Leviticus 27:3 kjv
And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary.
Leviticus 27:3 nkjv
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.
Leviticus 27:3 niv
set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel;
Leviticus 27:3 esv
then the valuation of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
Leviticus 27:3 nlt
here is the scale of values to be used. A man between the ages of twenty and sixty is valued at fifty shekels of silver, as measured by the sanctuary shekel.
Leviticus 27 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 30:13 | "Each one who is registered shall pay half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary..." | Defines the "shekel of the sanctuary" standard. |
| Num 3:47 | "...take five shekels for each head, according to the shekel of the sanctuary..." | Another instance of the sanctuary shekel being used. |
| Lev 27:2-8 | Details the varying valuations for males and females based on age groups. | Immediate context for human valuation. |
| Deut 23:21 | "When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it..." | Emphasizes the importance of fulfilling vows. |
| Ps 76:11 | "Make vows to the Lord your God and pay them..." | Reiterates the duty to fulfill vows. |
| Prov 20:25 | "It is a trap for a man to devote rashly something as holy and afterward to reconsider his vows." | Warns against impulsive vows. |
| Eccl 5:4-5 | "When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it... Better not to vow than to vow and not pay." | Strong admonition against unfulfilled vows. |
| Lev 27:29 | "No one devoted, who may be devoted from mankind, shall be ransomed..." | Contrasts with persons specifically 'devoted to destruction' who cannot be redeemed. |
| 1 Sam 1:11, 28 | Hannah's vow to dedicate Samuel to the Lord for his whole life. | Example of a vow dedicating a child to God's service. |
| Gen 28:20-22 | Jacob's vow to God at Bethel. | Example of a personal vow for divine favor. |
| Josh 6:17 | Concerning Rahab and her family, as exceptions from destruction. | Concept of individuals being "devoted" or "set apart" (negative sense here but related to vows/dedication). |
| Ps 50:14 | "Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High..." | Linking vows with worship and payment. |
| Jonah 2:9 | "But I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed." | Example of fulfilling a vow in distress. |
| Matt 5:33-37 | Jesus warns against careless swearing of oaths. | NT teaching on truthfulness in speech, including vows. |
| Acts 18:18 | Paul taking a Nazirite vow. | Example of NT figures engaging in traditional vows. |
| 1 Cor 6:20 | "For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body..." | Spiritual parallel: Believers are redeemed by Christ's blood, not silver. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | "knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold, but with precious blood..." | Emphasizes spiritual redemption through Christ, superior to monetary. |
| Titus 2:14 | "who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness..." | Redemption by Christ, not a self-initiated payment. |
| Rom 3:24 | "...justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus..." | Justification through Christ's redemption, not a vow's price. |
| Lev 25:15-16 | Valuation of land based on years until the Jubilee. | Other valuations in Leviticus demonstrating a standard for commodities. |
| Lev 5:15 | Discusses a fixed sum for a trespass offering. | Example of precise monetary penalties/ payments in God's law. |
| Lev 22:18-25 | Criteria for acceptable offerings and animals, showing the sacred standard. | Principle of things consecrated to God having specific requirements or valuations. |
| Num 18:15-16 | Firstborn redemption price (five shekels of silver). | Similar concept of valuing/redeeming individuals dedicated to God. |
Leviticus 27 verses
Leviticus 27 3 Meaning
Leviticus 27:3 outlines the specific monetary valuation for redeeming a male individual who has been dedicated by a vow to the Lord. If the dedicated male is between the ages of twenty and sixty, his valuation for redemption is set at fifty shekels of silver, according to the official standard weight of the sanctuary. This established a fixed and considerable price for one of peak age and productivity, enabling a monetary substitution for a vow made to God that involved a person, highlighting the seriousness and sanctity of such commitments.
Leviticus 27 3 Context
Leviticus 27 is the concluding chapter of the Book of Leviticus, providing supplementary laws regarding special vows and their commutation. After extensive laws on sacrifice, clean and unclean, purity, and holiness, this chapter addresses circumstances where individuals make specific commitments or dedications to the Lord that extend beyond standard offerings. Verse 3 specifically addresses the standard valuation for redeeming a dedicated male, part of a larger system detailing values for persons, animals, houses, and fields that have been "devoted" or vowed to God.
