Leviticus 27:15 kjv
And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his.
Leviticus 27:15 nkjv
If he who dedicated it wants to redeem his house, then he must add one-fifth of the money of your valuation to it, and it shall be his.
Leviticus 27:15 niv
If the one who dedicates their house wishes to redeem it, they must add a fifth to its value, and the house will again become theirs.
Leviticus 27:15 esv
And if the donor wishes to redeem his house, he shall add a fifth to the valuation price, and it shall be his.
Leviticus 27:15 nlt
If the person who dedicated the house wants to buy it back, he must pay the value set by the priest, plus 20 percent. Then the house will again be his.
Leviticus 27 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 5:16 | "And he shall make amends for the harm that he has done in the holy thing, and shall add a fifth part to it..." | Restitution principle with 20% addition. |
| Lev 6:5 | "...or all about which he swore falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth part to it..." | Restitution in fraud cases, adding a fifth. |
| Lev 22:14 | "If a man eats a holy thing unintentionally, he shall add a fifth part to it..." | Unintentional misuse of holy things, 20% penalty. |
| Lev 25:27 | "Then let him calculate the years since he sold it and refund the balance to the man..." | Redemption of land requires valuation. |
| Lev 27:13 | "If he redeems it, he must add a fifth of the value..." | Redemption of a devoted field, similar principle. |
| Lev 27:19 | "...he must add a fifth of its value..." | Redemption of devoted land sold, similar principle. |
| Lev 27:27 | "...he may redeem it according to thy estimation, and add thereto the fifth part of thy estimation." | Redemption of an unclean animal, adds a fifth. |
| Lev 27:28 | "Nevertheless no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath... shall be sold or redeemed..." | Irredeemable vows (herem) vs. redeemable vows. |
| Num 5:7 | "...he shall make restitution for his trespass in full, and add to it a fifth part of it..." | Restitution for sin, adding a fifth. |
| Deut 23:21 | "When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it..." | Seriousness and promptness of fulfilling vows. |
| Judg 11:30-31 | "Jephthah made a vow to the LORD... and I will offer it as a burnt offering." | Rash vows and their consequences. |
| Ecc 5:4-5 | "When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools... Better not to vow than to vow and not pay." | Seriousness of vows and their implications. |
| Jer 32:6-7 | "Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you to say, ‘Buy my field..." | Redemption rights within family/kinsmen. |
| Matt 16:26 | "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" | The ultimate cost of redemption of the soul. |
| Mark 10:45 | "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." | Christ's life as the cost of spiritual redemption. |
| Acts 20:28 | "...shepherd the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." | God's ultimate purchase of the Church. |
| Rom 3:24 | "...and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." | Justification through Christ's redemption. |
| Rom 7:22-24 | "...who will deliver me from this body of death?" | Spiritual need for redemption from sin. |
| 1 Cor 6:20 | "For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body..." | Believers are purchased by God at a price. |
| Gal 3:13 | "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us..." | Redemption from the law's curse. |
| Eph 1:7 | "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses..." | Redemption leading to forgiveness of sins. |
| Col 1:13-14 | "...who has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." | Redemption as liberation and forgiveness. |
| Heb 9:12 | "...he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." | Christ's blood as the eternal redemption price. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | "...you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers... with the precious blood of Christ." | Redemption by Christ's blood, not earthly things. |
Leviticus 27 verses
Leviticus 27 15 Meaning
Leviticus 27:15 addresses the scenario where an individual has dedicated their house to the Lord through a special vow and later desires to reclaim it. The verse stipulates that if the one who sanctified the house wishes to redeem it, they must pay its appraised value, as estimated by the priest, and add a mandatory one-fifth (20%) of that estimated value. Upon payment of this total amount, the house is then returned to its original owner, indicating that a dedicated item, even if redeemed, carries a premium for its return, acknowledging God's prior claim and the seriousness of the vow.
Leviticus 27 15 Context
Leviticus Chapter 27 concludes the detailed legal codes of the Torah by addressing vows and dedicated things. Following intricate instructions regarding offerings, holiness, and purity, this chapter outlines regulations for personal vows that involve dedicating people, animals, houses, or fields to the Lord. It differentiates between things "devoted" (which were irredeemable) and "sanctified" (which could be redeemed). The purpose was to provide an equitable and holy way to handle property and persons that had been set apart to God, while also allowing for their reclamation under specific conditions. Verse 15 specifically focuses on a dedicated house, setting a monetary principle for its redemption by adding a one-fifth premium to its appraised value, thereby emphasizing the sanctity and God's claim on what has been vowed. This entire chapter demonstrates the seriousness with which God viewed vows and the dedication of property to Him in ancient Israel, an agrarian society where property represented family heritage and livelihood.
