pa.dah denotes securing release, whether from oppression, danger, death, slavery, or a firstborn obligation.

The verb most often marks rescue or release from a threatening power, distress, slavery, enemies, or death; it also occurs in instructions for securing the release of firstborn persons or unclean animals and in promises of Zion’s return. The clauses present the action as performed by God, requested from God, or required of an individual in specified legal settings.

1. Release from danger, oppression, or bondage · dominant

   In Deuteronomy 7:8 and Deuteronomy 24:18, the Qal forms occur in statements that the LORD brought the people out of Egypt and from slavery. In 1 Kings 1:29 and Job 5:20, Qal perfect forms describe rescue from distress, death, famine, and the sword; Psalm 119:134 uses a Qal imperative in a request for release from human oppression.

   Deuteronomy 7:8Deuteronomy 24:181 Kings 1:29Job 5:20Psalm 119:134Jeremiah 15:21
2. Release secured for firstborns or property · common

   In Exodus 13:13 and Exodus 34:20, Qal imperfect forms command action concerning a firstborn donkey and firstborn sons, with a sheep named in the donkey provision. Numbers 18:15 and Numbers 18:17 likewise distinguish firstborn persons and unclean animals that are to be released from those that are not; Leviticus 27:27 applies the action to an unclean animal at its valuation.

   Exodus 13:13Exodus 34:20Numbers 18:15Numbers 18:17Leviticus 27:27Leviticus 27:29
3. Promised release and return · occasional

   In Isaiah 1:27, a Niphal imperfect presents Zion as the recipient of release, alongside justice and righteousness. The Qal passive participle in Isaiah 35:10 and Isaiah 51:11 identifies those who return to Zion with joy, while Hosea 13:14 speaks of release from the power of Sheol and from death.

   Isaiah 1:27Isaiah 35:10Isaiah 51:11Hosea 13:14Zechariah 10:8
4. Release or freedom in a servitude setting · rare

   Exodus 21:8 uses a Hiphil sequential perfect in the case of a female servant whom her master does not appoint for himself, followed by a restriction on selling her to a foreign people. Leviticus 19:20 uses Hophal language in a clause stating that a maidservant had not been released or given freedom.

   Exodus 21:8Leviticus 19:20

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the cited verses, the APB commonly uses “redeem” and “ransomed,” and in some contexts uses “rescued,” “deliver,” “freed,” or “release.” These renderings confirm the clauses’ broad release context rather than establish separate lexical meanings.