Historically and culturally, making vows was a common and significant religious practice in ancient Israel. People would vow themselves or their possessions to God, often in times of distress or as acts of gratitude. Once a vow was made, it was considered binding and had to be fulfilled (Deut 23:21-23). However, the Law acknowledged that circumstances might prevent direct fulfillment, or the dedicated item (like a person) might not be directly employed in temple service. Therefore, a system of redemption by monetary payment was established. The "shekel of the sanctuary" was a standardized weight of silver, critical for ensuring fair and precise transactions within the sacred economy, emphasizing integrity in dealings with God's property. The fixed valuations, based on age and sex, ensured an objective standard and prevented arbitrary pricing, underscoring God's equitable nature in handling human vows.
Leviticus 27 3 Word analysis
- And if your valuation is: The Hebrew term for "valuation" is
erek(ערך), meaning an assessment, estimation, or set price. This implies not an inherent worth of a person's life, but a calculated monetary equivalent established by the sanctuary to "redeem" or "commute" the vowed person, making the vow actionable. - of a male: The Hebrew zāḵār (זָכָר) clearly specifies gender, as different valuations applied to males and females. In ancient societies, male labor often carried a higher economic valuation due to roles in physical work and military service, hence the higher price for redemption.
- from twenty years old up to sixty years old: This age bracket signifies the period of peak physical strength, productivity, and social contribution in ancient Israel. Men in this range were considered capable of military service (Num 1:3) and primary labor. Setting the highest valuation here reflects their maximum potential contribution, whether in direct service or monetary equivalent.
- then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver: "Fifty shekels of silver" was a substantial sum in ancient times, roughly equivalent to the value of 50 days' wages for a skilled laborer or even a few years' earnings for many. This high price underscores the seriousness of a vow to dedicate a person to the Lord, indicating the significant commitment required.
- according to the shekel of the sanctuary: The Hebrew b'šeqel haqqōdeš (בשקל הקודש) refers to the standard, exact weight of the shekel kept in the Tabernacle/Temple (Ex 30:13; Num 3:47). This ensured accuracy, uniformity, and prevented cheating or debasement. It emphasized that dealings concerning God's dedicated property or vows must adhere to divine, unchanging standards, reflecting His absolute holiness and integrity.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "Your valuation is... fifty shekels of silver... according to the shekel of the sanctuary": This phrase highlights the objective and standardized nature of the valuation process. It wasn't left to individual discretion but was fixed by divine decree and measured by an inviolable, sacred standard, reinforcing that matters related to God’s holy property are handled with utmost precision and sanctity. The significant amount reflects the value God placed on the lives dedicated to Him and the seriousness of making a vow involving human dedication.
Leviticus 27 3 Bonus section
It's crucial to understand that these "valuations" were for redemption purposes—to allow someone who had dedicated a person (or themselves) to God, to "buy back" or "commute" that dedication for a set monetary value, thereby fulfilling the vow financially if direct service was not possible or desired. This was not about assigning an inherent human worth or facilitating human trafficking. The concept of "devoting" someone to the Lord, as seen here, differs significantly from being "devoted to destruction" (Lev 27:29), which could not be redeemed. This framework demonstrates God's desire for the integrity of vows while also providing a compassionate way for their fulfillment within the Israelite economy. In the New Covenant, believers are spiritually "bought with a price" (1 Cor 6:20), not silver, but by the precious blood of Christ, signifying an even higher and non-commutable redemption from sin, leading to complete belonging to God.
Leviticus 27 3 Commentary
Leviticus 27:3 establishes the standardized redemption price for a male dedicated by a vow to the Lord during his prime working years. This system reflects several key principles: the sanctity of vows made to God, the provision of a structured pathway for vow fulfillment through commutation when direct service was not feasible, and the equitable nature of God's law by establishing fixed valuations. The specific monetary amounts were significant, reflecting the gravity of dedicating human life, even if the "value" was for redemption within the cultic system rather than a market price. It served as a practical means to fulfill a spiritual commitment, demonstrating that promises to God are binding and require concrete action or a significant equivalent.