Leviticus 27 33

Leviticus 27:33 kjv

He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.

Leviticus 27:33 nkjv

He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it; and if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.' "

Leviticus 27:33 niv

No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.'?"

Leviticus 27:33 esv

One shall not differentiate between good or bad, neither shall he make a substitute for it; and if he does substitute for it, then both it and the substitute shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed."

Leviticus 27:33 nlt

You may not pick and choose between good and bad animals, and you may not substitute one for another. But if you do exchange one animal for another, then both the original animal and its substitute will be considered holy and cannot be bought back."

Leviticus 27 verses

Leviticus 27 33 Meaning

Leviticus 27:33 dictates the unalterable sanctity of the animal tithe. Once an animal is designated as the "tenth" (holy to the Lord through a rod-selection method, Lev 27:32), the owner is forbidden from evaluating its quality ("good or bad") or substituting it for another. If an exchange is attempted, both the original designated animal and the one intended as its replacement automatically become holy and irrevocably dedicated to God, without any possibility of redemption. This command safeguards against human manipulation, ensures integrity in tithing, and reinforces God's absolute ownership and the sacredness of His designated portion.

Leviticus 27 33 Context

Leviticus chapter 27 concludes the Book of Leviticus by dealing with various forms of dedications, vows, and their redemption values, often specified in terms of silver shekels. It establishes the principles by which vows regarding persons, animals, houses, or fields could be assessed or redeemed if a redemption was permissible. However, the chapter transitions to the concept of the tithe (Lev 27:30-34), distinguishing it as inherently and irrevocably holy to the Lord, largely precluding redemption. Specifically, Leviticus 27:32 states that "every tenth that passes under the shepherd's rod" is sacred, introducing the unique selection method for the animal tithe. Verse 33, then, reinforces the inviolability of this automatically consecrated animal, prohibiting any human interference or qualitative assessment once it is designated by God's providence.

Historically, in ancient Israel, the tithe system was fundamental to their national covenant with God. It was God's ordained means for the sustenance of the Levitical priesthood and temple worship, ensuring the continuation of spiritual instruction and service for the entire nation. The selection method for animal tithes—where every tenth animal passing under a shepherd's rod was marked and consecrated—removed human subjectivity and ensured fairness, portraying God as the true owner of the flock. This passage acts as a polemic against any attempt to cheat God, show favoritism in offerings, or undermine the divine selection process, contrasting with human desires to keep the best and offer the less desirable.

Leviticus 27 33 Word analysis

• He shall not inquire (וְלֹא יְבַקֵּר - wəlōʾ yəḇaqqêr):

  • לֹא (lōʾ): A strong negative, meaning "not."
  • יְבַקֵּר (yəḇaqqêr): From the root בָּקַר (baqar), meaning "to examine," "to scrutinize," "to search out." This specifically forbids the act of looking over the animals to decide which one to designate, or to swap the one already designated. It negates human discernment or personal preference in selecting God's portion.

• whether it is good or bad (בֵּין־טוֹב לָרַע - bên-ṭôḇ lā·raʿ):

  • בֵּין (bên): "Between," indicating a distinction or choice.
  • טוֹב (ṭôḇ): "Good," referring to a desired quality, condition, or value.
  • לָרַע (lā·raʿ): "To the bad/evil," referring to a poor or undesired quality, condition, or value.
  • This phrase emphasizes that no qualitative judgment is to be made by the owner. The animal's value (whether it's prime or inferior) is irrelevant to its status as holy tithe; its holiness derives solely from God's method of designation (the tenth passing under the rod). This differs from sacrificial laws which require unblemished animals.

• nor shall he exchange it (וְלֹא יַמִּירֶנּוּ - wəlōʾ yammîrennū):

  • לֹא (lōʾ): "Not."
  • יַמִּירֶנּוּ (yammîrennū): From the root מוּר (mûr), "to change," "to substitute," "to alter." This directly prohibits swapping the divinely chosen tenth animal for any other animal, regardless of intention.

• if he exchanges it at all (וְאִם־הָמֵר יָמִירֶנּוּ - wəʾim-hāmêr yāmîrennū):

  • אִם־הָמֵר יָמִירֶנּוּ (ʾim-hāmêr yāmîrennū): An emphatic grammatical construction using the infinitive absolute (hāmêr) before the finite verb (yāmîrennū). It strengthens the condition, meaning "if he does indeed exchange it," "if he certainly makes an exchange." It highlights that should such a prohibited act occur, the stated consequences will unfailingly follow.

