In biblical terms, the concept of "forfeit" often relates to the loss or surrender of something as a penalty for wrongdoing or as a consequence of sin. The idea of forfeiture is deeply rooted in the principles of justice and divine law as presented in the Scriptures.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament provides several instances where the concept of forfeit is evident, particularly in the context of the Mosaic Law. In Leviticus 5:15-16, the law addresses the issue of unintentional sin concerning the holy things of the LORD: "If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, according to your valuation in silver by the shekel of the sanctuary. It is a guilt offering. He must make restitution for what he has failed to do regarding the holy things, add a fifth of the value to it, and give it all to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven." Here, the forfeit involves restitution and an additional penalty, emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement.

In the case of property and land, the concept of forfeit is also present. Leviticus 25:23-28 discusses the Year of Jubilee, where land that was sold could be redeemed by the original owner or their family, preventing permanent forfeiture of the inheritance given by God. This reflects the importance of maintaining the divinely allotted inheritance within the community of Israel.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the idea of forfeit is often associated with the spiritual consequences of sin and the cost of discipleship. Jesus speaks to the concept of forfeiting one's soul in Mark 8:36-37: "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" This passage highlights the eternal significance of spiritual priorities over worldly gains, emphasizing that the ultimate forfeit is the loss of one's soul due to misplaced values and priorities.

The Apostle Paul also touches on the theme of forfeit in his letters. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Paul uses the metaphor of a race to illustrate the Christian life, urging believers to exercise self-discipline to avoid being disqualified or forfeiting the prize: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize. Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable. Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified."

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of forfeit underscores the gravity of sin and the necessity of redemption. The forfeiture of blessings, inheritance, or even one's soul serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commandments and the need for repentance and faith in Christ. The sacrificial system in the Old Testament and the redemptive work of Jesus in the New Testament both address the issue of sin and its consequences, offering a path to restoration and reconciliation with God.

In summary, the biblical concept of forfeit is multifaceted, encompassing legal, moral, and spiritual dimensions. It serves as a powerful reminder of the cost of sin and the importance of aligning one's life with God's will to avoid the ultimate forfeiture of eternal life.1. (v.) To surrender possession due to error or misdeed; as, to forfeit property; to forfeit a game.

2. (n.) A thing forfeit or forfeited; what is or may be taken from one in requital of a misdeed committed; that which is lost, or the right to which is alienated, by a crime, offense, neglect of duty, or breach of contract; hence, a fine; a mulct; a penalty; as, he who murders pays the forfeit of his life.

3. (n.) Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine; -- whence the game of forfeits.

4. (n.) Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure.

5. (n.) To lose, or lose the right to, by some error, fault, offense, or crime; to render one's self by misdeed liable to be deprived of; to alienate the right to possess, by some neglect or crime; as, to forfeit an estate by treason; to forfeit reputation by a breach of promise; -- with to before the one acquiring what is forfeited.

6. (v. i.) To be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress.

7. (v. i.) To fail to keep an obligation.

8. (p. p. / a.) In the condition of being forfeited; subject to alienation.

FORFEIT

for'-fit (charam):

"Forfeit" (from forisfacere, "to act beyond") implies loss through transgression or non-observance of some law or rule. The word occurs only once as the translation of charam, "to shut in," frequently to devote or consecrate a person or thing to God beyond redemption (compare Leviticus 27:28, 29 Micah 4:13 Ezra 10:8, "That whosoever came not within three days,. all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the assembly of the captivity," King James Version margin, the American Revised Version, margin and the Revised Version (British and American) "devoted"; compare APC 1Esdras 9:4, "Their cattle should be seized to the use of the temple" (anieroo, "to consecrate," "devote"); 6:32, "all his goods seized for the king" (ta huparchonia autou einai (eis) basilika)).

The Revised Version (British and American) has "forfeited" (qadhesh, "consecrated,'; "devoted") for "defiled" (Deuteronomy 22:9), margin "Hebrew consecrated"; "forfeit his life" for "lose his own soul" (psuche) (Matthew 16:26 Mark 8:36); "lose or forfeit his own self" for "lose himself or be cast away" (Luke 9:25, heauton de apolesas e zemiotheis; zemioo is the Septuagint for `anash, "to be mulcted," or "fined," Exodus 21:22 Deuteronomy 22:19 Proverbs 17:26; Proverbs 19:19; Proverbs 21:11; Proverbs 22:3); Weymouth renders Luke 9:25, "to have lost or forfeited his own self" (or "had to pay his own self-his own existence-as a fine"); in the other instances of zemioo (1 Corinthians 3:15 Philippians 3:8), the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) render "suffer loss," "suffered. loss"; 2 Corinthians 7:9 the King James Version, "receive damage."

