Leviticus 27:10 kjv
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 it and the exchange thereof shall be holy.
Leviticus 27:10 nkjv
He shall not substitute it or exchange it, good for bad or bad for good; and if he at all exchanges animal for animal, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy.
Leviticus 27:10 niv
They must not exchange it or substitute a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one; if they should substitute one animal for another, both it and the substitute become holy.
Leviticus 27:10 esv
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 it and the substitute shall be holy.
Leviticus 27:10 nlt
You may not exchange or substitute it for another animal ? neither a good animal for a bad one nor a bad animal for a good one. But if you do exchange one animal for another, then both the original animal and its substitute will be considered holy.
Leviticus 27 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 27:28 | But no devoted thing that a man shall devote to the LORD... may be sold or redeemed... | Emphasizes absolute consecration to God |
| Num 30:2 | When a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath... he shall not break his word... | Sanctity of vows to the Lord |
| Deut 23:21 | When you vow a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay paying it... | Timeliness and obligation of vows |
| Ecc 5:4-5 | When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it... It is better not to vow than to vow and not pay. | Gravity of making and fulfilling vows |
| Psa 66:13-14 | I will come into your house with burnt offerings... I will pay you my vows, that my lips uttered... | Personal commitment to fulfilling vows |
| Mal 1:8 | When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil?... | Condemnation of offering blemished animals |
| Mal 1:13-14 | You bring what has been taken by violence... Is that acceptable? Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock... | Denounces deception and unfaithful offerings |
| Exo 13:2 | Consecrate to me all the firstborn... of man and of beast; it is mine. | God's claim on dedicated firstborn |
| Exo 22:29-30 | You shall not delay to offer from the fullness... The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. You shall do likewise with your oxen... | Dedication of firstborn as God's right |
| Deut 15:19-20 | Every firstborn male that is born... you shall dedicate... You shall not work the firstborn of your ox... | Prohibition against profaning dedicated animals |
| Num 18:9-14 | This shall be yours from the most holy offerings, reserved from the fire... | God's provision for priests from holy offerings |
| Acts 5:1-11 | But a man named Ananias... with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back part of the proceeds... | Judgment for deceit regarding dedicated property |
| Rom 12:1 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God... | Spiritual dedication and commitment |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. | Believers are wholly God's, bought by Christ's sacrifice |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession... | Believers consecrated and set apart for God |
| Matt 16:24 | If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. | Total commitment and self-denial for discipleship |
| Luke 9:62 | No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God. | Importance of unwavering commitment once undertaken |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Importance of practical obedience to commitment |
| Rom 11:29 | For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. | God's sovereign actions and purposes are irreversible |
| Deut 6:16 | You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. | Not to presume upon or test God's boundaries |
| Lev 27:9 | If it is an animal such as men offer to the LORD, all of it that one gives to the LORD shall be holy. | The preceding context affirming animals offered become holy |
Leviticus 27 verses
Leviticus 27 10 Meaning
Leviticus 27:10 stipulates that once an animal has been dedicated or vowed to the Lord, it cannot be exchanged for another. This prohibition applies irrespective of the perceived quality of the animals involved, whether one seeks to trade a good animal for a bad one or vice-versa. If such an exchange is attempted, both the original dedicated animal and the substitute offered in its place become consecrated, implying they both irrevocably belong to the Lord and cannot be redeemed or used for common purposes, signifying a penalty for violating the sanctity of a vow.
Leviticus 27 10 Context
Leviticus chapter 27 provides detailed regulations concerning vows and dedications made to the Lord. It serves as an appendix to the preceding laws on offerings, purity, and festivals, giving guidance on how people could consecrate themselves, their property, or animals to God beyond the mandatory sacrifices. Verse 10 specifically addresses dedicated animals (mentioned in Lev 27:9, where animals fit for an offering that are vowed become holy). The historical context highlights ancient Israel's religious life, where personal vows were a significant expression of devotion or an appeal for divine favor. These regulations emphasized the sanctity of things dedicated to the Lord and prevented manipulation or half-heartedness in religious commitments, ensuring that pledges to God were treated with utmost seriousness and respect, setting Israel apart from pagan practices that might treat divine things lightly or pragmatically.
