For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.”
Parallel translations
- WEB For Yahweh says, “You were sold for nothing; and you will be redeemed without money.”
- KJV For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
- NKJV For thus says the Lord: “You have sold yourselves for nothing, And you shall be redeemed without money.”
- NASB For this is what the Lord says: “You were sold for nothing, and you will be redeemed without money.”
- NLT For this is what the Lord says: “When I sold you into exile, I received no payment. Now I can redeem you without having to pay for you.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Since God's people were sold for nothing, they will be redeemed without money, by God's grace alone.
Overview
Israel went into captivity without any price gained, so her redemption will likewise require no payment to her captors; God simply reclaims His own. The emphasis falls on grace rather than transaction with enemies. This points to gospel redemption, which is free to us yet costly to God, purchased not with silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Isa 45:13I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for payment or reward, says the LORD of Hosts.”
- 1 Pet 1:18For 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,
- Ps 44:12You sell Your people for nothing; no profit do You gain from their sale.
- Jer 15:13Your wealth and your treasures I will give up as plunder, without charge for all your sins within all your borders.
- Isa 50:1This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.
- Rom 7:14–25We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 52:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.