Leviticus 27:6 kjv
And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver.
Leviticus 27:6 nkjv
and if from a month old up to five years old, then your valuation for a male shall be five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver;
Leviticus 27:6 niv
for a person between one month and five years, set the value of a male at five shekels of silver and that of a female at three shekels of silver;
Leviticus 27:6 esv
If the person is from a month old up to five years old, the valuation shall be for a male five shekels of silver, and for a female the valuation shall be three shekels of silver.
Leviticus 27:6 nlt
A boy between the ages of one month and five years is valued at five shekels of silver; a girl of that age is valued at three shekels of silver.
Leviticus 27 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 27:2 | "When a man shall make a special vow to the LORD... thy estimation..." | Establishes the context of special vows |
| Lev 27:3 | "And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old..." | Compares the valuation for prime working age |
| Lev 27:7 | "And if it be from sixty years old and upward, and it be a female..." | This verse specifically addresses females 60+ (KJV slight variant to 27:6's male & female listing). |
| Lev 27:25 | "And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary..." | Defines the standard unit of currency (sanctuary shekel) |
| Exo 30:13 | "Every one that passeth among them... a half shekel after the shekel..." | Explains the 'sanctuary shekel' measurement |
| Num 3:47 | "thou shalt take five shekels for every man by the shekel of the sanctuary..." | Example of redemption money using sanctuary shekel |
| Deut 23:21 | "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack..." | Emphasizes the imperative to fulfill vows |
| Ecc 5:4 | "When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it..." | Highlights the solemnity and requirement of vows |
| Psa 50:14 | "Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High..." | Encourages the fulfillment of vows in worship |
| Prov 16:31 | "The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." | Affirms the value and dignity of old age |
| Prov 20:29 | "The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head." | Acknowledges the distinct characteristics of age |
| Isa 46:4 | "And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you..." | God's continuing care and steadfastness for the aged |
| Tit 2:2-3 | "That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate... the aged women likewise..." | Defines righteous conduct for older believers |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder..." | Instruction on respect for elders in the church |
| Psa 49:7-8 | "None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him..." | Highlights the limits of human monetary redemption for life |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things... But with the precious blood of Christ..." | True redemption is not financial, but spiritual, by Christ's blood |
| 1 Cor 6:20 | "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit..." | Believers' bodies belong to God because of Christ's redemption |
| Rom 12:1-2 | "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice..." | New Covenant emphasis on spiritual, living dedication |
| Heb 13:16 | "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." | Redefines acceptable 'sacrifices' in the New Testament |
| 1 Cor 7:23 | "Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men." | Christ's redemptive work frees believers to serve God alone |
| Phil 2:17 | "Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith..." | Paul's willingness to dedicate his life in spiritual service |
| 2 Cor 9:7 | "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give..." | Principles of New Covenant giving based on willing heart |
| Exod 25:2 | "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering..." | Examples of voluntary contributions for sacred purposes |
Leviticus 27 verses
Leviticus 27 6 Meaning
Leviticus 27:6 details the prescribed valuation for a person sixty years old or older who has been specifically vowed or dedicated to the Lord. According to this statute, the redemption price, or "estimation," for an elderly male was set at fifteen shekels, while for an elderly female, it was ten shekels. This valuation was a monetary payment to the sanctuary, allowing the vowed person to be redeemed from their dedication to temple service, and it reflects a fixed rate based on age, considering the individual's diminishing capacity for physical labor as they age.
Leviticus 27 6 Context
Leviticus 27 details the regulations concerning special vows and their redemption. Unlike standard offerings, these were typically voluntary commitments made by individuals, promising a person, animal, house, or land to the LORD. This chapter outlines how such vows could be valued and subsequently redeemed with money, enabling the dedicated item or person to revert to their original use or owner, while the assessed monetary value went to the sanctuary. Leviticus 27:6 specifically falls within the section addressing the valuation of human beings dedicated by vow (verses 2-8). This verse sets the lowest age bracket's valuation, indicating a fixed price for males and females aged 60 and above, reflecting a practical understanding of physical capacity within the Israelite economy. Historically, this law provided a systematic framework for vow redemption, preventing arbitrary pricing and ensuring resources for the tabernacle's maintenance and the Levitical priesthood.