Leviticus 27 10 Word analysis
- He shall not alter it, nor change it (וְלֹא יַחֲלִיפֶנּוּ וְלֹא יָמִיר)
- alter/change: The Hebrew roots are חָלַף (ḥālaph - to pass over, change, exchange) and מוּר (mûr - to change, exchange, substitute). Using both verbs emphasizes the complete prohibition against any form of substitution or swapping of the dedicated animal. It implies that the animal, once dedicated, is unique and set apart.
- a good for a bad, or a bad for a good (טוֹב בְּרָע אוֹ רַע בְּטוֹב)
- good (טֽוֹב / tov): Refers to a animal of desirable quality, health, or fitness.
- bad (רָע / ra): Refers to a animal of inferior quality, health, or possibly one not fit for sacrifice.
- This phrase covers all possible motivations for an exchange, illustrating that the dedication transcends the intrinsic value or quality of the animal. Once vowed, its secular value is irrelevant; its holiness is paramount.
- and if he shall at all change beast for beast (וְאִם־הָמֵר יָמִיר בְּהֵמָה בִּבְהֵמָה)
- at all change: The Hebrew construct hamer yamir (infinitive absolute + finite verb) intensely emphasizes the action, "if he should indeed change." This linguistic form signals the certainty and severity of the ensuing consequence, despite the act itself being forbidden. It doesn't condone the act but describes the certain outcome if the violation occurs.
- beast (בְּהֵמָה / behemah): Refers to any domesticated animal, a common term for livestock. The repetition highlights the direct swap of one animal for another.
- then it and the exchange thereof shall be holy (וְהָיָה הֽוּא וּתְמוּרָתוֹ יִֽהְיֶה־קֹּֽדֶשׁ)
- it and the exchange thereof: Refers to the original dedicated animal and the animal brought as its substitute (תְּמוּרָה / təmūrāh, literally "its change/exchange"). The law creates a punitive doubling effect.
- shall be holy (קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה / qōdesh yihyeh): Literally "holy it shall be." This signifies a state of consecration to the Lord, meaning they both belong exclusively to Him, cannot be sold, redeemed, or put to common use. This penalty enforces the absolute sanctity of vows.
Leviticus 27 10 Bonus section
The Hebrew term temurah (תְּמוּרָה), derived from the verb mur (to change, exchange), became a key concept here. Later rabbinic Judaism, in the Mishnah, dedicated an entire tractate (Temurah) to the elaborate discussion of these very laws concerning substituted sacrifices, illustrating the lasting theological and practical weight of this single verse. This deep theological consideration reflects the unwavering nature of God's covenant and expectations of human faithfulness, asserting that true worship requires absolute integrity and sincerity, treating anything designated as holy with utmost reverence, just as the Lord Himself is holy.
Leviticus 27 10 Commentary
Leviticus 27:10 profoundly emphasizes the absolute sanctity and irrevocability of what has been dedicated to God. It teaches that once something is consecrated by vow, its status as holy is unchangeable by human discretion. God is not subject to human attempts to manipulate vows based on perceived utility or gain. The double consecration (original + substitute become holy) serves as a potent deterrent and a testament to divine ownership, reflecting God's sovereignty and His demand for integrity in religious observance. This principle extends beyond specific animal vows, underscoring that our commitments to God must be sincere and unwavering, not to be entered into lightly or altered for personal convenience. It underscores that attempting to substitute a lesser offering or to retrieve a consecrated item cheapens devotion and incurs a divine penalty. For example, a person cannot vow their finest animal and then try to swap it for an inferior one to save the good one for personal profit; or conversely, attempt to exchange a lesser animal for a seemingly better one thinking to "improve" the offering once vowed. Such actions would result in both animals belonging to the Lord.