Leviticus 27:12 kjv
And the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad: as thou valuest it, who art the priest, so shall it be.
Leviticus 27:12 nkjv
and the priest shall set a value for it, whether it is good or bad; as you, the priest, value it, so it shall be.
Leviticus 27:12 niv
who will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, that is what it will be.
Leviticus 27:12 esv
and the priest shall value it as either good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall be.
Leviticus 27:12 nlt
He will assess its value, and his assessment will be final, whether high or low.
Leviticus 27 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 30:2 | If a man makes a vow to the LORD... he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. | Obligation to fulfill vows. |
| Deut 23:21 | When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it... | Prompt payment of vows emphasized. |
| Ecc 5:4 | When you vow a vow to God, do not delay to pay it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. | Seriousness of vows and payment. |
| Lev 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..." | Context: Valuation of vowed persons. |
| Lev 27:9 | "If it is an animal that may be offered as an offering to the LORD, all of it that one gives to the LORD shall be holy." | Context: Animals fit for sacrifice. |
| Lev 27:11 | If it is any unclean animal... that may not be offered... it shall be presented to the priest. | Immediate context: Unclean animals need valuing. |
| Lev 27:13 | If a man wishes to redeem any of it, he shall add a fifth to its valuation. | Redemption price includes a 20% increase. |
| Lev 27:14 | "When a man dedicates his house as holy to the LORD, the priest shall value it as either good or bad..." | Priest's valuation applies to houses too. |
| Lev 13:3 | The priest shall examine the diseased area... | Priest's role in examining purity. |
| Lev 13:17 | If the priest examines him... then the priest shall pronounce him clean... | Priestly declaration of clean/unclean. |
| Lev 22:20 | You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable... | Criteria for acceptable offerings. |
| Mal 1:8 | When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? | Offering blemished animals is unacceptable. |
| Deut 17:8-9 | If any case arises requiring a decision between one kind of homicide and another... you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge... | Priests as ultimate legal arbiters. |
| Deut 21:5 | Then the priests, the sons of Levi, shall come near, for the LORD your God has chosen them... to settle every dispute and every assault. | Priestly role in settling disputes. |
| Hag 2:11-13 | "Ask the priests about the law: If someone carries holy meat... does it make it holy?" | Priestly authority in matters of holiness. |
| Num 18:14 | "Every devoted thing in Israel shall be yours." | Priests receive dedicated things. |
| Neh 10:32-33 | We also lay on ourselves the obligation to charge ourselves yearly with a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God... | Maintaining temple through contributions. |
| 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 offering vs. animal sacrifices. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. | Believers as a spiritual priesthood. |
| Heb 10:1-18 | For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities... Christ is the final sacrifice. | Fulfillment of animal sacrifices in Christ. |
| Heb 13:17 | Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. | Submission to spiritual authority. |
| Matt 18:18 | Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven... | Principle of binding earthly declarations. |
Leviticus 27 verses
Leviticus 27 12 Meaning
Leviticus 27:12 delineates the authority and procedure for valuing animals vowed to the Lord, particularly those that are not sacrificed but held for redemption or transfer. It states that the priest's judgment concerning the animal's worth, whether considered "good" or "bad" in terms of quality or condition, is final and binding. This establishes an official, impartial valuation that must be accepted by the individual who made the vow.
Leviticus 27 12 Context
Leviticus Chapter 27 serves as an appendix to the Book of Leviticus, providing specific instructions regarding vows and tithes. After the detailed laws concerning sacrifices, purity, and festivals, this chapter addresses how various dedicated persons, animals, houses, or lands are to be managed or redeemed. Leviticus 27:9-13 focuses on animals that have been consecrated to the Lord through a vow. While animals fit for sacrifice cannot be exchanged or redeemed (v. 9-10), animals that are unclean or otherwise not directly offered (v. 11) must be valued by the priest. Verse 12 specifically grants the priest the sole and conclusive authority to assess the value of such vowed animals, whether their quality is deemed good or bad for the purpose of redemption. Historically, in ancient Israel, the Aaronic priests served as divine arbiters and financial administrators within the tabernacle/temple system, ensuring order, upholding sanctity, and preventing disputes over monetary assessments related to sacred donations.
