Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Leviticus 27
Leviticus 27:2"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special vow to the Lord involving the valuation of persons,"
This verse introduces the chapter's main topic: how to handle special vows made to God, establishing that personal devotion can be expressed in formal, tangible ways.Leviticus 27:28“But no devoted thing that a man devotes to the Lord, of anything that he has, whether man or beast, or of his inherited field, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord.
This passage makes a crucial distinction between a normal vow, which can be bought back, and a 'devoted thing,' which is irrevocably given to God, highlighting the highest level of consecration.Leviticus 27:30Every 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.
Here, the principle of the tithe is clearly stated not as an optional gift but as something that is inherently the Lord's, defining it as a foundational act of worship and recognition of His provision.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Practical Side of Personal Devotion
Leviticus 27 concludes the extensive legal and religious instructions God gave to Moses at Mount Sinai. After detailing laws about sacrifices, purity, holy days, and social ethics, this chapter functions like an appendix. It addresses the practical, personal side of devotion, answering the question: 'What happens when an individual wants to make a special promise to God involving their family, property, or livelihood?' It provides an organized system for a community learning to live in a covenant relationship with God.
Bringing Holiness Home
The entire book of Leviticus is about holiness - how a sinful people can live in the presence of a holy God. This final chapter brings that theme down to the most personal level. It moves from the corporate worship at the tabernacle to the individual Israelite's heart and home. The regulations here ensure that personal zeal and promises are channeled in a way that is orderly, fair, and honors the sanctity of a vow made to the Lord, preventing rash promises from causing chaos.
A Guide to Vows, Dedications, and Tithes
As God concludes His instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai, He provides a framework for handling personal commitments. This chapter isn't about required sacrifices but voluntary acts of devotion. In Leviticus 27, God lays out how to value people, animals, and property dedicated to Him, ensuring that these heartfelt promises are treated with the seriousness and order they deserve.
Valuing People Dedicated by Vows (Leviticus 27:1-8)
1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special vow to the Lord involving the valuation of persons,"
3 then the valuation shall be made by the priest, according to the ability of the one who vowed to make it.
4 But if the vow is an oath to the Lord, then all of its valuation shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
5 If the person is from five years old up to twenty years old, the valuation shall be for a male twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels.
6 And if the person is from a month old up to five years old, the valuation shall be for a male five shekels of silver, and for a female the valuation shall be three shekels of silver.
7 If the person is sixty years old or older, then your valuation for a male shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels.
8 But if he is too poor to pay the valuation, then he shall be made to stand before the priest, and the priest shall value him; the priest shall value him according to what the vower can afford.
Commentary:
A system is established for assigning a monetary value to people dedicated by a vow, with special consideration for the poor.
Dedicating Animals (Leviticus 27:9-13)
9 “If the vow is an animal that may be offered as an offering to the Lord, all of it that he gives to the Lord is holy.
10 He shall not exchange it or make a substitute for it, good for bad, or bad for good; and if he does in fact substitute one animal for another, then both the original animal and its substitute shall be holy.
11 If the vow is an animal that may be offered as an offering to the Lord, all of it that he gives to the Lord is holy.
12 the priest shall set a value for it, whether it is good or bad; as you, the priest, value it, so it shall be.
13 But if he wishes to redeem it, he shall add a fifth to the valuation.
Commentary:
Animals vowed to God become holy, and while some can be bought back with a penalty, the commitment is not to be taken lightly.
Dedicating Houses and Land (Leviticus 27:14-25)
14 “When a man dedicates his house as a holy gift to the Lord, the priest shall value it as either good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall stand.
15 If the one who dedicates his house to the Lord wishes to redeem it, he shall add a fifth to the valuation price, and it shall be his.
16 "If a man dedicates to the Lord part of the land that is his possession, then the valuation shall be in proportion to its seed. A homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver."
17 If he dedicates his field from the year of jubilee, the valuation shall stand.
18 But if he dedicates his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall calculate the price according to the years that remain until the year of jubilee, and a deduction shall be made from the valuation.
19 And if the one who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, then they shall add a fifth to its valuation price, and it shall remain his.
20 And if he does not 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 a holy gift to the Lord, like a field that has been devoted. The priest shall be in possession of it.
22 And if he dedicates to the Lord a field that he has bought, which is not a part of his possession,
23 "Then the priest shall calculate the amount of the valuation for it up to the year of jubilee, and the man shall give the valuation on that day as a holy gift to the Lord."
24 In the year of jubilee the field shall return to him from whom it was bought, to whom the land belongs as a possession.
25 Every valuation shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall make a shekel.
Commentary:
Rules are set for dedicating and redeeming houses and land, with land valuations tied to the Year of Jubilee.
What Cannot Be Vowed (Leviticus 27:26-29)
26 "But a firstborn of animals, which as a firstborn belongs to the Lord, no man may dedicate; whether ox or sheep, it is the Lord's."
27 But if it is among the unclean animals, then he shall redeem it according to the valuation and add a fifth to it; and if it is not redeemed, it shall be sold according to the valuation.
