Leviticus-Chap-27
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Remember the following truth from our
beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO
THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL
YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Foreword:
Leviticus 27 is the concluding chapter of the book. This section deals with the sanctification of gifts to the Sanctuary, focusing on how individuals can express their devotion through voluntary vows and the “valuation” (erekh) of people, animals, and property.
Introduction:
The Book of Leviticus, which began with the
laws of animal sacrifices, ends with a practical framework for personal
generosity. Chapter 27 serves as an appendix that transforms abstract spiritual
impulses into concrete support for the communal religious infrastructure. It
teaches that while a person’s soul is beyond price, their service and
possessions have a defined value that can be dedicated to a higher purpose.
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Let us read Leviticus
Chapter 27, verses 1-43: Below the verses are the Explanation’s. (The Chapter is from JPS-1917 version of the
Torah).
Verses 1-8: “And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: ‘Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them: When a man shall clearly utter a vow of persons unto יְהוָה - the LORD, according to thy valuation, then thy valuation shall be for the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. And if it be a female, then thy valuation shall be thirty shekels. And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy valuation shall be for the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy valuation shall be for the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy valuation shall be three shekels of silver. And if it be from sixty years old and upward: if it be a male, then thy valuation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels. But if he be too poor for thy valuation, then he shall be set before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to the means of him that vowed shall the priest value him.
Explanation Verses 1-8: These verses address the “valuation” of a person. When someone makes a vow to dedicate their “value” to the Sanctuary, the Torah provides a fixed scale based on age and gender. This is not a comment on human worth which is infinite, but rather a standardized assessment of economic productivity or “functional” value during that era. It also includes a clause of compassion: if a person is too poor to pay the fixed rate, the Priest assesses them based on what they can actually afford, ensuring that the desire to give is never blocked by financial hardship.
Verses 9-13: And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto יְהוָה - the LORD, all that any man giveth of such unto יְהוָה - the LORD shall be holy. 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 beast for beast, then both it and that for which it is changed shall be holy. And if it be any unclean beast, of which they may not bring an offering unto יְהוָה - the LORD, then he shall set the beast before the priest. And the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad; as thou the priest valuest it, so shall it be. But if he will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part thereof unto thy valuation.
Explanation Verses 9-13: This section deals with animal vows. If a person designates a clean animal (fit for sacrifice) as holy, it cannot be exchanged or substituted. If they try to swap a “good” one for a “bad” one, or vice-versa, both animals become holy. This teaches integrity in our commitments; we cannot “game” a promise made to the Divine. However, if the animal is “unclean” (not for sacrifice), the Priest values it, and the owner can “redeem” it by paying that value plus a one-fifth “added tax”.
Verses 14-15: And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto יְהוָה - the LORD, then the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad; as the priest shall value it, so shall it stand. And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy valuation unto it, and it shall be his.
Explanation Verses 14-15: When a person consecrates their home to the Sanctuary, it undergoes a priestly valuation. Like the unclean animal, the owner has the right to buy the house back by paying the valuation plus an additional 20 percent. This allows the Sanctuary to benefit from the capital while allowing the family to retain their ancestral living space if they choose.
Verses 16-25: And if a man shall sanctify unto יְהוָה - the LORD part of the field of his possession, then thy valuation shall be according to the sowing thereof; the sowing of a homer of barley shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver. If he sanctify his field from the year of jubilee, according to thy valuation it shall stand. But if he sanctify his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain unto the year of jubilee, and an abatement shall be made from thy valuation. And if he that sanctified the field will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy valuation unto it, and it shall be assured to him. And if he will not redeem the field, or if he have sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more. But the field, when it goeth out in the jubilee, shall be holy unto יְהוָה - the LORD, as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest's. And if he sanctify unto יְהוָה - the LORD a field which he hath bought, which is not of the field of his possession; then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy valuation unto the year of jubilee; and he shall give thy valuation in that day, as a holy thing unto יְהוָה - the LORD. In the year of jubilee the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the land belongeth. And all thy valuations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary; twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.
Explanation Verses 16-25: These laws govern the dedication of inherited land. The valuation
is strictly tied to the agricultural cycle and the Jubilee year (Yovel). The cost is calculated based on how much seed the
land requires and how many years remain until the Jubilee, when land naturally
returns to its original owner. This system ensures that the permanent tribal
portions of
Verses 26-27: Howbeit the
firstling among beasts, which is born as a firstling to יְהוָה -
the LORD, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox
or sheep, it is יְהוָה - the LORD’s. And if it be of an unclean
beast, then he shall ransom it according to thy valuation, and shall add unto
it the fifth part thereof; or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold
according to thy valuation.
Explanation Verses 26-27: The Torah clarifies that one cannot "dedicate" a firstling animal because the firstborn already belongs to God by law. You cannot gift what is not yours to give. For unclean firstborns (like a donkey), the owner must redeem it or it is sold, with the proceeds going to the Sanctuary.
Verses 28-29: Notwithstanding, no devoted thing, that a man may devote unto יְהוָה - the LORD of all that he hath, whether of man or beast, or of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy unto יְהוָה - the LORD. None devoted, that may be devoted of men, shall be ransomed; he shall surely be put to death.
Explanation Verses 28-29: A distinction is made for Cherem items or people devoted under a “ban”. Unlike a standard vow, a Cherem is “most holy” and cannot be redeemed or sold. It represents an absolute, irreversible transfer of status.
Verses 30-33: And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is יְהוָה - the LORD’s; it is holy unto יְהוָה - the LORD. And if a man will redeem aught of his tithe, he shall add unto it the fifth part thereof. And all the tithe of the herd or the flock, whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto יְהוָה - the LORD. He shall not inquire whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it; and if he change it at all, then both it and that for which it is changed shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
Explanation Verses 30-33: These verses cover the tithes of the land (produce and fruit) and the herd. The “tithe of the herd” is selected by passing animals under a staff; every tenth one is marked as holy regardless of its quality. This removes human bias from the process of giving; reminding us that all our bounty ultimately comes from a source beyond our own selection.
Verse 34: These are the commandments, which יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses for the children of
Explanation Verse 34: This final verse serves as a seal for the entire book. It affirms
that these laws are not mere social contracts, but commandments given at
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My Closing Message:
Leviticus 27 reminds us that our spiritual
life is not separate from our material life. By creating a system for valuing
our time, our homes, and our labour, the Torah provides a way to elevate the “everyday”
into the “holy”. It teaches us that while our heart’s intentions matter, those
intentions find their fullest expression when we back them up with tangible
action and integrity. As we conclude Leviticus, we carry forward the lesson
that every aspect of our existence can be sanctified.
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