Leviticus 27
Leviticus 27:1-13 – The Law Concerning Vows This section explains God’s law about special vows. These are promises people made to give something extra to God, even though He did not require it. If a vow agreed with God’s general commands, He was pleased with it. Making vows was a way to show extra thankfulness or devotion to God. When people received or expected special blessings, they often made special vows in response. v. 2: The law covers people who make a "singular vow," meaning they promise themselves or someone else to God’s service. Sometimes this meant working at the tabernacle in simple jobs. God accepted the good intention even if He did not need the service, since the Levites already served at the tabernacle . These people had to be "redeemed," meaning money was paid instead of service. The money went to repairs or needs of the sanctuary (2 Kings 12:14 a). v. 3-4: There was a set value for people between ages twenty and sixty, who could work the most. A man was valued at fifty shekels, and a woman at thirty. At that time, men were valued more, but in Christ, both are equal (Leviticus 27:3,4; Galatians 3:28 b). People in their strongest years should serve God the most. – v. 5: Young people between five and twenty years old had a lower value, because they could do less work . v. 6: Children under five could also be vowed by their parents, even before birth, like Samuel. But they could not be presented or redeemed until after one month old. Their value was small . Samuel was not redeemed because he was a Levite and served in the tabernacle from childhood. v. 7: Older people were valued less than young adults, but more than children. For the elderly, women were closer in value to men. The Hebrews said, "An old woman in a house is a treasure." Paul also valued older women as teachers of good things (Leviticus 27:7; Titus 2:3 c). v. 8: If someone was poor, the priest would set a fair value according to what they could afford. This was so people would not make vows carelessly, but also so they would not be ruined by their zeal. God wants us to give according to what we have, not what we don’t have (Leviticus 27:8; Luke 21:4 d). v. 9-10: If someone vowed a clean animal, one that could be sacrificed, it could not be replaced or redeemed. It had to be given to God for sacrifice or for use by the priests if it had a blemish. This teaches us to be careful before making a vow and to keep it once we do (Leviticus 27:9,10; Proverbs 20:25 e; 2 Corinthians 9:7 f). – v. 11-13: If someone vowed an unclean animal, it was valued by the priest. The person could redeem it by paying the value plus a fifth more. This penalty was to make people think seriously before making or changing their vows (Leviticus 27:11-13 g). – – Leviticus 27:14-25 – Concerning Things Sanctified This passage gives the laws about dedicating real estate, such as houses or land, to God by a special vow. If someone wanted to set apart their property for God's service, there were specific rules about how it should be valued and what could be done if the original owner wanted it back. The rules also made a difference between land that was inherited and land that was bought. All these laws helped keep gifts to God fair, wise, and respectful to both God and other people.v. 14-15: If a person dedicated his house to God, the priest would decide how much it was worth. The money from selling the house went to the sanctuary. If the owner wanted to buy his house back, he had to pay the set price plus one-fifth extra. This rule made people think carefully before making such vows. God wanted sincere dedication, not quick promises that were later broken (Leviticus 27:14,15; 1 Kings 15:15 h). – v. 16-18: If someone dedicated part of their family’s land, the priest would value it based on how much barley it could grow. The standard was fifty shekels for land that could grow a homer of barley. If the land was dedicated right after the Year of Jubilee, the full value was paid. If years had passed since the Jubilee, the value was less, depending on how much time was left before the next Jubilee (Leviticus 27:16-18; Ezekiel 45:11 i; Exodus 16:36 j). – – v. 19-21: After the value was set, the person could redeem the land by paying the value plus one-fifth extra. If he did not redeem it and it was sold to someone else, the land would belong to the priests forever after the next Jubilee. Land given to God was not meant to be taken back easily; it was a lasting gift (Leviticus 27:19-21 k). – – v. 22-24: If a person dedicated land that he had bought (not inherited from his family), he could only give the value of the land to the priests, not the land itself. The value was calculated based on how many years were left until the next Jubilee, since the land would return to the original family then. God wanted people to give honestly, not by taking what belonged to others (Leviticus 27:22-24; 1 Corinthians 16:2 l; Mark 7:11 m). – – v. 25: All these values were to be set using the sanctuary shekel, which was worth twenty gerahs. This rule made sure that everyone used the same standard for giving gifts to God (Leviticus 27:25; Exodus 30:13 n; Ezekiel 45:12 o). Leviticus 27:26-34 – Final Laws about Things Sanctified This passage gives final instructions about what could be dedicated to God, especially about firstborn animals, things devoted to destruction, and tithes. It makes clear that some things already belong to God, so people cannot vow them again. It also explains the special rules about items or people that are devoted to God in a more serious way, and sets out the law for giving tithes. The chapter ends by reminding us that these commandments come from the Lord through Moses. These laws have lasting lessons, even for those living under the gospel of Jesus Christ.v. 26-27: No one could dedicate to God the firstborn of their animals, because these already belonged to Him by law (Leviticus 27:26 p). If someone wanted to dedicate an unclean animal, the rules were the same as for other unclean animals: the animal could be redeemed by paying its value plus one-fifth (Leviticus 27:27; Leviticus 27:11,12 q). – v. 28: There is a difference between things that are only “sanctified” and things that are “devoted.” Devoted things were most holy to the Lord and could never be taken back or given to someone else. If a vow was made with a solemn curse never to use the thing for anything else, it was forever God’s . v. 29: People who were devoted to destruction could not be redeemed, but had to be put to death. This did not mean parents or masters could kill their children or servants. It referred to enemies of Israel, like the people of Jericho or certain others who were under God’s curse (Leviticus 27:29; Joshua 6:17 r; Judges 21:9,10 s). v. 30-32: The Israelites were required to give a tithe (one-tenth) of everything they produced—crops and animals. This showed they recognized God as the true owner of the land and all its blessings. Giving tithes was a way to thank God and ask for His continued favor. Tithes also helped support the priests and Levites. Today, Christians are also taught to honor God with their wealth and to share with those who serve God and others (Leviticus 27:30,32; Genesis 14:20 t; Genesis 28:22; Proverbs 3:9 u; Galatians 6:6; 1 Corinthians 9:11 v). v. 31: If someone wanted to redeem part of their tithe, they had to pay its value plus one-fifth more. This extra payment was to make people think carefully before changing what they gave to God (Leviticus 27:31 w). – v. 33: Once an animal was marked as a tithe, it could not be exchanged, not even for a better one. God accepted what was chosen first, and the people were not to complain, even if the chosen animal was the best. This taught contentment and trust in God's choices . v. 34: The book ends by stating that these are the commandments the Lord gave to Moses for Israel. Some of these laws are moral and last forever, while others were ceremonial and symbolic. Today, Christians are not under the old law, but these rules still teach us about worship, dedication, and honoring God. Now, we worship God through Christ, with thankful hearts and sincere faith (Leviticus 27:34; Hebrews 4:2 x; Romans 10:4; Hebrews 12:18 y; Hebrews 9:10; Acts 15:10 z).
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