REDEMPTION a'avi , to sever), in theology, denotes our recovery from sin and death by the obedience and sacrifice of Christ, who, on this account, is called The Re deemer (Is. lix :2o; Job xix:25).
(I) Our English word redemption is from the Latin redcmptio, and signifies buying again; and several words, in the Greek language of the New Testament, are used in the affair of our redemp tion, which signify the obtaining of something by paying a proper price for it ; sometimes the sim ple verb, to buy, is used; so the redeemed are said to be bought unto God by the blood of Christ, and to be bought from the earth, and to be bought from among men, and to be bought with a price; that is, with the price of Christ's blood (I Cor. vi :20). Hence, the church of God said to be purchased with it (Acts xx: 28). Sometimes a compound word is used, which signifies to buy again, or out of the hands of an other, as the redeemed are bought out of the hands of justice, as in Gal. iii :r3, and Gal. iv :5. In other places the word denoting ransom is used. or others derived from it, which signifies the deliverance of a slave or captive from thrall dom, by paying a ransom price for him ; so the saints are said to be redeemed not with silver or gold, the usual price paid for a ransom, but with a far greater one, the blood and life of Christ, which he came into this world to give us a ran som price for many, and even himself, which is antilutron, an answerable, adequate. and full price for them (I Pet. i :t8). (2) The evils from which we are redeemed or delivered are the curse of the law, sin, Satan, the world, death, and hell. (3) The moving cause- of redemption is the love of God (John iii :16). (4) The pro curing cause, Jesus Christ (I Pet. i :18, to). (5) The ends of redemption are, that the justice of God might be satisfied ; his people reconciled, adopted, sanctified, and brought to glory. (6) The properties of it are these: (a) It is agree able to all the perfections of God; (b) what a creature never could obtain, and therefore entirely of free grace; (c) it is special and particular ; (d) full and complete; (e) and, lastly, is eternal as to its blessings.
REED (red). Several Hebrew words are used for marsh plants. Two, asv'khoo (Heb. and soot (Heb. TO), are frequently but not always rendered "flag.' Kaw-neh' (Heb. which is cognate with cane, may be considered as the equivalent of the English reed, taken as that term is in a broad sense. Fishpoles, canes, and rods (Matt. xxvii:29), are formed of it. These plants flourish in marshes or in the vicinity of water-courses; hence the allusion (Job x1:20. It is often used by the sacred writers to illustrate weakness and fragility (2 Kings XViii:2I ; Is.
xxxvi :6 ; xlii :3; Ezek. xxix :6; Matt. xii :2o). Reeds were also used to make pens of (see PEN), and also as measuring-rods (Ezek. x1:5). (See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.) From their height and slender shape, plants of this kind are moved by the slightest breath of wind (t Kings xiv :15), and hence nothing could be more unimportant in itself than such a motion, and nothing more strik ingly illustrative of and instability; comp. Matt. xi:7 and Eph. iv :14.
The true reed of Egypt and Palestine, Arundo donax, has a slender jointed stalk like bamboo, about twelve feet in height, with a fine large brush of bloom at the top. This flexible stalk often lies prostrate before the wind, ready to rise again at the first lull. About the perennial waters of the Holy Land there are often dense cane brakes of this plant, in the midst of which wild beasts find their lairs. With one or more hollow tubes of reed, musical instruments are constructed by the youth of the country, and it is likely that David first learned to play on a similar primitive reed-organ. (Schaff, Bib. Diet.) (See BULRUSH; FLAG; Ruses; and especially KANEn.) Figurative. (t) Christ will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax; he will not utterly destroy, but kindly help, care for, and comfort the weak saints and their weak graces, that are upon the point of losing all their grace and comfort (Is. xlii:3).
(2) In allusion to the multitude of reeds growing about Egypt, the Egyptians and their king are likened to a staff of reed; and broken reed, to denote their inability to help, and their readiness to hurt the Jews, and such others as trusted in them for support or protection (Ezek. xxix :6; Is. xxxvi:6). (3) The ten tribes of Israel were smitten as a reed, when tossed to and fro as to their outward estate, by the force of God's judgments upon them (1 Kings xiv:15). (4) John Baptist was not a reed shaken with the wind; was not unsettled in his doctrine or practice, but constant and steady in bearing testimony to Christ, and follow ing a course of strict holiness, amid storms of trouble (Matt. xi:7). (5) The measuring reed in Ezekiel and John's vision may denote the word of God, according to which all the things of the church ought to be adjusted; or, that the providence of God should with great exactness protect and defend them (Ezek. x1:3, and xlii:t6; Rev. xi:t. and xxi:15). (6) The reeds at Babylon were burnt with fire; either those that were growing in the Euphrates were deprived of their moisture when the current was diverted, or they, or those on the roofs of houses, were burnt by the Persians (Jer. li:32).