Leviticus 27:1-15 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs,
Today’s passage is Leviticus 27:1-15. Let’s go!
Leviticus 27:1-15 (NIV)
1 The LORD said to Moses,
2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate persons to the LORD by giving equivalent values,
3 set the value of a male between the ages of twenty and sixty at fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel;
4 and if it is a female, set her value at thirty shekels.
5 If it is a person between the ages of five and twenty, set the value of a male at twenty shekels and of a female at ten shekels.
6 If it is 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.
7 If it is a person sixty years old or more, set the value of a male at fifteen shekels and of a female at ten shekels.
8 If anyone making the vow is too poor to pay the specified amount, he is to present the person to the priest, who will set the value for him according to what the man making the vow can afford.
9 “‘If what he vowed is an animal that is acceptable as an offering to the LORD, such an animal given to the LORD becomes holy.
10 He must not exchange it or substitute a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one; if he should substitute one animal for another, both it and the substitute become holy.
11 If what he vowed is a ceremonially unclean animal–one that is not acceptable as an offering to the LORD–the animal must be presented to the priest,
12 who will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, that is what it will be.
13 If the owner wishes to redeem the animal, he must add a fifth to its value.
14 “‘If a man dedicates his house as something holy to the LORD, the priest will judge its quality as good or bad. Whatever value the priest then sets, so it will remain.
15 If the man who dedicates his house redeems it, he must add a fifth to its value, and the house will again become his.
On verses 1-15: During Moses’ time, people would occasionally make vows to dedicate a person, an animal, or real estate to God. Instead of actually releasing that person, animal or real estate to God, that person could keep the person, animal or real estate for themselves and instead pay an equivalent price to the priests. But what should that price be?
Leviticus 27:1-15 sets out the price to be paid for a person, animal or real estate.
Now here’s the big elephant in the room: why are men valued more highly than women here? For example, why is a 30 year old male valued at 50 shekels of silver (v3) whereas a 30 year old female is valued at 30 shekels (v4)? These numbers are not teaching that men are inherently worth more than women. Rather, the values given here to people were based on the amount of manual work that could have been expected from that person. Thus, a person between the ages of 20 and 60 years old was economically worth more than a person younger than 20 or a person older than 60. This, however, says nothing about a person’s intrinsic worth to God. All people, no matter what age or gender, matter to God, are made in God’s image, and are incredibly valuable in God’s sight.
Whether we’re talking about redeeming people (v1-8), animals (v9-13), or houses (v14-15), notice who sets the price: the priest does. It’s the priest who has the final say on how much that person, animal or house is worth.
Just as a priest determined how much a dedicated person was worth in Leviticus 27, so Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14), determined your worth. Remember that your worth is determined by what someone else is willing to give in exchange for you. What did God give in exchange for even just the chance to be with you? He gave His only Son Jesus Christ. Because Jesus your great high priest paid the highest price for you, you can know that you are of incredible worth in God’s sight. So don’t ever let anything or anyone question your worth.
Lord Jesus, thank You that my worth is not dependent on what others say and do, but it’s based on what You say and do. Thank You that I matter to You, so much so that You gave up your own life to save mine. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