W. L. Walker

1601. ekpipto -- to leap out
... fall off, fall away; hence in nautical language: I fall off from the straight course;
of flowers: I fade away, wither away; I fall from, lose, forfeit; I am ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1601.htm - 6k

2210. zemioo -- to damage, suffer loss
... Word Origin from zemia Definition to damage, suffer loss NASB Word Usage forfeit
(1), forfeits (2), suffer loss (2), suffered the loss of (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2210.htm - 8k

2325. chub -- to be guilty
... chub. 2326 . to be guilty. Transliteration: chub Phonetic Spelling: (khoob) Short
Definition: forfeit. ... root Definition to be guilty NASB Word Usage forfeit (1) ...
/hebrew/2325.htm - 6k

2763. charam -- to ban, devote, exterminate
... make accursed, consecrate, utterly destroy, devote, forfeit, have a flat nose,
utterly slay A primitive root; to seclude; specifically ...
/hebrew/2763.htm - 5k

2398. chata -- to miss, go wrong, sin
... A primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin;
by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray ...
/hebrew/2398.htm - 6k

Life Lost to the World is Saved.
... But when two things are put before us, either by gaining one's life to forfeit the
world, or by gaining the world to forfeit one's life, much more desirable is ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/27 life lost to the.htm

Directions to Church-Wardens, &C.
... to be used, and ministred, upon pain of punishment by the censures of the Church,
and also upon pain, that every person so offending, shall forfeit for every ...
/.../prideaux/directions to church-wardens/directions to church-wardens &c.htm

For they Loved the Praise of Men More than the Praise of God. John ...
... Sooner than forfeit this utterly, they would not profess religion. Their
profession turns on this. And although they do profess ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/for they loved the praise.htm

Whether Robbery May be Committed Without Sin?
... You falsely call things your own, for you do not possess them justly, and according
to the laws of earthly kings you are commanded to forfeit them." Therefore ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether robbery may be committed.htm

Whether Blindness of Mind is a Sin?
... One is the light of natural reason, which light, since it pertains to the species
of the rational soul, is never forfeit from the soul, and yet, at times, it ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether blindness of mind is.htm

Whether Death is Essential to Martyrdom?
... of martyr should be accorded to a woman who forfeits the integrity of the flesh
for the sake of Christ's faith, rather than if she were to forfeit even the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether death is essential to.htm

Whether an Aureole is Due on Account of virginity?
... Reply to Objection 4: If a virgin is violated, she does not forfeit the aureole,
provided she retain unfailingly the purpose of observing perpetual virginity ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether an aureole is due.htm

Further Explanation of the Same Subject; Explains this Prayer. The ...
... Should it grow neglectful and set its affections on anything except our Lord, it
will forfeit everything: this loss is as great as are the favours the soul has ...
/.../the interior castle or the mansions/chapter iv further explanation of.htm

Proverbs i. 28
... And I press this, because it is a true type of the whole of human life; because
it is just as possible to forfeit salvation irrecoverably, as to forfeit that ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/arnold/the christian life/lecture xii proverbs i 28.htm

Thy Rod and Thy Staff they Comfort Me.
... It would be a poor exchange and a paltry satisfaction, to be present at the feasts
of men, only to forfeit our place at the banquet of angels. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/callan/the shepherd of my soul/viii thy rod and thy.htm

Forfeit (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v.) To surrender possession due to error
or misdeed; as, to forfeit property; to forfeit a game. 2 ...
/f/forfeit.htm - 13k

Ransom (46 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The money or price paid for the redemption of a prisoner, or for goods captured
by an enemy; payment for freedom from restraint, penalty, or forfeit. ...
/r/ransom.htm - 43k

Valued (27 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Leviticus 5:15 If any one commit a trespass, and sin through error, in the
holy things of the LORD, then he shall bring his forfeit unto the LORD, a ram ...
/v/valued.htm - 15k

Forfeited (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Forfeit. Multi-Version Concordance
Forfeited (6 Occurrences). Luke 9:25 Why, what benefit ...
/f/forfeited.htm - 8k

Defilement (12 Occurrences)
... James Version, the American Standard Revised Version "humble"); qadhash, "separate,"
"sanctify," "devote to religious use," hence, "forfeit" (Deuteronomy 22:9 ...
/d/defilement.htm - 21k

Defile (63 Occurrences)
... James Version, the American Standard Revised Version "humble"); qadhash, "separate,"
"sanctify," "devote to religious use," hence, "forfeit" (Deuteronomy 22:9 ...
/d/defile.htm - 38k

Lose (59 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To part with unintentionally or unwillingly, as by accident, misfortune,
negligence, penalty, forfeit, etc.; to be deprived of; as, to lose money from ...
/l/lose.htm - 24k

Forewarning (1 Occurrence)

/f/forewarning.htm - 6k

Earnest (33 Occurrences)
... or promise. It also carries with it the idea of forfeit, such as is now
common in land deals, only from the obverse side. In other ...
/e/earnest.htm - 20k

Esau (89 Occurrences)
... Genesis 25:30-34). Impulsively he snatched an immediate and sensual
gratification at the forfeit of a future glory. Thus he lost ...
/e/esau.htm - 41k

What does it mean to gain the whole world but lose your soul? | GotQuestions.org

What is the law of retribution? | GotQuestions.org

If I convert to Christianity, my family will disown me, and I will be persecuted. Should I follow Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

Forfeit: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus