Earnest

2. The Greek arrabon is a first payment on a purchase which obligates the purchaser to make further payments. A payment made in advance, it secures legal claim to an article or validates a sales contract before the full price is paid. The concept is a Semitic one with the word being adopted into Greek. The related Hebrew term appears in Genesis 38:17 , where Judah promised to send Tamar a young goat and she asked for a pledge to hold until she received the promised animal. God has given believers the Holy Spirit in their hearts as an earnest or pledge of the salvation to come (2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14 ). Daily relationship with the Spirit brings total confidence that God will complete His plan and the believer will share His gift of eternal life.