Terminology Tuesday: GOEL

GOEL

The active participle of the Hebrew verb ga’al, “to redeem.” It is used to describe the redemption of property (Lev. 25:25). It is also used of the kinsman whose duty was to raise up seed to a brother who had died childless (Deut. 25:5). Another duty of a kinsman was that of the avenger of blood (Num. 35:12–34; Deut. 19:1–3).The prevalent thought in all this is that of the kinsman-redeemer, an apt type and description of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name is used of the Lord, for example, by Job in his famous statement: “I know that my redeemer liveth” (Job 19:25). The outstanding OT example of the goel was Boaz (cf. Ruth 3:12; 4:6–10). To fulfil the office of the kinsman-redeemer, he had to meet three requirements:1. He had to be near of kin.2. He had to be able to redeem.3. He had to be willing to redeem.The Lord Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled the type. In His perfect humanity He is near of kin to us (Heb. 2:16, 17); in His boundless ability He was able to redeem us (Heb. 7:25); and in His infinite mercy He was willing to redeem us (2 Cor. 8:9).

Cairns, A. (2002). In Dictionary of Theological Terms (p. 197). Belfast; Greenville, SC: Ambassador Emerald International.