Leviticus 27:25 kjv
And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.
Leviticus 27:25 nkjv
And all your valuations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs to the shekel.
Leviticus 27:25 niv
Every value is to be set according to the sanctuary shekel, twenty gerahs to the shekel.
Leviticus 27:25 esv
Every valuation shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall make a shekel.
Leviticus 27:25 nlt
(All the payments must be measured by the weight of the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs.)
Leviticus 27 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 30:13 | "Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel... according to the shekel of the sanctuary..." | Establishes the standard for the atonement money. |
| Exod 38:24 | "All the gold that was used for the work, in all the construction of the sanctuary, the gold from the wave offering, was twenty-nine talents and 730 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary." | Monetary unit for tabernacle construction. |
| Exod 38:25-26 | "The silver... was a hundred talents and 1,775 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary... A beka a head (that is, half a shekel, by the shekel of the sanctuary)..." | Specific use of the sanctuary shekel for temple tax. |
| Num 3:47 | "you shall take five shekels apiece; by the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them..." | Valuation for the redemption of the firstborn Levites. |
| Num 18:16 | "At a month old you shall redeem them... according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs." | Explicitly defines shekel of sanctuary as twenty gerahs in another context. |
| Deut 25:13-16 | "You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small... You shall have a full and fair weight..." | Condemns dishonest weights; advocates for consistent standards. |
| Prov 11:1 | "A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is his delight." | General principle of divine disapproval of dishonesty in weights. |
| Prov 16:11 | "A just balance and scales are the LORD's; all the weights in the bag are his work." | Emphasizes God's sovereignty over honest commercial dealings. |
| Prov 20:10 | "Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD." | Repetition of condemnation for fraudulent measures. |
| Prov 20:23 | "Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good." | Reinforces divine judgment against dishonest trade. |
| Ezek 45:12 | "The shekel shall be twenty gerahs; twenty shekels, twenty-five shekels, fifteen shekels shall be your mina." | Ezekiel re-emphasizes the standard shekel and defines a mina. |
| Amos 8:5 | "saying, 'When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances?'" | Condemns the dishonest manipulation of weights for profit. |
| Mic 6:11 | "Can I acquit a man with wicked scales and with a bag of deceitful weights?" | God questions tolerating fraudulent business practices. |
| Lev 27:3 | "If your valuation is of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary." | Immediate context showing shekel of the sanctuary for valuations. |
| Lev 27:16 | "If a man dedicates to the LORD part of the land of his possession, then your valuation of it shall be according to the seed for it: a sowing of a homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver." | Valuing land in shekels based on seed quantity. |
| Mal 3:6 | "For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed." | God's unchanging nature underlies unchanging standards. |
| Heb 8:5 | "...They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, 'See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.'" | Emphasizes precise adherence to divine patterns/standards. |
| Heb 9:1-2 | "Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place." | The meticulous details of the sanctuary reflecting divine order. |
| Matt 23:23 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone." | While tithing, justice (related to fair weights) is essential. |
| Luke 16:10 | "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." | Principle of faithfulness and integrity in all financial matters. |
Leviticus 27 verses
Leviticus 27 25 Meaning
Leviticus 27:25 establishes a precise and unchanging standard for all financial valuations related to vows and dedications made to the Lord. It mandates that any estimation of value must be calculated according to "the shekel of the sanctuary," which is further defined as being composed of "twenty gerahs." This ensures uniformity, integrity, and honesty in sacred transactions, reflecting God's righteous and unchanging character.
Leviticus 27 25 Context
Leviticus 27 is the concluding chapter of the book, dealing with vows and things devoted to the Lord. It provides regulations for the redemption of individuals, animals, houses, or fields that have been vowed to God. Such vows, often made in response to divine blessing or a request, incurred an obligation to be paid to the sanctuary treasury. Verse 25 establishes the fundamental monetary standard, the "shekel of the sanctuary," by which all these valuations mentioned throughout the chapter (e.g., in Lev 27:3, 16) were to be consistently and accurately measured. This standard ensured fairness, prevented manipulation, and emphasized God's demand for integrity in all dealings pertaining to His holy dwelling and offerings. Historically, different regions or merchants in the Ancient Near East often had varying or even fraudulent weights; the "shekel of the sanctuary" was thus a divinely ordained, fixed standard to counteract such practices and ensure a just and true measure within Israel, reflecting God's nature.
Leviticus 27 25 Word analysis
Every valuation (כָּל־עֶרְכְּךָ֖ – kol-‘erkeḵā):
- "Every" (כָּל – kol): Denotes inclusivity, leaving no exception. All assessments, without discrimination, must adhere to this rule.
