ScriptureDepth's study of Leviticus 27
“But if he is poorer than your valuation, then he shall be set before the priest, and the priest shall assign a value to him. The priest shall assign a value according to his ability to pay.”
Leviticus 27:8
Yahweh speaks to Moses about valuing a person who is poorer than expected, instructing the priest to assess worth based on their ability to pay.
What Leviticus 27 is about
Yahweh instructs Moses to speak to the children of Israel about consecrating persons in vows (vv. 1-2). The valuation for a male aged twenty to sixty is set at fifty shekels; for a female, it is thirty shekels. Valuations vary for different age groups, decreasing with age and gender (vv. 3-8). Animals dedicated to Yahweh become holy and cannot be exchanged (vv. 9-13). A man can dedicate his house, and the priest evaluates its value (vv. 14-19). If a field is dedicated, it is valued according to its seed and can be redeemed by adding a fifth part (vv. 20-25). The firstborn of animals belongs to Yahweh and cannot be dedicated (vv. 26-33). Valuations and dedications follow specific rules about redemption and holiness, concluding with a summary of the commandments given to Moses (v. 34).
Everything devoted to destruction is most holy to Yahweh.
Leviticus 27 at a glance
- Leviticus 27:1–2Instructions on Vows
- Leviticus 27:3–8Valuations of Persons
- Leviticus 27:9–13Dedication of Animals
- Leviticus 27:14–19Valuation of Houses and Fields
- Leviticus 27:20–25Consequences of Selling or Not Redeeming
- Leviticus 27:26–33Firstborn and Devoted Things
- Leviticus 27:34Summary of Commandments
Key verse: Leviticus 27:8
One thing to notice
Instructions about valuations and dedications are given to Moses, with a focus on the priest's role. Valuations include people based on age and gender (vv. 3-8) and assessments of property and animals. Each command outlines a process for consecrating possessions to Yahweh.
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Leviticus 27 (WEB)
Instructions on Vows Leviticus 27:1–2
1Verse 1. Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2Verse 2. “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, ‘When a man consecrates a person to Yahweh in a vow, according to your valuation,
Valuations of Persons Leviticus 27:3–8
3Verse 3. your valuation of a male from twenty years old even to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. 4Verse 4. If she is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels. 5Verse 5. If the person is from five years old even to twenty years old, then your valuation shall be for a male twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels. 6Verse 6. If the person is from a month old even to five years old, then your valuation shall be for a male five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver.
7Verse 7. If the person is from sixty years old and upward; if he is a male, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels. 8Verse 8. But if he is poorer than your valuation, then he shall be set before the priest, and the priest shall assign a value to him. The priest shall assign a value according to his ability to pay.
Dedication of Animals Leviticus 27:9–13
9Verse 9. “‘If it is an animal, of which men offer an offering to Yahweh, all that any man gives of such to Yahweh becomes holy. 10Verse 10. 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 animal for animal, then both it and that for which it is changed shall be holy. 11Verse 11. If it is any unclean animal, of which they do not offer as an offering to Yahweh, then he shall set the animal before the priest; 12Verse 12. and the priest shall value it, whether it is good or bad. As you the priest values it, so shall it be.
13Verse 13. But if he will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of it to its valuation.
Valuation of Houses and Fields Leviticus 27:14–19
14Verse 14. “‘When a man dedicates his house to be holy to Yahweh, then the priest shall evaluate it, whether it is good or bad: as the priest shall evaluate it, so shall it stand. 15Verse 15. If he who dedicates it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of your valuation to it, and it shall be his. 16Verse 16. “‘If a man dedicates to Yahweh part of the field of his possession, then your valuation shall be according to the seed for it. The sowing of a homer of barley shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.
17Verse 17. If he dedicates his field from the Year of Jubilee, according to your valuation it shall stand. 18Verse 18. But if he dedicates his field after the Jubilee, then the priest shall reckon to him the money according to the years that remain to the Year of Jubilee; and an abatement shall be made from your valuation. 19Verse 19. If he who dedicated the field will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of your valuation to it, and it shall remain his.
Consequences of Selling or Not Redeeming Leviticus 27:20–25
20Verse 20. If he will not redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more; 21Verse 21. but the field, when it goes out in the Jubilee, shall be holy to Yahweh, as a devoted field. It shall be owned by the priests. 22Verse 22. “‘If he dedicates a field to Yahweh which he has bought, which is not of the field of his possession, 23Verse 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 thing to Yahweh.
24Verse 24. In the Year of Jubilee the field shall return to him from whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the land belongs. 25Verse 25. All your valuations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs to the shekel.
Firstborn and Devoted Things Leviticus 27:26–33
26Verse 26. “‘Only the firstborn among animals, which is made Yahweh’s firstborn, no man may dedicate; whether an ox or a sheep. It is Yahweh’s. 27Verse 27. If it is an unclean animal, then he shall buy it back according to your valuation, and shall add to it the fifth part of it; or if it isn’t redeemed, then it shall be sold according to your valuation. 28Verse 28. “‘Notwithstanding, no devoted thing, that a man shall devote to Yahweh of all that he has, whether of man or animal, or of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed. Everything devoted to destruction is most holy to Yahweh.
