Leviticus 27: Redeeming Vows and Honoring God
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the Lord by thy estimation.
And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary.
And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels.
And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels.
And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver.
And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels.
But if he be poorer than thy estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him.
And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the Lord, all that any man giveth of such unto the Lord shall be holy.
He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: and if he shall at all change beast for beast, then it and the exchange thereof shall be holy.
And if it be any unclean beast, of which they do not offer a sacrifice unto the Lord, then he shall present the beast before the priest:
And the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad: as thou valuest it, who art the priest, so shall it be.
But if he will at all redeem it, then he shall add a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation.
And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the Lord, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand.
And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his.
And if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some part of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.
If he sanctify his field from the year of jubile, according to thy estimation it shall stand.
But if he sanctify his field after the jubile, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of the jubile, and it shall be abated from thy estimation.
And if he that sanctified the field will in any wise redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be assured to him.
And if he will not redeem the field, or if he have sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more.
But the field, when it goeth out in the jubile, shall be holy unto the Lord, as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest’s.
And if a man sanctify unto the Lord a field which he hath bought, which is not of the fields of his possession;
Then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy estimation, even unto the year of the jubile: and he shall give thine estimation in that day, as a holy thing unto the Lord.
In the year of the jubile the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the land did belong.
And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.
Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the Lord’s firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the Lord’s.
And if it be of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it according to thine estimation, and shall add a fifth part of it thereto: or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to thy estimation.
Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the Lord of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the Lord.
None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death.
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 unto the Lord.
And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.
He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
These are the commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.
Leviticus 27, fittingly concluding the book, transitions from the obligatory sacrifices detailed at the beginning to voluntary offerings and vows. While the initial chapters outlined requirements, this chapter explores the spirit of devotion that motivates individuals to dedicate themselves and their possessions to God. It highlights that God takes seriously both what He commands and what we freely offer Him (see Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). This chapter provides a detailed structure for how Israelites could dedicate people, animals, or property to the Lord and, if necessary, redeem them. This chapter emphasizes the importance of keeping promises made to God and acknowledges that all things ultimately belong to Him. Leviticus 27 serves as a powerful reminder of our responsibility to honor God with our resources and our whole being. Let's delve into the specifics.
Dedicating People to the Lord (Leviticus 27:1-8)
The chapter begins with the concept of dedicating a person to the Lord in a special way (Leviticus 27:2-8). The specific nature of such dedication isn't explicitly defined here, but the narrative of Hannah offers a compelling illustration. In 1 Samuel 1:11, Hannah vows to dedicate her son Samuel to the Lord for his entire life. If, after dedicating a person, the individual wished to retract the vow, a redemption price, equivalent to the person’s value, had to be paid to the sanctuary. The chapter specifies the monetary value of individuals based on age and gender, with men in their prime (20-60 years old) valued at fifty shekels of silver (Leviticus 27:3). This was a significant sum, representing a considerable amount of wages. The passage makes allowances for the poor, ensuring that even those with limited means could fulfill their promises to God. This highlights God's concern for both our devotion and our financial capacity.
Dedicating Animals to the Lord (Leviticus 27:9-13)
Animals could also be dedicated as payment for a vow (Leviticus 27:9-13). However, the process varied depending on the animal's suitability for sacrifice. A "clean" animal, acceptable as an offering to the Lord (Leviticus 27:9), was considered holy and could not be redeemed at any price. This emphasizes the irreversible nature of certain dedications to God. If the animal was "unclean," meaning unsuitable for sacrifice, it could be redeemed by paying its assessed value plus an additional twenty percent (Leviticus 27:11-13). The priest would determine the animal's value, ensuring fairness and consistency in the redemption process.
Dedicating Property to the Lord (Leviticus 27:14-29)
The dedication of property involved more complex rules and calculations (Leviticus 27:14-25). The specific regulations depended on whether the property was inherited or purchased. The key principle was that the property's value was assessed relative to the Year of Jubilee, when land would revert to its original owner. This ensured that dedications did not permanently deprive families of their ancestral inheritance. Regarding firstborn animals (Leviticus 27:26-27), these could not be redeemed because they already belonged to the Lord. This principle originates from the first Passover, where God spared the firstborn of Israel while striking down the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 13:1-2, 11-13). From that moment onward, every firstborn belonged to the Lord, signifying His ownership and redemption of Israel.
The Tithe: A Mandatory Offering (Leviticus 27:30-34)
Leviticus concludes with instructions regarding the tithe (Leviticus 27:30-33). Unlike the voluntary vows discussed earlier, the tithe was mandatory. Leviticus 27:30 states, "Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord." God expected His people to return a tenth of what He already owned and had graciously provided. This act acknowledged His sovereignty over all creation and served as a tangible expression of gratitude. While the Israelites could redeem their tithes, they had to pay an additional twenty percent (Leviticus 27:31).
The tithe served a practical purpose: it funded the priests, the tabernacle, and the entire sacrificial system. However, it also served as a constant reminder that God is the source of all blessings. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 cautions, "You may say to yourself, 'My power and my own ability have gained this wealth for me,' but remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth." Approaching giving with the understanding that everything belongs to God transforms it from an obligation to a privilege. It is a blessing to be able to return a portion of what He has entrusted to us for His glorious purposes.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the Lord by thy estimation.
