Bible Strands
Job 33:24
to be gracious to him and say, ‘Spare him from going down to the Pit; I have found his ransom,’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Elihu describes a hypothetical heavenly messenger addressing a condemned man on the verge of death. The moment occurs after the mediator intercedes to prevent the man's descent into the Pit.
The words — The noun כֹֽפֶר (kofer) translates literally to "ransom" or "redemption price," while the verb פְּ֭דָעֵ֗/הוּ (pa.da.'e.hu) means "deliver him." These terms anchor the messenger's declaration of substitutionary payment.
The thread — This ransom motif echoes the preservation of life from the Pit in Job 33:18 and contrasts with the human inability to pay a ransom to God in Psalms 49:7, while pointing forward to Matthew 20:28.
Why it lands — The text states the messenger declares a found ransom to spare a man from the Pit. It asks the reader to acknowledge that deliverance depends on an external payment secured by divine authority, not human merit.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.
Cross-references
- Psalms 49:7 No man can possibly redeem his brother or pay his ransom to God.
- Job 33:18 to preserve his soul from the Pit and his life from perishing by the sword.
- Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
- 1 Peter 1:18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
- Exodus 33:19 “I will cause all My goodness to pass before you,” the LORD replied, “and I will proclaim My name—the LORD—in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
- Job 22:21 Reconcile now and be at peace with Him; thereby good will come to you.
- Hosea 14:4 I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them.
- Micah 7:18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
- Zechariah 9:11 As for you, because of the blood of My covenant, I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit.
- Romans 5:20 The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,