Leviticus 27 2

Leviticus 27:2 kjv

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation.

Leviticus 27:2 nkjv

"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the LORD, according to your valuation,

Leviticus 27:2 niv

"Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate a person to the LORD by giving the equivalent value,

Leviticus 27:2 esv

"Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the valuation of persons,

Leviticus 27:2 nlt

"Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate someone to the LORD by paying the value of that person,

Leviticus 27 verses

Leviticus 27 2 Meaning

Leviticus 27:2 initiates the regulations concerning voluntary vows made to the Lord involving persons. It establishes that if an Israelite makes a special, perhaps extraordinary, vow to dedicate an individual (which could include oneself, a child, or a servant) to the Lord, then that person is considered consecrated to God. However, the subsequent phrase immediately clarifies that this dedication does not imply a literal human offering, but rather the payment of a specific monetary value, determined by the priest's estimation, which serves as a substitute or redemption price for the dedicated individual. This mechanism ensures devotion is expressed while upholding the sanctity of human life according to God’s law.

Leviticus 27 2 Context

Leviticus 27 is an appendix to the book of Leviticus, following the extensive laws on sacrifices, rituals, and purity. While the preceding chapters deal with required offerings and general religious obligations, Chapter 27 focuses on voluntary commitments made to the Lord. It sets out the rules for things vowed or dedicated to God, including persons, animals, houses, and fields. Verse 2 specifically addresses the dedication of persons. This chapter's primary purpose is to regulate how these voluntary acts of piety are to be managed, especially emphasizing the possibility of "redemption" through a monetary valuation, thereby preventing arbitrary or irresponsible fulfillment of such vows. Historically, it safeguarded against practices of literal human sacrifice prevalent in surrounding Canaanite cultures, providing a pathway for sincere devotion that affirmed the value of human life without physical harm.

Leviticus 27 2 Word analysis

• "Speak" (דַּבֵּר - dabber): This is an imperative command, indicating direct, authoritative instruction from God through Moses to the Israelites. It signals a divine ordinance to be precisely communicated.
• "people of Israel" (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - b'nei Yisrael): Specifies the audience for these laws – the covenant community chosen by God, to whom His statutes apply exclusively.
• "When anyone makes a special vow" (כִּי יַפְלִיא נֶדֶר - ki yafli neder):
  • "makes a special" (יַפְלִיא - yafli from pala): Literally "makes marvelous," "makes wonderful," or "makes difficult/extraordinary." It implies a singular, outstanding, or distinct vow that goes beyond typical or general offerings. It suggests an act of intense personal devotion or an extraordinary pledge made to God.
  • "vow" (נֶדֶר - neder): A deliberate, voluntary promise or pledge made to God, usually involving a specific offering or commitment. Unlike a required sacrifice, a neder is undertaken freely.
• "to the LORD" (לַיהוָה - la YHWH): Specifies the divine recipient of the vow, indicating it is a sacred obligation directed solely towards the true God, Yahweh, distinguishing it from pagan practices.
• "involving persons" (נְפָשׁוֹת - nefashot): Plural of nefesh, literally "souls" or "lives," here meaning "human beings" or "persons." This is crucial as it clarifies that the subject of the vow is human life, not animals or objects. The very next phrase addresses the method of dedication for such beings.
• "according to your valuation" (בְּעֶרְכְּךָ - b'erk'kha):
  • "valuation" (עֶרֶךְ - erekh): A calculated equivalent value, a fixed price or assessment. This term is key; it immediately establishes that the vow involving persons is to be fulfilled not by literal human sacrifice or perpetual bondage, but by a monetary payment determined by priestly assessment, reflecting their value to the community and their potential lost labor. It acts as a substitute or redemption price.
  • "your": While phrased generally, the following verses specify the priests are responsible for making this official valuation.
• "then they shall be for the LORD": This concluding phrase affirms that despite the monetary redemption, the intention of the vow—that the person (or their worth) is indeed dedicated and consecrated to God—is honored. It establishes the principle that what is dedicated belongs to God, whether literally or through its evaluated substitute.

Leviticus 27 2 Bonus section

The concept of "valuation" in this chapter provides a framework for understanding God's grace in dealing with vows. It reflects a nuanced approach: God accepts the heart's intention of profound dedication while providing a tangible, non-harmful method for fulfilling such intense vows. This also hints at the broader biblical theme of redemption, where a price is paid for what is consecrated or fallen, a theme ultimately fulfilled in Christ's ultimate payment for the redemption of humanity (1 Pet 1:18-19). Furthermore, this specific regulation highlights God's sovereignty over life, affirming that He alone dictates how life can be offered or devoted to Him.

Leviticus 27 2 Commentary

Leviticus 27:2 introduces a highly sensitive and potentially misunderstood aspect of Mosaic law: the vow concerning "persons." Far from condoning human sacrifice, which was an abhorrent practice condemned throughout Scripture (e.g., Deu 12:31), this verse and the subsequent regulations (Lev 27:3-8) offer a profound contrast and a means of grace. When an Israelite made an extraordinary "special vow" to the Lord, perhaps out of gratitude for deliverance or a desire for deeper commitment, the intention might be to dedicate a child or oneself directly to divine service. However, God, in His mercy and wisdom, does not permit the actual giving of a human life in a sacrificial sense. Instead, He institutes a system of "valuation."

The core mechanism here is the "redemption price." The dedicated "person" could be bought back for a sum determined by a priest, based on age and gender (as detailed in verses 3-8). This sum was not a punishment but a substitute for the dedicated life or the loss of the person's economic contribution to the community. This divinely appointed system served as a polemic against the child sacrifice practiced by surrounding pagan cultures (like to Molech), underscoring that while all life belongs to God, He requires devotion manifested in righteous living and regulated offerings, not bloodshed from His people. It shows that even in the context of intense devotion, God provides boundaries to protect human life and well-being. The chapter functions as an "appendix" to the main Law, ensuring that even spontaneous acts of religious zeal are orderly, ethically sound, and in alignment with God's character.Practical usage examples:

• A parent vows their child's life to God's service (like Hannah with Samuel), and in the absence of a designated temple service, pays the required redemption price to honor the vow while the child remains within the family.
• An individual makes a deep spiritual vow to dedicate a period of their own life or future service to God, but practical circumstances or inability prevent its literal fulfillment, allowing for redemption by monetary equivalent.