28 “But no devoted thing that a man devotes to the Lord, of anything that he has, whether man or beast, or of his inherited field, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord.
29 No one devoted, who is to be devoted for destruction from mankind, shall be ransomed; he shall surely be put to death.
Commentary:
Certain things, like firstborn animals or items 'devoted' to God for destruction, already belong to Him and cannot be part of a special vow.
The Principle of the Tithe (Leviticus 27:30-34)
30 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.
31 If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it.
32 And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman's staff, shall be holy to the Lord.
33 “He shall not differentiate between good and bad, neither shall he make a substitute for it; and if he does substitute for it, then both it and the substitute shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.”
34 These are the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses for the people of Israel on Mount Sinai.
Commentary:
The tithe, a tenth of all agricultural produce and livestock, is declared holy and belonging to the Lord, concluding the laws given at Sinai.
Core Truths About Commitment and Holiness
The Seriousness of Vows
This chapter makes it clear that words spoken to God have weight. By creating a system of valuation and redemption, God shows that a vow is a real, binding commitment, not a fleeting emotional promise. It teaches that our integrity before God is paramount.
Integrating Faith and Daily Life
The laws in Leviticus 27 connect worship directly to a person's finances, property, and family. Dedication was more than a spiritual idea. It had tangible, economic implications. This shows that God is interested in every part of our lives, including the time spent outside formal worship.
Grace in Redemption
While vows are serious, the option to redeem most dedicated things shows God's grace. He understands that circumstances change and provides a way for people to fulfill their vow differently. The added penalty ensures the vow is still honored, blending grace with a respect for the original commitment.
God's Ownership and Our Stewardship
The laws on firstborns and tithes establish a foundational principle: some things belong to God by default. This shifts our perspective from 'giving God a portion of what's mine' to 'managing what is already His.' It frames our entire existence as one of stewardship under God's ultimate ownership.
Applying Ancient Vows to Modern Life
Leviticus 27 reminds you that your commitments to God, whether made in a moment of crisis or quiet devotion, matter deeply. It encourages you to be thoughtful with your promises, recognizing that integrity is a core part of worship. Your word has value, and God honors a heart that strives to follow through.
The redemption laws in verses like 27:15 and 27:19 show that God is both just and merciful. He provides a way forward when you cannot fulfill a commitment exactly as you intended. This teaches you that while your promises are important, God's grace is available when you fall short, though it never treats the original commitment as meaningless.
This chapter reframes giving as an act of returning to God what is already His. Verse 30 states the tithe 'is the Lord's,' which can shift your mindset from one of obligation to one of joyful stewardship. It encourages you to see all your resources as a gift from God and to honor Him with the 'firstfruits' of what He has provided.
Your Promises to God Matter
Leviticus concludes by showing that a relationship with a holy God touches every part of life, including personal promises and possessions. It provides a structured way for people to express their devotion, emphasizing that our commitments have real value and should be honored. The message is both practical and deeply meaningful: God desires a relationship where our words have weight and our devotion is expressed in tangible, ordered ways.
What This Means for Us Today
The laws in Leviticus 27 may seem distant, but they point to a timeless truth: God invites us into a relationship of integrity. He calls us to be people whose commitments - to Him and to others - are taken seriously. This chapter is an invitation to align our words and our actions, reflecting His own faithfulness in our daily lives.
- What promises have I made to God that I need to reflect on or fulfill?
- How can I view my possessions and resources as things that can be dedicated to God's purposes?
- In what area of my life do I need to practice greater integrity and follow-through?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter details the covenant blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, setting the moral and spiritual stakes for the laws that follow.
The book of Numbers begins right after Leviticus, shifting from law-giving at Sinai to organizing the people of Israel for their journey to the Promised Land.
Connections Across Scripture
Expands on the laws of vows, focusing specifically on the validity of vows made by women and the roles of fathers and husbands.
This passage echoes the seriousness of vows found in Leviticus, warning, 'It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.'
Jesus elevates the principle of integrity behind vows, teaching his followers to be so truthful that their simple 'yes' or 'no' is sufficient.
Theological Themes
Describes a person who is worthy to dwell with God as one 'who swears to his own hurt and does not change,' reflecting the value of keeping one's word.
Discussion Questions
- Leviticus 27 sets specific monetary values for people based on age and gender. While this feels foreign to us, what underlying principle about commitment and tangible value might God be teaching the Israelites?
- The chapter distinguishes between a regular vow (which can be redeemed) and a 'devoted thing' (which cannot). How does this help us understand different levels of commitment in our own spiritual lives?
- How does the idea that the tithe is 'holy to the Lord' (v. 30) change your perspective on giving, compared to seeing it as a donation or a church budget requirement?
Glossary
figures
theological concepts
Vow
A solemn promise made voluntarily to God to perform an act of devotion or give a special gift.
Redemption
The act of buying back something that had been dedicated to God, usually by paying its assessed value plus a penalty.
Tithe
The practice of giving one-tenth of one's agricultural produce or livestock to God as an act of worship and stewardship.
Devoted Thing (Herem)
An item or person irrevocably consecrated to God, which could not be sold or redeemed and was often set apart for destruction.