29Verse 29. “‘No one devoted, who shall be devoted from among men, shall be ransomed; he shall surely be put to death. 30Verse 30. “‘All the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is Yahweh’s. It is holy to Yahweh. 31Verse 31. If a man redeems anything of his tithe, he shall add a fifth part to it. 32Verse 32. All the tithe of the herds or the flocks, whatever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy to Yahweh. 33Verse 33. He shall not search whether it is good or bad, neither shall he change it. If he changes it at all, then both it and that for which it is changed shall be holy. It shall not be redeemed.’”
Summary of Commandments Leviticus 27:34
34Verse 34. These are the commandments which Yahweh commanded Moses for the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Leviticus 27
Dedication to God
This chapter describes what it means to dedicate various things to Yahweh. It discusses dedicating persons to God through vows, such as valuing a male at 'fifty shekels' and a female at 'thirty shekels' (v. 3). When dedicating animals and fields, specific rules are given, showing how individuals are to set apart their possessions for divine purposes.
Value and Worth
Valuations throughout this chapter establish a system for assessing worth based on various factors. For instance, persons' values are calculated according to age and gender, such as a male from twenty to sixty years old being valued at fifty shekels (v. 3). This framework aids in determining the monetary worth of dedicated items and the means by which community members engage with their valuations.
Vows and Commitments
The chapter provides clear directives on how to make vows to Yahweh and the implications of those commitments. It specifies that individuals should evaluate their vows according to set standards, such as valuing a dedicated person or object based on prescribed amounts (vv. 3-7). This focus on vows formalizes the process of dedication, emphasizing accountability in one's commitments to God.
Redemption and Grace
The text details the processes for redeeming dedicated items, highlighting provisions within the framework of the law. For example, if a person wishes to redeem their dedicated house, they must add a fifth part of its value (v. 15). This process allows individuals to reclaim dedicated items, demonstrating a compassionate aspect of the regulations governing dedication.
Chapter outline
How Leviticus 27 unfolds
Leviticus 27:1–2 Instructions on Vows
Yahweh instructs Moses to tell the children of Israel that when a man consecrates a person to Yahweh in a vow, it must be according to their valuation (v. 2).
Leviticus 27:3–8 Valuations of Persons
The valuation for a male aged twenty to sixty is fifty shekels, while a female is valued at thirty shekels (vv. 3-4). Valuations are also given for younger and older individuals (vv. 5-8).
Leviticus 27:9–13 Dedication of Animals
If an animal is offered to Yahweh, it becomes holy and cannot be exchanged (vv. 9-10). For unclean animals, the priest values it, and a fifth part is added if it is redeemed (vv. 12-13).
Leviticus 27:14–19 Valuation of Houses and Fields
If a man dedicates his house, the priest evaluates it (v. 14), and if the house is redeemed, an additional fifth part must be added (v. 15). Similar regulations apply to fields, with valuations based on the amount of seed (vv. 16-19).
Leviticus 27:20–25 Consequences of Selling or Not Redeeming
If a field is not redeemed or sold, it remains holy and belongs to the priests at the Jubilee (vv. 20-21). Dedicating a purchased field requires a valuation that ends at the Jubilee (vv. 22-25).
Leviticus 27:26–33 Firstborn and Devoted Things
The firstborn among animals is given wholly to Yahweh and cannot be dedicated (v. 26). Additionally, devoted things cannot be sold or redeemed (v. 28), highlighting the sacredness of certain offerings.
Leviticus 27:34 Summary of Commandments
Yahweh commands Moses to deliver these commandments to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai (v. 34).
Key verses
Leviticus 27:8Yahweh speaks to Moses about valuing a person who is poorer than expected, instructing the priest to assess worth based on their ability to pay.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Leviticus 27
- observeIn v8, why is the person set before 'the priest' for valuation?
- observeWhat does 'the priest' use in v12 to value the unclean animal?
- interpretIn vv. 28-29, what does it mean that 'no devoted thing' can be sold or redeemed?
- interpretThe mention of 'the fifth part' in vv. 13 and 15: what does this addition signify for redemption?
- applyWhen have you faced a situation where you had to honor a promise like a vow in v2?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Leviticus 27
- Malachi 3Leviticus 27:30 and Malachi 3:10Both tithe: Leviticus 27:30 states it is holy to Yahweh, while Malachi 3:10 urges bringing the whole tithe.
- Leviticus 25Leviticus 27:17 and Leviticus 25:13Both return property: Leviticus 27:17 discusses dedication from Jubilee, while Leviticus 25:13 addresses returning to property.
- Numbers 18Leviticus 27:21 and Numbers 18:14Both devoted field: Leviticus 27:21 mentions this field shall be holy, while Numbers 18:14 states devoted things belong to the priests.
- Leviticus 5Leviticus 27:13 and Leviticus 5:16Both add a fifth: Leviticus 27:13 references redemption with a fifth part, while Leviticus 5:16 details restitution adding a fifth.
- Exodus 13Leviticus 27:26 and Exodus 13:2Both firstborn: Leviticus 27:26 declares they are Yahweh's, while Exodus 13:2 instructs to sanctify all firstborn.
- Numbers 3Leviticus 27:6 and Numbers 3:47Both valuation: Leviticus 27:6 values children, while Numbers 3:47 specifies taking five shekels for each.
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