Leviticus 27

Leviticus 27 focuses on the laws concerning vows and dedications made to the Lord. These regulations provided the Israelites with guidelines on how to dedicate people, animals, and property to God. It also establishes how they could redeem or buy back certain things dedicated to the Lord, including land and houses. This chapter underlines the seriousness of making vows and the importance of fulfilling commitments made to God.

Leviticus 27:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the Lord, according to your valuation,
3 if your valuation is of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.

God sets guidelines for people who dedicate individuals to Him through vows. This includes a system of valuation based on age and gender. For a man aged 20 to 60, the standard value was set at fifty shekels of silver. These valuations allowed for a practical way to assess the worth of a person’s dedication, considering that a literal service might not always be feasible. It also ensured that fulfilling vows to God had a tangible cost, reflecting the commitment’s seriousness.

Leviticus 27:4-5 (NKJV)
4 If it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels;
5 and if from five years old up to twenty years old, then your valuation for a male shall be twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels.

Here, the valuations for women and children are specified. A woman between the ages of 20 and 60 was valued at thirty shekels, and younger individuals had a lower value. The differing valuations reflect societal roles and physical capabilities at the time. The system was not about spiritual worth but practicality in contributing to temple service. These distinctions ensured fairness when vows involving people were made.

Leviticus 27:6 (NKJV)
6 And if from a month old up to five years old, then your valuation for a male shall be five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver.

For infants and young children, the valuation is lower, acknowledging their limited ability to work or contribute. The emphasis on assigning values even to the very young shows how comprehensive the vow system was. It applied to all ages, yet the flexibility in redemption costs ensured that families could fulfill their vows without undue burden.

Leviticus 27:7 (NKJV)
7 And if from sixty years old and above, if it is a male, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels.

As individuals reached an older age, their valuation decreased. A man over sixty was valued at fifteen shekels, and a woman at ten. This decline in value recognized the reduced physical capability of the elderly. However, the inclusion of older individuals in the vow system underscored the community’s view that everyone had a place in the service of the Lord, regardless of age.

Leviticus 27:8 (NKJV)
8 But if he is too poor to pay your valuation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall set a value for him; according to the ability of him who vowed, the priest shall value him.

God provides a way for those who cannot afford the full valuation to still fulfill their vow. The priest would assess the person's financial situation and adjust the valuation accordingly. This ensured that the vow system was not oppressive and allowed people of all economic backgrounds to participate in dedicating themselves or others to the Lord. God’s laws made room for mercy and fairness in fulfilling vows.

Leviticus 27:9-10 (NKJV)
9 If it is an animal that men may bring as an offering to the Lord, all that anyone gives to the Lord shall be holy.
10 He shall not substitute it or exchange it, good for bad or bad for good; and if he at all exchanges animal for animal, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy.

When an animal was vowed to God, it was considered holy and could not be exchanged or substituted, whether it was of better or worse quality. This ensured the seriousness of vows and prevented people from trying to manipulate the system by offering lesser animals after making a vow. If someone attempted to substitute, both animals were considered dedicated to the Lord, preventing any form of dishonesty.

Leviticus 27:11-12 (NKJV)
11 If it is an unclean animal, which they do not offer as a sacrifice to the Lord, then he shall present the animal before the priest;
12 and the priest shall set a value for it, whether it is good or bad; as you, the priest, value it, so it shall be.

If the vowed animal was unclean and unsuitable for sacrifice, it could still be dedicated to the Lord in another way. The priest would assess its value, and this value would determine how the vow could be fulfilled. Even unclean animals had a role in vows, but they were handled differently from clean, sacrificial animals, showing flexibility in how people could dedicate resources to God.

Leviticus 27:13 (NKJV)
13 But if he wants at all to redeem it, then he must add one-fifth to your valuation.

If someone wished to redeem an unclean animal they had vowed, they had to pay its assessed value plus an additional 20%. This extra cost discouraged casual redemption and encouraged the fulfillment of vows. However, the option to redeem allowed for flexibility if the individual later needed the animal back, reflecting God’s understanding of human circumstances.

Leviticus 27:14-15 (NKJV)
14 And when a man dedicates his house to be holy to the Lord, then the priest shall set a value for it, whether it is good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall stand.
15 If he who dedicates it wants to redeem his house, then he must add one-fifth of the money of your valuation to it, and it shall be his.

A house could be dedicated to the Lord, and like animals, the priest would assess its value. If the person later wanted to redeem the house, they had to pay its valuation plus 20%. This system allowed people to consecrate their possessions to God in various ways while providing a means for redemption if their situation changed.

