New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Leviticus 27
1
The Lord spoke to Moses. He said,
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"Speak to the people of Israel. Tell them, 'Suppose someone makes a special promise to set a person apart to serve me. Here is how much it will cost to set that person free from the promise to serve.
Reference
3
" 'The cost for a male between the ages of 20 and 60 is 20 ounces of silver. It must be weighed out in keeping with the standard weights that are used in the sacred tent.
Reference
4
The cost for a female of the same age is 12 ounces of silver.
5
" 'The cost for a male between the ages of five and 20 is eight ounces of silver. The cost for a female of the same age is four ounces of silver.
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" 'The cost for a male between the ages of one month and five years is two ounces of silver. The cost for a female of the same age is one and a fourth ounces of silver.
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" 'The cost for a male who is 60 years old or more is six ounces of silver. The cost for a female of the same age is four ounces of silver.
8
" 'But suppose the one who makes the special promise is too poor to pay the required amount. Then he must bring to the priest the person who will be set free. The priest will decide the right value for that person. It will be based on how much the one who makes the promise can afford.
Reference
Parallel theme
Mark 14:7
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" 'Suppose what he promised is an animal that I will accept as an offering. Then the animal that is given to me becomes holy.
10
The one who makes the promise must not trade it. He must not trade a good animal for a bad one. And he must not trade a bad animal for a good one. Suppose he chooses one animal instead of another. Then both animals become holy.
11
" 'Suppose the animal he promised is not "clean." Suppose I will not accept it as an offering. Then the animal must be brought to the priest.
12
He will decide whether it is good or bad. Its value will be what he decides it will be.
14
" 'Suppose a man sets his house apart as something that is holy to me. Then the priest will decide whether it is good or bad. Its value will remain what he decides it will be.
15
Suppose the man sets his house apart. And suppose later he wants to buy it back. Then he must add a fifth to its value. The house will belong to him again.
Reference
Redemption
Leviticus 27:13
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" 'Suppose a man sets apart a piece of his family's land to me. Then its value must be decided based on the number of seeds that are required to grow a full crop on it. That value will be 20 ounces of silver for every six bushels of barley seeds.
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" 'Suppose he sets his field apart during the Year of Jubilee. Then the value that has been decided will not be changed.
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But suppose he sets his field apart after the Year of Jubilee. Then the priest will decide its value based on the number of years that are left until the next Year of Jubilee. The value that was decided will be reduced.
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" 'Suppose the man who sets his field apart wants to buy it back. Then he must add a fifth to its value. The field will belong to him again.
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But suppose he does not buy the field back. Instead, suppose he sells it to someone else. Then he can never buy it back.
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" 'When the field is set free in the Year of Jubilee, it will become holy. It will be like a field that is set apart to me. It will become the property of the priests.
Reference
22
" 'Suppose a man sets apart to me a field he has bought. And suppose it is not part of his family's land.
Reference
23
Then the priest will decide its value based on the number of years that are left until the Year of Jubilee. The man must pay that value on the day it is decided. The money is holy. It is set apart for me.
Reference
Parallel theme
Leviticus 27:18
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" 'In the Year of Jubilee the field will go back to the person the man bought it from. That person is the one who had owned the land before.
Reference
Parallel theme
Leviticus 25:28
25
" 'Every amount of money must be weighed out in keeping with the standard weights that are used in the sacred tent.
Reference
26
" 'But no one can set apart the first male animal that is born to its mother. That animal already belongs to me. It does not matter whether it is an ox or a sheep. It belongs to me.
Reference
27
" 'Suppose it is an animal that is not "clean." Then the owner may buy it back at the value that has been decided. And he must add a fifth to its value. But suppose he does not buy it back. Then it must be sold at the value that has been decided.
28
" 'But nothing a man owns and sets apart to me can be sold or bought back. It does not matter whether it is a person or an animal or a family's land. Everything that is set apart to me is very holy to me.
Reference
29
" 'No one who is set apart in a special way to be destroyed can be bought back. He must be put to death.
30
" 'A tenth of everything the land produces belongs to me. That includes grain from the soil and fruit from the trees. It is holy. It is set apart for me.
Reference
31
Suppose a man buys back some of his tenth. Then he must add a fifth of the cost to it.
32
" 'The whole tenth of his herds and flocks will be holy. They will be set apart for me. That includes every tenth animal that its shepherd marks with his wooden staff.
Reference
33
The owner must not pick out the good animals from the bad. He must not choose one animal instead of another. But if he does, both animals become holy. They can't be bought back.' "
Reference
Holy
Leviticus 27:10
Summary of Leviticus 27
Leviticus chapter 27 is the last chapter in Leviticus and focuses primarily on vows, things dedicated to the LORD, and the redemption of property. It explains what happened when a person made a special vow to dedicate himself, another person, an animal, a house, or a piece of land to God. It also describes certain things that could not simply be redeemed once they had been dedicated. Furthermore, it provides instructions in relation to the tithe of the land, seed, fruit, and animals. These instructions were to ensure that the Israelites understood that something deliberately dedicated to God should not be treated casually.