Leviticus 27 6 Word analysis
- And if it be from sixty years old and upward (וּמִבֶּן שִׁשִּׁים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה - umi-ben shishim shanah v'ma'lah):
- umi-ben: "And from the son of." A common Hebrew idiom for age, literally "from being a son of [number] years."
- shishim: "sixty." Denotes the specific age boundary.
- shanah: "year."
- v'ma'lah: "and upward," or "and above." Signifies an open-ended age bracket, encompassing all older individuals. This category represents the oldest demographic for which a specific valuation is given.
- then thy estimation shall be (וְהָיָה עֶרְכְּךָ - v'hayah erkecha):
- v'hayah: "and it shall be." Connects this clause to the preceding condition.
- erkecha: "your estimation" or "your valuation." From the root ערך (ערך - `erekh`), meaning to arrange, estimate, or appraise. In this context, it refers to the fixed value determined by God's law for redemption. This was not a subjective judgment but a divinely ordained fixed price, typically assessed by the priest.
- fifteen shekels (חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר שְׁקָלִים - chamishah asar sh'kalim):
- chamishah asar: "fifteen." The precise quantity.
- sh'kalim: "shekels." A unit of weight and monetary value in ancient Israel, typically referring to the 'shekel of the sanctuary' (approximately 11.4 grams of silver), which was the standard currency for religious payments. This amount represents the redemption price for a male in this age bracket.
- and for the female ten shekels (וְלַנְּקֵבָה עֲשָׂרָה שְׁקָלִים - v'la'neqevah asarah sh'kalim):
- v'la'neqevah: "and for the female." Clearly distinguishes the valuation for women.
- asarah: "ten." The specific monetary value for a female in this age group.
- sh'kalim: "shekels." Again, sanctuary shekels. This valuation is less than that of the male, consistent with other age brackets in Leviticus 27, generally understood to reflect perceived capacity for heavy labor in an ancient agrarian society, not a lesser inherent worth of the female.
Leviticus 27 6 Bonus section
The progressive decline in redemption values based on age in Leviticus 27 reflects an economic assessment based on a person's expected productivity, a common approach in ancient labor systems. However, this pragmatic valuation must not be confused with one's intrinsic worth in the eyes of God, which is immense, as all humanity is created in His image (Gen 1:27) and infinitely valued, as demonstrated by the ultimate cost of redemption through Christ's sacrifice (1 Pet 1:18-19). This passage primarily illustrates the mechanics of sanctuary finances and vow fulfillment within the Mosaic covenant, balancing human voluntary dedication with practical, equitable assessment according to the law.
Leviticus 27 6 Commentary
Leviticus 27:6 establishes a fixed redemption price for individuals sixty years and older who had been dedicated to the Lord through a special vow. This statute demonstrates God's systematic and ordered approach to offerings and dedicated items in ancient Israel. The diminishing valuations across the age categories (Lev 27:3-8)—with the lowest price applied to the eldest and youngest—underscore that these estimations were tied to perceived physical capacity for temple service or labor, not intrinsic human worth.
For the aged, their lower valuation reflected reduced physical strength for demanding tasks, but it did not diminish their spiritual standing or inherent dignity. In a theocratic society, these fixed rates served multiple purposes: they provided a clear, equitable system for vow redemption, preventing disputes or exploitative valuations; they ensured a stable source of revenue for the tabernacle's operations and the Levites' sustenance; and they reinforced the idea that dedication to God could be monetarily discharged for practical reasons, rather than requiring literal lifetime service which might be impractical for many, especially the elderly. While the direct monetary valuation of persons no longer applies in the New Covenant, the principles of fulfilling vows (Ecc 5:4) and dedicating oneself entirely to God (Rom 12:1-2) remain central. God's unwavering care for the aged, as seen in other Scriptures (Isa 46:4), further contextualizes this law as a practical regulation within a specific covenant context.