Leviticus 27:16-18 (NKJV)
16 If a man dedicates to the Lord part of a field of his possession, then your valuation shall be according to the seed for it: a homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.
17 If he dedicates his field from the Year of Jubilee, according to your valuation it shall stand.
18 But if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee, then the priest shall reckon to him the money due according to the years that remain till the Year of Jubilee, and it shall be deducted from your valuation.

When land was dedicated to God, its value was based on its agricultural potential, specifically the amount of seed it could produce. The valuation system took into account how close it was to the Year of Jubilee, when land ownership would reset. If the vow occurred after the Jubilee, the valuation was reduced according to the number of years remaining. This ensured fairness in the land’s dedication value over time.

Leviticus 27:19-21 (NKJV)
19 And if he who dedicates the field ever wishes to redeem it, then he must add one-fifth of the money of your valuation to it, and it shall belong to him.
20 But if he does not want to redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed anymore;
21 but the field, when it is released in the Jubilee, shall be holy to the Lord, as a devoted field; it shall be the possession of the priest.

If a person who dedicated their field later wished to redeem it, they had to pay the valuation plus 20%. However, if the field was sold to another person or if the owner chose not to redeem it, the field would become permanently devoted to the Lord, and at the Year of Jubilee, it would pass to the priests. This prevented the casual dedication of property and ensured that land dedicated to God remained in sacred use if not redeemed.

Leviticus 27:22-24 (NKJV)
22 And if a man dedicates to the Lord a field which he has bought, which is not the field of his possession,
23 then the priest shall reckon to him the worth of your valuation, up to the Year of Jubilee; and he shall give your valuation on that day as a holy offering to the Lord.
24 In the Year of Jubilee the field shall return to him from whom it was bought, to the one who owned the land as a possession.

If someone dedicated a field they had purchased, but not their ancestral land, the valuation would still be assessed by the priest according to how many years remained until the Jubilee. The person would then pay that valuation as a sacred offering to God. However, at the Year of Jubilee, the land would return to the original owner. This law preserved family inheritances and prevented permanent loss of land.

Leviticus 27:25 (NKJV)
25 And all your valuations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs to the shekel.

All valuations made for dedications were to be calculated using the standard measure of the sanctuary shekel, ensuring consistency and fairness. The mention of twenty gerahs to the shekel emphasizes the precision required in these transactions, providing a clear standard for the people to follow in their dedications to God.

Leviticus 27:26-27 (NKJV)
26 But the firstborn of the animals, which should be the Lord’s firstborn, no man shall dedicate; whether it is an ox or sheep, it is the Lord’s.
27 And if it is an unclean animal, then he shall redeem it according to your valuation, and shall add one-fifth to it; or if it is not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your valuation.

The firstborn of all animals already belonged to the Lord, so these could not be further dedicated. If someone wanted to redeem an unclean firstborn animal, they had to pay the valuation plus 20%, or if not redeemed, the animal would be sold. This reaffirmed the special status of the firstborn and allowed for flexibility with unclean animals that could not be used for sacrifice.

Leviticus 27:28-29 (NKJV)
28 Nevertheless no devoted offering that a man may devote to the Lord of all that he has, both man and beast, or the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted offering is most holy to the Lord.
29 No person under the ban, who may become doomed to destruction among men, shall be redeemed, but shall surely be put to death.

Things devoted to the Lord under a special vow, including people, animals, or property, were considered most holy and could not be sold or redeemed. These offerings were irrevocable. In the case of those "under the ban" or doomed for destruction (likely in cases of capital punishment), they could not be redeemed either. This underscored the solemnity of certain vows and the absolute nature of some devotions.

Leviticus 27:30-31 (NKJV)
30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord.
31 If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it.

The tithe, or tenth, of all produce from the land was considered holy and belonged to the Lord. If someone wished to redeem any part of their tithe, they had to pay the value plus an additional 20%. This rule ensured that people took their tithing seriously while allowing some flexibility for those who needed to retain their produce for personal use.

Leviticus 27:32-33 (NKJV)
32 And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the Lord.
33 He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.

For herds and flocks, the tithe was determined by having every tenth animal pass under the rod, and that one was dedicated to the Lord. No distinction was made between good or bad animals, and if someone attempted to exchange an animal, both the original and the replacement would become holy to God. This prevented people from trying to manipulate their tithe by substituting lesser animals.

Leviticus 27:34 (NKJV)
34 These are the commandments which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.

This verse concludes the chapter by reminding the reader that these commandments, including the regulations for vows and tithes, were given by the Lord to Moses at Mount Sinai. It reinforces the divine origin of these laws, showing that they were not just social or cultural practices but commandments from God Himself, meant to guide the Israelites in their worship and dedication to Him.