- "valuation" (עֶרְכְּךָ֖ – ‘erkeḵā from עֵרֶךְ – ‘erek): Refers to the estimated monetary worth assigned to a person, animal, house, or field that was vowed or consecrated to the Lord (as detailed in previous verses of Chapter 27). This was a set, prescribed amount, not an open-market price, but that prescribed amount was expressed in terms of silver by weight. Significance: Ensures fairness and divine accountability for anything consecrated to God.
shall be according to (יִהְיֶ֗ה – yihyeh, literally "shall be/it is"):
- This is a form of the verb "to be" in Hebrew, indicating a strong, prescriptive command. It's not a suggestion but a definitive, mandated standard for how valuations are to be made. Significance: Underscores the divine authority behind the command.
the shekel (בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל – bəšeḳel):
- "Shekel" (שֶׁקֶל – sheqel): The primary unit of weight for precious metals (primarily silver) in ancient Israel, which also served as currency. Its name comes from the root שקל (shaqal), meaning "to weigh." Significance: Identifies the foundational monetary unit for the system.
of the sanctuary (הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ – haqqōḏeš):
- "Sanctuary" (הַקֹּדֶשׁ – haqqōḏeš, meaning "the holy [place]"). Refers to the Tabernacle (and later, the Temple), the central place of worship where divine standards were upheld. This phrase is crucial as it designates an official, standardized, and divinely authenticated weight distinct from common, possibly fluctuating or manipulated weights used in everyday commerce (Exod 30:13, 38:24; Num 3:47). Significance: Emphasizes a pure, incorruptible standard set by God for all sacred transactions, reflecting His perfect righteousness.
twenty gerahs (עֶשְׂרִ֨ים גֵּרָ֜ה – ‘eśrîm gērāh):
- "Twenty" (עֶשְׂרִים – ‘eśrîm): The numerical quantity.
- "gerahs" (גֵרָה – gerah): A small unit of weight, explicitly defined as one-twentieth of a shekel. Its name is possibly related to a kernel or bean, indicating a tiny, precisely defined measure. Significance: Provides the precise conversion rate, eliminating any ambiguity about the shekel's true weight within the sacred system. This definition establishes a transparent and uniform measurement.
shall make a shekel (הַשֶּׁ֨קֶל יִהְיֶה֙ – haššeqel yihyeh, "the shekel shall be"):
- This phrase concludes the verse by clearly stating the fixed equivalence. It serves as an authoritative definition for all future calculations, ensuring consistent application of the divine standard. Significance: Leaves no room for misunderstanding regarding the official weight.
Leviticus 27 25 Bonus section
The concept of a "shekel of the sanctuary" implies a fixed and observable standard, potentially in the form of prototype weights kept at the Tabernacle or Temple, which all merchants and individuals could verify against. This acted as an official regulatory mechanism to ensure commercial fairness within the Israelite community, reflecting divine justice and the covenant relationship. This biblical emphasis on just weights and measures is unique among ancient law codes for its explicit divine backing and reiteration throughout the Scriptures (e.g., Deut 25:13-16, Prov 11:1). It highlights a core theological point: God's holiness demands corresponding integrity from His people, even in seemingly mundane commercial transactions, especially when they involve sacred contributions. This verse provides a practical example of how God's moral character is interwoven into the minute details of the covenant community's life, showing that true worship encompasses honest dealing.
Leviticus 27 25 Commentary
Leviticus 27:25 acts as a foundational principle for all dedicatory valuations within the sanctuary system. By specifying that "Every valuation shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall make a shekel," the verse underscores God's absolute demand for integrity, accuracy, and justice in all matters pertaining to Him. This divinely set standard, stored and enforced at the sanctuary, stood in stark contrast to the often arbitrary and dishonest commercial practices prevalent in the Ancient Near East, where varying weights and fraudulent measures were common (as often condemned in the prophetic books, e.g., Amos 8:5, Mic 6:11). The "shekel of the sanctuary" represents an uncorrupted and precise measure, ensuring that the Israelites offered to God not according to their convenience or worldly deceit, but according to His pure, unchanging, and absolute standard. It communicates that dealings with the sacred require meticulous honesty and transparency, mirroring God's own perfect righteousness and truthfulness. This principle extends beyond monetary transactions to all areas of faith, calling believers to consistency, faithfulness, and uprightness in all their offerings and service to God, reflecting His divine order in their lives.