And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary.
And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels.
And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels.
And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver.
And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels.
But if he be poorer than thy estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him.
And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the Lord, all that any man giveth of such unto the Lord shall be holy.
He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: and if he shall at all change beast for beast, then it and the exchange thereof shall be holy.
And if it be any unclean beast, of which they do not offer a sacrifice unto the Lord, then he shall present the beast before the priest:
And the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad: as thou valuest it, who art the priest, so shall it be.
But if he will at all redeem it, then he shall add a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation.
And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the Lord, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand.
And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his.
And if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some part of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.
If he sanctify his field from the year of jubile, according to thy estimation it shall stand.
But if he sanctify his field after the jubile, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of the jubile, and it shall be abated from thy estimation.
And if he that sanctified the field will in any wise redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be assured to him.
And if he will not redeem the field, or if he have sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more.
But the field, when it goeth out in the jubile, shall be holy unto the Lord, as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest’s.
And if a man sanctify unto the Lord a field which he hath bought, which is not of the fields of his possession;
Then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy estimation, even unto the year of the jubile: and he shall give thine estimation in that day, as a holy thing unto the Lord.
In the year of the jubile the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the land did belong.
And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.
Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the Lord’s firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the Lord’s.
And if it be of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it according to thine estimation, and shall add a fifth part of it thereto: or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to thy estimation.
Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the Lord of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the Lord.
None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death.
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 unto the Lord.
And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.
He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
These are the commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.
Leviticus 27, fittingly concluding the book, transitions from the obligatory sacrifices detailed at the beginning to voluntary offerings and vows. While the initial chapters outlined requirements, this chapter explores the spirit of devotion that motivates individuals to dedicate themselves and their possessions to God. It highlights that God takes seriously both what He commands and what we freely offer Him (see Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). This chapter provides a detailed structure for how Israelites could dedicate people, animals, or property to the Lord and, if necessary, redeem them. This chapter emphasizes the importance of keeping promises made to God and acknowledges that all things ultimately belong to Him. Leviticus 27 serves as a powerful reminder of our responsibility to honor God with our resources and our whole being. Let's delve into the specifics.
Dedicating People to the Lord (Leviticus 27:1-8)
The chapter begins with the concept of dedicating a person to the Lord in a special way (Leviticus 27:2-8). The specific nature of such dedication isn't explicitly defined here, but the narrative of Hannah offers a compelling illustration. In 1 Samuel 1:11, Hannah vows to dedicate her son Samuel to the Lord for his entire life. If, after dedicating a person, the individual wished to retract the vow, a redemption price, equivalent to the person’s value, had to be paid to the sanctuary. The chapter specifies the monetary value of individuals based on age and gender, with men in their prime (20-60 years old) valued at fifty shekels of silver (Leviticus 27:3). This was a significant sum, representing a considerable amount of wages. The passage makes allowances for the poor, ensuring that even those with limited means could fulfill their promises to God. This highlights God's concern for both our devotion and our financial capacity.
Dedicating Animals to the Lord (Leviticus 27:9-13)
Animals could also be dedicated as payment for a vow (Leviticus 27:9-13). However, the process varied depending on the animal's suitability for sacrifice. A "clean" animal, acceptable as an offering to the Lord (Leviticus 27:9), was considered holy and could not be redeemed at any price. This emphasizes the irreversible nature of certain dedications to God. If the animal was "unclean," meaning unsuitable for sacrifice, it could be redeemed by paying its assessed value plus an additional twenty percent (Leviticus 27:11-13). The priest would determine the animal's value, ensuring fairness and consistency in the redemption process.
Dedicating Property to the Lord (Leviticus 27:14-29)
The dedication of property involved more complex rules and calculations (Leviticus 27:14-25). The specific regulations depended on whether the property was inherited or purchased. The key principle was that the property's value was assessed relative to the Year of Jubilee, when land would revert to its original owner. This ensured that dedications did not permanently deprive families of their ancestral inheritance. Regarding firstborn animals (Leviticus 27:26-27), these could not be redeemed because they already belonged to the Lord. This principle originates from the first Passover, where God spared the firstborn of Israel while striking down the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 13:1-2, 11-13). From that moment onward, every firstborn belonged to the Lord, signifying His ownership and redemption of Israel.
The Tithe: A Mandatory Offering (Leviticus 27:30-34)
Leviticus concludes with instructions regarding the tithe (Leviticus 27:30-33). Unlike the voluntary vows discussed earlier, the tithe was mandatory. Leviticus 27:30 states, "Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord." God expected His people to return a tenth of what He already owned and had graciously provided. This act acknowledged His sovereignty over all creation and served as a tangible expression of gratitude. While the Israelites could redeem their tithes, they had to pay an additional twenty percent (Leviticus 27:31).
The tithe served a practical purpose: it funded the priests, the tabernacle, and the entire sacrificial system. However, it also served as a constant reminder that God is the source of all blessings. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 cautions, "You may say to yourself, 'My power and my own ability have gained this wealth for me,' but remember that the Lord your God gives you the power to gain wealth." Approaching giving with the understanding that everything belongs to God transforms it from an obligation to a privilege. It is a blessing to be able to return a portion of what He has entrusted to us for His glorious purposes.