Leviticus 27 12 Word analysis
- then (וְ): Connects to the preceding verses (especially 27:11), indicating the subsequent action required when an unclean or non-sacrificial animal is vowed and presented to the priest.
- the priest (הַכֹּהֵן - ha-kohen): Refers specifically to an authorized Aaronite priest. This emphasizes his singular, divinely appointed role as the intermediary, judge, and valuer in sacred matters. His judgment holds official, legal, and spiritual weight due to his office.
- shall value (וְהֶעֱרִיךְ - və-he'erikh): From the Hebrew root עָרַךְ (arakh), meaning "to set in order, arrange, estimate, appraise, value." This is not a casual guess but an authoritative, expert appraisal, reflecting careful consideration of market conditions, the animal's physical state, and its intended use (or non-use as sacrifice).
- it (אֹתוֹ - otho): Refers to the vowed animal mentioned in the preceding verses (27:9-11), whether clean but not sacrificial, or unclean, and therefore subject to valuation for redemption.
- whether it is good or bad (טוב אוֹ רָע - tov o ra'): This phrase defines the parameters of the priest's evaluation. "Good" (tov) implies sound, healthy, or of marketable quality; "bad" (ra') implies blemished, unsound, or of lesser market value. This is a practical, not a moral, assessment of the animal's physical condition and intrinsic worth, ensuring fairness in the appraisal for potential redemption or transfer to the temple treasury. It highlights the priest's detailed inspection.
- as you, the priest (כְּאֶשֶׁר תַּעֲרִיךְ הַכֹּהֵן - ka'asher ta'arikh ha-kohen): Reinforces the priest's individual and direct authority. The repetition of "the priest" stresses the binding nature of his office and his personal responsibility in the judgment. The use of "you" addresses the priest directly, underscoring that the power of valuation is vested in his person, under God's guidance.
- value it (תַּעֲרִיךְ - ta'arikh): Repetition of the valuation verb, emphasizing the action and confirming the assessment process.
- so it shall be (כֵּן יִהְיֶה - ken yihyeh): A decisive and emphatic statement conveying absolute finality. There is no appeal or second opinion once the priest has rendered his valuation. This underscores the unchangeable and binding nature of the priestly decree in cultic financial matters, reflecting divine endorsement of the priestly judgment.
Leviticus 27 12 Bonus section
- Polemics against Self-Interest: By granting the priest, not the vower, the sole authority to determine value, this verse subtly counters any human inclination to value their dedicated property self-servingly. It ensures that the divine interests, represented by the priest, take precedence over personal gain or convenience.
- Administrative Efficiency: The absolute finality ("so it shall be") of the priestly valuation created a clear, uncontestable mechanism for handling consecrated property. This contributed to the efficient and orderly administration of the sanctuary's treasury and resources, vital for the operational upkeep of the sacred services.
- Divine Order: This detailed valuation process underscores the meticulous nature of the Mosaic Law, reflecting a God who values order, fairness, and accountability even in seemingly mundane financial transactions related to worship. It illustrates that even dedicated wealth must pass through divine channels for proper stewardship.
Leviticus 27 12 Commentary
Leviticus 27:12 reveals the practical outworking of Israel’s covenant relationship with God through the established priesthood. It asserts the divine appointment of the priest as the final arbiter in matters concerning the dedication and redemption of vowed property, particularly animals not destined for sacrifice. The phrase "good or bad" emphasizes the rigorous, practical nature of the priest's assessment, which was a thorough examination of the animal's physical condition to determine its market value. This was crucial for fairness, preventing individuals from undervaluing or overvaluing their dedicated animals and ensuring integrity within the tabernacle's financial dealings. The ultimate declaration, "so it shall be," underscores the non-negotiable authority vested in the priestly office, serving to prevent disputes, maintain order, and uphold the sanctity of offerings made to the Lord. This verse reflects God's meticulous nature in establishing procedures that brought clarity and avoided exploitation within His holy economy.