Chapter 27 of Leviticus deals with regulations regarding vows and gender, and the related ransom for people, animals, houses, and fields. This chapter emphasizes the importance of vows and devotions and provides specific instructions on how to value and handle various offerings. The following is the main content of Leviticus 27 and commentary for each verse.
Main contents of Leviticus 27
- Rules for vows (verses 1-8)
- Animal ransom (verses 9-13)
- Ransom for the house and field (verses 14-25)
- The ransom of the holy things and the first fruits (verses 26-29)
- Conclusion (verses 30-34)
Explanation of each verse
1. Rules for vows (verses 1-8)
- Verses 1-2 : Jehovah gives Moses a decree regarding vows.
- Verses 3-8 : It stipulates the value of the person who made the vow. The price is different for men and women depending on their age, and poor people can make a vow in lieu of a price determined by the priest.
example :
- From 20 to 60 years old, it is 50 shekels for men and 30 shekels for women.
- From 5 to 20 years old, it is 20 shekels for boys and 10 shekels for girls.
- From 1 month to 5 years old, it is 5 shekels for boys and 3 shekels for girls.
- For those over 60, it is 15 shekels for men and 10 shekels for women.
2. Animal ransom (verses 9-13)
- Verses 9-10 : Animals that have been vowed to be offered to the Lord cannot be changed, and unclean animals are valued by the priest.
- Verses 11-13 : When offering an unclean animal, the priest sets the price, and if the owner wants to redeem the animal, he must add one-fifth of the price.
3. Ransom for the house and field (verses 14-25)
- Verses 14-15 : If a vow is made to dedicate a house to the Lord, the priest sets the price, and if the owner is deceived, he must pay one-fifth of the price in addition to the price.
- Verses 16-21 : When you make a vow for an inherited field, its price is set according to the number of years left until the Jubilee. If you are deceived, you must pay an additional fifth of the price.
- Verses 22-25 : When making a vow for a purchased field, the priest sets the price according to the number of years remaining until the Jubilee, and when the Jubilee year arrives, the field returns to its original owner.
4. Redemption of holy objects and first fruits (verses 26-29)
- Verses 26-27 : The firstborn belongs to the Lord, so it cannot be offered as a vow, and if one is to be deceived, one must set a certain price.
- Verses 28-29 : What is fully dedicated to the Lord cannot be sold or redeemed, and anyone who has fully dedicated it must be put to death.
5. Conclusion (verses 30-34)
- Verses 30-31 : One-tenth of all the produce belongs to the Lord, and if you are deceived, you must pay an additional fifth of the price.
- Verses 32-33 : Even one-tenth of the cattle or sheep belong to the Lord and cannot be chosen or changed.
- Verse 34 : These are the commandments the Lord gave Moses on Mount Sinai.
Summary and Significance
Chapter 27 of Leviticus emphasizes the importance of vows and devotion, recognizes the value of giving to God through ransom provisions for people, animals, houses, and fields, and clarifies the rules accordingly. This shows how important devotion and vows to God are in religious life, and allows believers to express their reverence and devotion to God by observing these regulations.