Numbers
1
Psalms

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.