Leviticus 27 15 Word analysis
- And if he that sanctified: The Hebrew word for "sanctified" is `qadash` (קדש), meaning "to be set apart, consecrated, holy." This implies a deliberate act of dedicating or vowing the house to God, thereby making it sacred or "holy unto the Lord" (Lev 27:9, 21-22). The "he" refers to the owner who made this vow.
- the house: Hebrew: `bayit` (בית). This refers specifically to a dwelling place or building, distinguishing it from fields or animals, which have their own regulations in the chapter (Lev 27:16, 26).
- would redeem: The Hebrew verb is `ga'al` (גאל), meaning "to redeem, ransom, buy back, or act as kinsman-redeemer." This highlights the concept of repurchasing something that has been alienated from its original owner, albeit temporarily consecrated to God. The act of redemption indicates a desire to regain possession, signifying that the vow itself wasn't necessarily permanent but had conditions for reversal.
- his house: The possessive pronoun emphasizes that the house was originally the redeemer's property, and by redeeming it, it is returned to their possession, not merely traded.
- then the fifth part: The Hebrew word `ḥomesh` (חומש) means "a fifth," or 20%. This specified premium is a consistent feature in the redemption laws (Lev 27:13, 19, 27) and restitution laws (Lev 5:16; 6:5; Num 5:7). This additional charge served multiple purposes: it acted as a deterrent against rash vows; it underscored the solemnity of things dedicated to God, signifying that once something was declared "holy," its return came at an added cost, recognizing God's prior claim; and it might also cover the costs or inconvenience for the temple treasury.
- of the money: Hebrew: `keseph` (כסף), primarily meaning silver, but commonly used for money in general. It refers to the form of payment.
- of thy estimation: The Hebrew verb `'arak` (ערך) means "to estimate, appraise, value." This estimation was not left to the discretion of the vower. Leviticus 27:12 clarifies that the priest (as God's representative) would appraise the value of the item, reflecting an impartial, divine assessment rather than the owner's personal valuation. This ensures fairness and God's rightful due.
- shall be added unto it: This phrase clearly states that the one-fifth is an extra amount, superimposing itself on the base appraised value, totaling 120% of the initial estimation.
- and it shall be his: This confirms the re-establishment of the original owner's claim to the house upon fulfilling the prescribed payment.
- He that sanctified... would redeem his house: This grouping signifies the two key actions of a vower: the initial act of dedication and the subsequent act of reclamation. It shows that while vows were binding, there was a prescribed mechanism for alteration, though with a cost, reflecting God's order and the importance of commitments.
- The fifth part... added unto it, and it shall be his: This sequence highlights the principle of redemption for devoted items. It demonstrates that reclaiming what was dedicated to God came at a specific surcharge, making the act of withdrawal significant and costly, affirming that vows were not to be treated lightly. This "premium" applied universally for items dedicated to the Lord and then reclaimed, underlining God's prerogative and ownership.
Leviticus 27 15 Bonus section
The requirement to add a fifth part for redemption or restitution is a recurring theme in the Law, appearing in various contexts beyond just dedicated houses (Lev 5:16, 6:5; Num 5:7). This consistency highlights a foundational legal and spiritual principle: that things pertaining to God, or restitutions for wrongs, have an added cost. This ensures the seriousness of transactions involving the sacred and acts as a deterrent to casual engagement with holy matters or wrongdoing. It ensures full reparation or acknowledges God's prior ownership, reminding the individual of the solemnity of their original vow. This concept can be seen as an ancient form of liquidated damages or a "sacred surcharge," protecting the sanctity of devoted things and the integrity of vows made to the Divine. It’s also distinct from the ultimate and perfect redemption found in Christ, who, unlike the redemption of an earthly house with a 20% surcharge, paid the full and complete price, sacrificing Himself, leaving no "addition" for human effort or worthiness.
Leviticus 27 15 Commentary
Leviticus 27:15 lays out the terms for redeeming a house that an Israelite had dedicated to the Lord. It underscores that once an item, even a personal possession like a house, is consecrated to God through a vow, it takes on a sacred status and is considered "holy to the Lord." The option to redeem it demonstrates God's gracious provision, allowing for flexibility for human limitations or changes in circumstance, rather than an unchangeable, absolute forfeiture. However, this redemption comes with a stipulated cost: the original appraised value plus a mandatory 20% premium. This additional fifth served as a critical mechanism. It was not punitive but reinforced the seriousness and sanctity of the original vow and God's sovereign claim over all things. It taught the vower the tangible cost of rescinding a solemn pledge made before God, encouraging careful consideration before making such commitments. The process involved priestly estimation to ensure an impartial and fair valuation, aligning with divine standards of justice. Spiritually, this principle prefigures aspects of redemption, where release from sin and return to God comes not freely, but at an immense cost—the sacrifice of Christ—demonstrating the high value of spiritual liberation and the seriousness of our dedication to God. It encourages believers to be truthful and careful in all their commitments, recognizing God’s oversight.