Quick Definition
λυτρόω v. I ransom, liberate, deliver
Strong's Definition
from 3083; to ransom (literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: redeem
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | λύω
37.128 · (λυτρόομαι) · Control, Rule · Release, Set Free
to set free, to liberate, to deliver, liberation, deliverance to release or set free, with the implied analogy to the process of freeing a slave In a number of languages one cannot speak of ‘being set free’ without specifying the particular manner or circumstances involved. In the case of LUK 24:21, for example, it may be necessary to translate ‘to liberate Israel’ as ‘to cause Israel to be free from foreign control’ or ‘... from the power of Rome.’ A similar type of translation may be required in LUK 2:38, but in the case of EPH 1:7 it may be necessary to specify ‘we are set free from sin’ or ‘we are set free from our bad desires.’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
λυτρόω, -@: Pass., 1 aor. ἐλυτρώθην; Mid., pres. inf. λυτροῦσθαι ; 1 aor. subj. 3 pers. sing. λυτρώσηται; (λύτρον, 4. v-); Sept. often for ox and 779; 1. to release on receipt of ransom: Plat. Theaet. p. 165 e.; Diod. 19, 73; Sept., Num. xviii. 15, 17. 2. to redeem, liberate by payment of ransom, [(Dem., al.) ], generally expressed by the mid.; univ. το liberate: τινὰ ἀργυρίῳ, and likewise ex with the gen. of the thing; pass. ἐκ τῆς ματαίας ἀναστροφῆς, 1 Pet.i.18; Mid. to cause to be released to one’s self [ef. W. 254 (238)] by payment of the ransom, i. 6. to redeem; univ. to deliver: in the Jewish theocratic sense, τὸν Ἰσραήλ, viz. from evils of every kind, external and internal, Lk. xxiv. 21; ἀπὸ πάσης ἀνομίας, Tit. ii. 14 [ef. W. § 30, 6 8.7; τινὰ ἐκ, spoken of God, Deut. xiii. 5; 2S. vii. 23; Hos. xiii. 14.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
λυτρόω lytroō 3x
to release for a ransom; mid, to ransom, redeem, deliver, liberate, Lk. 24:21; Tit. 2:14; 1 Pet. 1:18*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
λυτρόω, -ῶ
(< λύτρον, q.v.), [in LXX chiefly for פּדה, גּאל;]
to release on receipt of ransom; mid., to release by paying ransom, to redeem: in spiritual sense, Tit 2:14; pass, I Pe 1:18; in general sense, to deliver (cf. Ex 6:6, Ps 68 (69):18, al.): Lk 24:21.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
λυτρόω. The verb and its kindred are well established in the vernacular, e.g. P Eleph 19° (Ptol.) ὑφίστίαμα]ι τῆς γῆς . . » ἧς λελυτρωμένοι εἰσὶν τῆς πεπραμένης ὑπὸ Μίλωνος, P Par 2218 (c. B.C. 165) τὰ δ᾽ ἐκείνου ὑπάρχοντα ἀναληφθέντα εἰς τὸ βασιλικὸν ἐλυτρώσατο ἡ Νέφορις ἀποδομένη ἥμισυ οἰκίας τῆς οὔσης κοινῆς ἡμῶν KTA., P Oxy ITT. 530% (ii/a.D.) ἐξ ὧν ϑώσεις Σεραπίωνι τῶι φίλω[ι] . . . λυτρώσασά pov τὰ ἱμάτια δραχμὰς ἑκατόν, ‘of which you will give to my friend Serapion 100 drachmae and redeem my clothes ” (on the aor. A.D.) viv μελησάτω σοι λυτρώσασθαι τὰ ἐμὰ παρὰ Σαραπίωνα, ““ πον please redeem my property from Sarapion,” 26. VI. 9367° (iii/a.D.) οὔπω λελύτρωται τὸ φαινόλιν (cf. 2 Tim 415), “‘the cloak has not yet been redeemed ’’ from pawn, Syl 921" (iii/B.c.) μήπως συμ]βῆι ἐξαχθ[έϊντα e[E]avdpaποδισ[θῆναι τὰ σώματα, ὥστε μηκέτι λυ]τρωθῆναι δύνασθαι. In ἐδ. 281° (B.c, 192-1) καθὼς ἣν λελυτρωμένοι ὑπ᾽ αὐτῶν, the verb has the unusual sense of ‘‘ pay expenses’: see the editor’s note. An Akmonian inscr. of A.D. 313-314, reproduced in C. and B. ii. p. 566f., describes a high-priestess Spatale as having ransomed many from the evil torments (of Christianity)—€vtpdcato yap πολλοὺς ἐκ κακῶν βασάνων : ‘a parody,” as the editor remarks, ‘‘of the Chr. zeal for conversion’; cf. Tit 2! and the Christian prayer from the end of iv/a.p. edited by Schmidt in Mezlest. Stud. Georg Heinrict dar gebracht (Leipzig, 1914), p. 6953 λυτρωσάμ[ε]νος ἀπὸ τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ SiaBd[Aov] εἰς δόξαν ἐλευθερίας. Note that Blass in the B text of Ac 2819 inserts after κατηγορεῖν MGr λυτρώνω, “loose,” ‘‘ liberate.’
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
λυτρόω (lutroō) — to ransom. λυτρ-όω, release on receipt of a ransom, hold to ransom, τινὰ χρημάτων ὅσων δοκεῖ for such a sum as is agreed on, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; redeem a pledge, λ. τὰ ἱμάτια [Refs 2nd c.AD+], etc.:—middle, release by payment of ransom, redeem, παρὰ τῶν Αἰτωλῶν [NT+3rd c.BC+]:—passive, to be ransomed, ἐκ τῶν ἰδίων λελυτρῶσθαι [NT+4th c.BC+]
II. passive, to be released from an obligation, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
III. mistranslation of Hebrew 'rp 'break the neck', [LXX]. -ών, ῶνος, ὁ, ={ἀπόπατος}[LXX]