• then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy (וְהָיָה הֽוּא וּתְמוּרָתוֹ יִהְיֶה־קֹּדֶשׁ - wəhāyāh hû wûṯmûrātô yihye(h)-qqōḏeš):

  • הוּא (hû): "It" (the original, divinely chosen animal).
  • וּתְמוּרָתוֹ (ûṯmûrātô): "And its substitute" or "its replacement."
  • יִהְיֶה־קֹּדֶשׁ (yihye(h)-qqōḏeš): "It shall be holy/sacred." This is the immediate and severe consequence. The attempted deception backfires completely, resulting in God's claim on both animals, not just the original designated one.

• it shall not be redeemed (לֹא יִגָּאֵל - lōʾ yiɡgāʾêl):

  • לֹא (lōʾ): "Not."
  • יִגָּאֵל (yiɡgāʾêl): From the root גָּאַל (gāʾal), meaning "to redeem," "to buy back," "to ransom." This final declaration underscores the irrevocable nature of the holiness. Once consecrated by divine selection or by the consequence of unlawful exchange, the animals cannot be bought back or converted to secular use.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad, nor shall he exchange it": This forms the primary prohibition, establishing two core boundaries for the tithed animal. First, the owner is denied the subjective assessment of its value or quality; its holiness is a matter of divine decree, not human preference. Second, direct substitution or swapping of the designated animal is absolutely forbidden. This upholds the integrity of God's claim and prevents any perceived unfairness or deceit in tithing.
• "if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy": This clause introduces the emphatic consequence for violating the preceding prohibition. It's a legal penalty designed to remove any possible advantage for the one attempting to defraud or circumvent the law. The attempted act of replacement does not result in a lesser offering, but rather a doubled consecration, ensuring that God's portion is never diminished and the violator is penalized for their dishonesty.
• "it shall not be redeemed": This final, emphatic statement reiterates the permanent, irrevocable status of the animals once consecrated (either through the normal process or as a penalty). It signifies that once something is dedicated or becomes holy to God under these specific terms, it passes permanently into the sacred realm and cannot be bought back, reinforcing the seriousness and finality of such divine claims.

Leviticus 27 33 Bonus section

• God's Sovereignty over Human Preference: The method of selecting the tithe "under the rod" (Lev 27:32) eliminates human bias and judgment entirely. It is a system of divine lottery, ensuring that God's claim is established by His own sovereign means, not by what humans deem "good" or "bad." This principle profoundly impacts our understanding of truly consecrated offerings; they are what God chooses and defines as holy, not what we prefer to give or retain.
• Deterrent against Deception: The severe penalty of both animals becoming holy is a powerful deterrent against fraud. It is an inverse return: the attempt to gain or to diminish what belongs to God results in a greater loss for the offender, making any attempted dishonesty costly and self-defeating. This reflects God's zero-tolerance for deceit in matters concerning His holiness and worship.
• Irrevocability of Consecration: This verse strongly emphasizes the permanent and binding nature of something once declared holy to the Lord, whether by explicit command or by divine judgment for disobedience. Unlike some other dedicated items in Leviticus 27 which could be redeemed at a specified value, the animal tithe (and any animal added to its holy status through an illicit exchange) is definitively stated as "not to be redeemed," signifying an unbreakable bond of dedication.

Leviticus 27 33 Commentary

Leviticus 27:33 illuminates the inviolable sanctity of God's designated portion, specifically the animal tithe. Unlike other vowed offerings that could sometimes be redeemed for money, the animal tithe, selected by a specific, non-subjective method (every tenth animal passing under a rod), was deemed inherently "holy to the Lord" (Lev 27:32). This verse then reinforces this absolute holiness by prohibiting human interference. The command "He shall not inquire whether it is good or bad" prevents subjective valuation; the animal's holiness comes from divine selection, not its market worth or physical flawlessness. Similarly, "nor shall he exchange it" forbids any substitution, safeguarding against the owner's potential desire to keep a healthier or more valuable animal for themselves.

The passage then describes the severe penalty for any attempted exchange: "if he exchanges it at all, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy." This ensures that the violator gains nothing; instead, two animals are consecrated, thereby nullifying any advantage and doubling God's portion from the attempted fraud. Finally, "it shall not be redeemed" seals the fate of these animals, signifying their permanent dedication. This divine ordinance underscores several theological principles: God's ultimate ownership over all creation, the demand for absolute integrity and honesty in one's dealings with Him, and the consequence of treating holy things with disregard or an attempt to manipulate divine law for personal gain. It serves as a timeless reminder that commitment to God should be unwavering, without second-guessing or attempts to compromise what has been designated as sacred.