The chapter starts off by stating instructions in relation to people who were dedicated to the LORD through a special vow. If a person made a vow of this kind, the value of that person was to be determined according to their age and sex. Different amounts of money were established for males and females, and for different age categories (Leviticus 27:1-7). This was not a statement about the worth of a person's life to God. Instead it gives a standard amount for those who made a vow and needed to redeem what had been dedicated.
The amount could also be adjusted if the person making the vow was poor. If someone could not afford the established value of a person, they were to be brought before the priest, who was to determine the amount according to what the person could afford. This would prevent a vow becoming impossible because the person was unable to afford the redemption.
The chapter then deals with animals that were dedicated to the LORD. If an animal was suitable for sacrifice, it was to become holy and cannot be exchanged for another one. If someone attempted to exchange one animal for another, both would become holy (Leviticus 27:9-10). This was to ensure that a person would not make a vow and then attempt to replace the animal that had been dedicated with something in their estimation that was less valuable.
If an animal was considered unclean and therefore could not be offered, the priest was to determine its value and the owner could redeem it by paying the value plus one fifth. This provided a clear cost for taking back something dedicated to God.
The same principle was applied to a house that had been dedicated to the LORD. The priest was to determine its value according to its condition. If the person who dedicated their house wanted to redeem it, an additional fifth had to be paid (Leviticus 27:14-15).
Instructions are also given to determine the value of land. If someone dedicated part of their inherited land to the LORD, the value was to be calculated according to the amount of seed required to sow, and the amount of years that remained until the Year of Jubilee. The closer a field was to the Jubilee, the lower would be its value because there would be fewer years of agricultural use remaining.
The Jubilee laws from the previous chapter are important here, and the chapter explains that land that had been dedicated could be redeemed according to the established rules, but the value was to be connected to the Jubilee cycle. If the person who dedicated the field did not redeem it and the field was later sold, it would remain holy and would not revert to the original owner in the same way as ordinary family-owned land. Instead, it would become the property of the priests at the Jubilee (Leviticus 27:20-21).
If someone dedicated land that they bought instead of inherited land, the priest was to calculate its value according to the number of years that remained until the Jubilee. At the Jubilee, the land would return to the person from whom it had been purchased.
The chapter then makes an important statement about the firstborn of animals. The firstborn already belonged to the LORD because God had established that they were His. Therefore, a person could not devote the firstborn as if it were something new that had been given to God. If it was an animal that was acceptable as a sacrifice, it belonged to the LORD. If it was an unclean animal, it could be redeemed according to the established rules.
Another category was something described as devoted or set apart. A person could devote something to the LORD in a way that designated it as especially holy. Such things were not treated like ordinary vows and could not simply be redeemed. The chapter gives examples of people, animals, and land. These special dedications were more binding because what had been devoted had completely been set apart.
The chapter then provides instructions in relation to the tithe. Every tenth part of the seed of the land and the fruit of the trees belonged to the LORD and was holy. If someone wanted to redeem part of this tithe, a fifth of its value had to be added (Leviticus 27:30-31).
The final verses of the chapter deal with the tithe of animals. Every tenth animal that passed under the rod was to be holy to the LORD. The owner was not to examine whether the animal was good or bad before deciding which one belonged to God. If the tenth animal was chosen, it was to remain dedicated and could not be exchanged for another one. If someone did attempt to exchange it, both would become holy (Leviticus 27:32-33).
The chapter ends with a reminder that these were the commandments that the LORD had given Moses for the children of Israel at Mount Sinai.
Leviticus chapter 27 emphasizes the importance of making a promise to God. A vow was not something that could simply be an emotional expression that could later be ignored. Once something had been deliberately dedicated, the rules determined what happened to it. In many cases, redemption was possible, but an additional fifth had to be paid. Other things that were specially devoted to God could not be redeemed at all.
The chapter also reinforces the principle that God was entitled to the first and best portions of Israel's possessions. The firstborn belonged to Him, the first portion of the harvest was connected with Him, and the tenth of the produce and animals were to be given as a tithe. These practices reminded the Israelites that everything that they possessed came from God.
There is also a strong connection between Leviticus 27 and the previous chapter. Leviticus 26 focused on Israel's covenant relationship with God, which included blessings for obedience, warnings about disobedience, and the possibility of restoration. Chapter 27 closes the book by explaining how personal vows, possessions, land, animals, and tithes were to be treated when dedicated to God.
The final lesson of Leviticus is therefore not limited to sacrifices or ceremonies. The book has covered topics such as worship, holiness, priests, family life, morality, justice, land, festivals, vows, and possessions. Leviticus 27 reminds the Israelites that even their property and personal promises had a place in their relationship with God. What they gave to Him was holy, and His people were expected to hold their promises to Him with care and faithfulness.
