pidyon haben

noun

pid·​yon ha·​ben

ˌpidyənhəˈben

plural pidyon habens or pidyon habonin

: a traditional Jewish ceremonial rite observed on the 30th day after the birth of a first-born male child of one not a Cohen or a Levite in which the father symbolically relieves the child of ritual responsibilities by redeeming him from a Cohen for a certain sum

Word History

Etymology

Late Hebrew pidyōn habēn, literally, redemption of the son

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