Leviticus 27 30

Leviticus 27:30 kjv

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD.

Leviticus 27:30 nkjv

And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's. It is holy to the LORD.

Leviticus 27:30 niv

"?'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.

Leviticus 27:30 esv

"Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD's; it is holy to the LORD.

Leviticus 27:30 nlt

"One-tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD and must be set apart to him as holy.

Leviticus 27 verses

Leviticus 27 30 Meaning

Every tithe of agricultural produce, whether from crops or from fruit trees, inherently belongs to the Lord and is therefore consecrated for His exclusive use. This declaration underscores God's ultimate ownership over the land and its bounty, establishing the tithe not merely as an offering, but as a recognition of His prior claim and a dedicated sacred portion.

Leviticus 27 30 Context

Leviticus 27 concludes the detailed legal instructions given by the Lord to Moses on Mount Sinai, functioning as an appendix that addresses the valuation and redemption of things vowed or consecrated to the Lord. After chapters describing various types of offerings, festivals, priestly duties, and moral laws, this chapter deals with personal commitments and dedications, highlighting the sacredness of objects, land, and animals set apart for God. Verse 30 specifically transitions from individual vows concerning fields to a direct divine declaration regarding agricultural tithes. It establishes that this specific portion of Israel's produce is inherently and universally Yahweh's property and is consecrated to Him, differentiating it from items that could be redeemed or valued. It sets a foundational principle for the Israelite economy and worship, reinforcing the notion that the land and its yield are ultimately God's gracious provision to His people.

Leviticus 27 30 Word analysis

• "Every": (Hebrew: kol, כָּל) - Denotes universality, completeness, or entirety. This emphasizes that the command applies to all types of agricultural produce from the specified sources without exception, underscoring the comprehensive scope of God's claim.

• "tithe": (Hebrew: maʿaśēr, מַעְשַׂר) - Derived from ʿāśar meaning "tenth." This term precisely indicates one-tenth of the produce. It refers to a specific, quantified portion, not an arbitrary amount, signifying an orderly and structured aspect of God's command.

• "of the land": (Hebrew: hā’ārets, הָאָרֶץ) - Refers to the soil or territory given by God to Israel. This clarifies the source of the tithe, tying it directly to God's blessing of the Promised Land and its productivity, reinforcing His ownership over the very ground they cultivate.

• "whether of the seed": (Hebrew: mizzera‘, מִזֶּרַע) - Refers to sown crops like grains (e.g., wheat, barley). This covers a primary category of agricultural produce harvested annually.

• "of the land": (Hebrew: hā’ārets, הָאָרֶץ) - Here again, specifies the origin of the seed produce as the cultivated ground.

• "or of the fruit": (Hebrew: ûmipp<sup>e</sup>rī, וּמִפְּרִי) - Refers to the edible yield of trees. This ensures that tree crops (e.g., olives, dates, figs, grapes) are also included in the tithing requirement, demonstrating comprehensive application across all major plant food sources.

• "of the trees": (Hebrew: hā‘ēts, הָעֵץ) - Clarifies the origin of the "fruit."

• "is the Lord's": (Hebrew: layhwh hû’, לַיהְוָה הוּא) - layhwh ("to the Lord," denoting belonging or dedication) and hû’ ("it/he"). This declares absolute divine ownership. The tithe isn't merely a gift to God, but is inherently His, reversing the human perception of property. It asserts Yahweh's supreme authority and provision.

• "it is holy": (Hebrew: qōdeš, קֹדֶשׁ) - Refers to its sacred, consecrated, or set-apart nature. qōdeš implies something separated from common use and dedicated exclusively to God's service or purposes. This quality makes the tithe distinct and inviolable, signifying its absolute reservation for God.

• "to the Lord": (Hebrew: layhwh, לַיהְוָה) - Reaffirms the exclusive dedication and ownership by Yahweh.

• "Every tithe of the land": This phrase broadly categorizes the entire scope of the tithe originating from the ground given to Israel. It highlights the inclusive nature of the command, embracing all forms of agricultural produce.

• "whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees": This provides explicit clarification and comprehensive coverage of the agricultural categories. It leaves no ambiguity as to what kind of produce falls under the tithe requirement, ensuring that the primary staples of their economy are included.

• "is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord": This powerful twin declaration underscores two key theological points. Firstly, it establishes divine ownership – the tithe isn't a gift God needs, but a recognition of what is already His by right of creation and provision. Secondly, it proclaims the inherent sanctity of this portion. Once identified as tithe, it gains a sacred status, set apart for divine purposes, and thus is distinct from profane use. This dual emphasis ensures its unique and inviolable position within the Israelite economy and religious practice.

Leviticus 27 30 Bonus section

The immutability of the tithe’s holiness is further emphasized by the implicit understanding within the Mosaic Law that once a thing is holy to the Lord (especially "holy of holies," qōdeš qodāšîm), it is generally unredeemable or handled with extreme care. While Leviticus 27:31 speaks of redeeming a tithe, scholars often interpret this with nuance: either it refers to an imitation or substitute value being rendered in specific cases (as opposed to actual redemption of the physical tithe, which should be given directly) or that it speaks of an extreme exception for an individual who genuinely wants to use their tithe for their own needs due to error in payment but the inherent "holiness" meant that paying its value plus a fifth penalty reinforces its sacredness and the seriousness of potentially reclaiming something meant for God. It ultimately solidifies that the physical tithe itself remains dedicated, though a monetary equivalent with penalty could be paid if needed, thus stressing its distinct status compared to other vows. This verse lays the theological groundwork for all subsequent biblical discussions on giving, pointing back to God's inherent ownership and the sacred call for His people to recognize it.

Leviticus 27 30 Commentary

Leviticus 27:30 provides a concise yet profound theological statement concerning the agricultural tithe. It is not presented as merely an optional offering or a taxation system, but as an inherent right of God stemming from His sovereignty. The phrase "is the Lord's" unequivocally establishes His absolute ownership over all land and its produce, meaning the tithe is an acknowledgement of God's prior claim, rather than a mere transfer of ownership. Following this, the declaration "it is holy to the Lord" defines its sacred status. This holiness implies that the tithe is intrinsically set apart, exclusively for divine purposes, distinct from common or personal use. Unlike other vowed items mentioned earlier in the chapter that could be redeemed with an additional payment (Lev 27:13, 19), the tithe is considered irrevocably holy (as further suggested by Lev 27:31's allowance for redemption if someone wishes to redeem it, they must pay its value plus a fifth, which effectively implies that this holy item does not follow the same rules as common goods, if at all). This sacred nature ensures that it contributes to the sustenance of the priesthood, the upkeep of the Tabernacle/Temple, and the support of the needy within the community, all divinely appointed purposes. The verse underscores the foundational truth that God is the ultimate source and owner of all blessings, and humanity is called to recognize this by consecrating a specific portion back to Him.