The chapter starts off by stating instructions in relation to people who were dedicated to the LORD through a special vow. If a person made a vow of this kind, the value of that person was to be determined according to their age and sex. Different amounts of money were established for males and females, and for different age categories (Leviticus 27:1-7). This was not a statement about the worth of a person's life to God. Instead it gives a standard amount for those who made a vow and needed to redeem what had been dedicated.
The amount could also be adjusted if the person making the vow was poor. If someone could not afford the established value of a person, they were to be brought before the priest, who was to determine the amount according to what the person could afford. This would prevent a vow becoming impossible because the person was unable to afford the redemption.
The chapter then deals with animals that were dedicated to the LORD. If an animal was suitable for sacrifice, it was to become holy and cannot be exchanged for another one. If someone attempted to exchange one animal for another, both would become holy (Leviticus 27:9-10). This was to ensure that a person would not make a vow and then attempt to replace the animal that had been dedicated with something in their estimation that was less valuable.
If an animal was considered unclean and therefore could not be offered, the priest was to determine its value and the owner could redeem it by paying the value plus one fifth. This provided a clear cost for taking back something dedicated to God.
The same principle was applied to a house that had been dedicated to the LORD. The priest was to determine its value according to its condition. If the person who dedicated their house wanted to redeem it, an additional fifth had to be paid (Leviticus 27:14-15).
Instructions are also given to determine the value of land. If someone dedicated part of their inherited land to the LORD, the value was to be calculated according to the amount of seed required to sow, and the amount of years that remained until the Year of Jubilee. The closer a field was to the Jubilee, the lower would be its value because there would be fewer years of agricultural use remaining.
The Jubilee laws from the previous chapter are important here, and the chapter explains that land that had been dedicated could be redeemed according to the established rules, but the value was to be connected to the Jubilee cycle. If the person who dedicated the field did not redeem it and the field was later sold, it would remain holy and would not revert to the original owner in the same way as ordinary family-owned land. Instead, it would become the property of the priests at the Jubilee (Leviticus 27:20-21).
If someone dedicated land that they bought instead of inherited land, the priest was to calculate its value according to the number of years that remained until the Jubilee. At the Jubilee, the land would return to the person from whom it had been purchased.
The chapter then makes an important statement about the firstborn of animals. The firstborn already belonged to the LORD because God had established that they were His. Therefore, a person could not devote the firstborn as if it were something new that had been given to God. If it was an animal that was acceptable as a sacrifice, it belonged to the LORD. If it was an unclean animal, it could be redeemed according to the established rules.
Another category was something described as devoted or set apart. A person could devote something to the LORD in a way that designated it as especially holy. Such things were not treated like ordinary vows and could not simply be redeemed. The chapter gives examples of people, animals, and land. These special dedications were more binding because what had been devoted had completely been set apart.
The chapter then provides instructions in relation to the tithe. Every tenth part of the seed of the land and the fruit of the trees belonged to the LORD and was holy. If someone wanted to redeem part of this tithe, a fifth of its value had to be added (Leviticus 27:30-31).
The final verses of the chapter deal with the tithe of animals. Every tenth animal that passed under the rod was to be holy to the LORD. The owner was not to examine whether the animal was good or bad before deciding which one belonged to God. If the tenth animal was chosen, it was to remain dedicated and could not be exchanged for another one. If someone did attempt to exchange it, both would become holy (Leviticus 27:32-33).
The chapter ends with a reminder that these were the commandments that the LORD had given Moses for the children of Israel at Mount Sinai.
Leviticus chapter 27 emphasizes the importance of making a promise to God. A vow was not something that could simply be an emotional expression that could later be ignored. Once something had been deliberately dedicated, the rules determined what happened to it. In many cases, redemption was possible, but an additional fifth had to be paid. Other things that were specially devoted to God could not be redeemed at all.
The chapter also reinforces the principle that God was entitled to the first and best portions of Israel's possessions. The firstborn belonged to Him, the first portion of the harvest was connected with Him, and the tenth of the produce and animals were to be given as a tithe. These practices reminded the Israelites that everything that they possessed came from God.
There is also a strong connection between Leviticus 27 and the previous chapter. Leviticus 26 focused on Israel's covenant relationship with God, which included blessings for obedience, warnings about disobedience, and the possibility of restoration. Chapter 27 closes the book by explaining how personal vows, possessions, land, animals, and tithes were to be treated when dedicated to God.
The final lesson of Leviticus is therefore not limited to sacrifices or ceremonies. The book has covered topics such as worship, holiness, priests, family life, morality, justice, land, festivals, vows, and possessions. Leviticus 27 reminds the Israelites that even their property and personal promises had a place in their relationship with God. What they gave to Him was holy, and His people were expected to hold their promises to Him with care and faithfulness.