Original Word: ἀρραβών
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: arrabón
Pronunciation: ar-hrab-OWN
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-hrab-ohn')
Definition: Pledge, Guarantee, Deposit
Meaning: an earnest, earnest-money, a large part of the payment, given in advance as a security that the whole will be paid afterwards.

earnest.

Of Hebrew origin (arabown); a pledge, i.e. Part of the purchase-money or property given in advance as security for the rest -- earnest.

see HEBREW arabown

728 arrhabṓn – properly, an installment; a deposit ("down-payment") which guarantees the balance (the full purchase-price).

728 /arrhabṓn ("down-payment pledge") is the regular term in NT times for "earnest-money," i.e. advance-payment that guarantees the rest will be given. 728 (arrhabṓn) then represents full security backed by the purchaser who supplies sufficient proof they will fulfill the entire pledge (promise).

[728 (arrhabṓn) is common in the papyri for "down payment/earnest money" and hence frequent in business documents and agreements.]

Word Origin
of Hebrew origin erabon
Definition
an earnest (a part payment in advance for security)
NASB Translation
given as a pledge (1), pledge (2).

STRONGS NT 728: ἀραβών

[ἀραβών Tdf., see ἀρραβών.]

STRONGS NT 728: ἀρραβώνἀρραβών (Tdf. ἀραβών: 2 Corinthians 1:22 (to Lachmann); (but not in Ephesians 1:14), see his Proleg., p. 80; WHs Appendix, p. 148; cf. Winers Grammar, 48 (47f); Buttmann, 32 (28f), cf. Rho), ἀρραβωνος, ὁ (Hebrew עֵרָבון Genesis 38:17f, 20; from עָרַב to pledge; a word which seems to have passed from the Phoenicians to the Greeks, and thence into Latin), an earnest, i. e. money which in purchases is given as a pledge that the full amount will subsequently be paid (Suidas under the word ἀραβών), (cf. (obs. English earlespenny; caution-money), German Kaufschilling,Haftpfennig): 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5, τόν ἀρραβῶνα τοῦ πνεύματος i. e. τό πνεῦμα ὡς ἀρραβῶνα namely, τῆς κληρονομίας, as is expressed in full in Ephesians 1:14 (cf. Winers Grammar, § 59, 8 a.; Buttmann, 78 (68)); for the gift of the Holy Spirit, comprising as it does the δυνάμεις τοῦ μέλλοντος αἰῶνος (Hebrews 6:5), is both a foretaste and a pledge of future blessedness; cf. under the word ἀπαρχή, c. (B. D. under the word .) (Isaeus, 8, 23 (p. 210, Reiske edition); Aristotle, pol. 1, 4, 5 (p. 1259{a}, 12); others.)

Word Origin: The term ἀρραβών is of Semitic origin, derived from the Hebrew word עֲרָבוֹן (ʿaravon), which means a pledge or security.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The corresponding Hebrew term is עֲרָבוֹן (ʿaravon), Strong's Hebrew 6162, which also means a pledge or security. This connection highlights the continuity between the Old and New Testament concepts of a pledge or guarantee, emphasizing the reliability and faithfulness of God's promises throughout Scripture.

Usage: The term ἀρραβών appears three times in the New Testament, specifically in the writings of Paul. It is used to describe the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of the believer's future redemption and inheritance in Christ.

Context: The Greek term ἀρραβών is a significant theological concept in the New Testament, particularly in the Pauline epistles. It is used to describe the Holy Spirit as a "down payment" or "deposit" given to believers, signifying the assurance of their future inheritance in the kingdom of God. This concept is rooted in the ancient practice of giving a pledge or earnest money as a guarantee of a future transaction or fulfillment of a promise.

In 2 Corinthians 1:22, Paul writes, "He has also sealed us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a pledge of what is to come." Here, the Holy Spirit is described as a seal and a pledge, emphasizing the security and certainty of God's promises to believers.

Similarly, in 2 Corinthians 5:5, Paul states, "Now it is God who has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come." This verse highlights the role of the Holy Spirit as a foretaste and assurance of the eternal life and glory that await believers.

In Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul elaborates further: "And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth—the gospel of your salvation—you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession, to the praise of His glory." Here, the Holy Spirit is depicted as both a seal and a pledge, underscoring the believer's secure position in Christ and the certainty of their future inheritance.

The use of ἀρραβών in these passages reflects the deep assurance and hope that believers have in the promises of God, guaranteed by the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. It serves as a reminder of the already-but-not-yet nature of the Christian experience, where believers have a foretaste of their future glory through the indwelling Spirit.

αρραβων αρραβών ἀρραβὼν αρραβωνα αρραβώνα αρραβώνά ἀρραβῶνα arrabon arrabōn arrabṑn arrabona arrabôna arrabōna arrabō̂naInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts