Leviticus 27:16

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And if a man shall sanctify unto the LORD [some part] of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed [shall be valued] at fifty shekels of silver.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"'If a person consecrates to ADONAI part of a field belonging to his tribe's possession, you are to value it according to its production, with five bushels of barley being valued at fifty shekels of silver [one-and-a-quarter pounds].

Berean Standard Bible:

If a man consecrates to the LORD a parcel of his land, then your valuation shall be proportional to the seed required for it—fifty shekels of silver for every homer of barley seed.

American Standard Version:

And if a man shall sanctify unto Jehovah part of the field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the sowing thereof: the sowing of a homer of barley shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And if a man{H376} shall sanctify{H6942} unto the LORD{H3068} some part of a field{H7704} of his possession{H272}, then thy estimation{H6187} shall be according{H6310} to the seed{H2233} thereof: an homer{H2563} of barley{H8184} seed{H2233} shall be valued at fifty{H2572} shekels{H8255} of silver{H3701}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Isaiah 5:10

  • Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.

Acts 5:4

  • Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

Hosea 3:2

  • So I bought her to me for fifteen [pieces] of silver, and [for] an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

Acts 4:34

  • Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

Acts 4:37

  • Having land, sold [it], and brought the money, and laid [it] at the apostles' feet.

Ezekiel 45:11

  • The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part of an homer, and the ephah the tenth part of an homer: the measure thereof shall be after the homer.

Ezekiel 45:14

  • Concerning the ordinance of oil, the bath of oil, [ye shall offer] the tenth part of a bath out of the cor, [which is] an homer of ten baths; for ten baths [are] an homer:

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Commentary for Leviticus 27:16

Leviticus 27:16 is part of a broader legal code given by God to the Israelites through Moses, which is found in the book of Leviticus. This particular verse addresses the practice of dedicating a portion of one's field to the Lord. In the historical context, the Israelites were an agrarian society, and land was a significant form of wealth and means of sustenance. The act of sanctifying a part of one's field to the Lord was a voluntary, sacred commitment, essentially a vow to give a specified portion of one's produce to the sanctuary or to the priests.

The verse provides a specific guideline for evaluating the dedicated field: the value is to be assessed based on the amount of seed required to sow it, with a standard measurement of barley seed (a homer) being equivalent to fifty shekels of silver. This monetary valuation would have been useful for several purposes, such as determining compensation if the field were to be redeemed (bought back) by the one who dedicated it, or if it were sold to another individual. The detailed instruction reflects God's concern for order and fairness in the transactions of His people, ensuring that the sanctity of the vow was maintained while also providing a practical means for its fulfillment or commutation.

In summary, Leviticus 27:16 is a reflection of the religious and economic life of ancient Israel, where the dedication of agricultural property to God was a meaningful expression of devotion. The verse underscores themes of sanctity, stewardship, and the importance of equitable valuation in religious offerings, all within the context of a covenant community bound by divine law.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H376
    There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אִישׁ
    Transliteration: ʼîysh
    Pronunciation: eesh
    Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
  2. Strong's Number: H6942
    There are 153 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָדַשׁ
    Transliteration: qâdash
    Pronunciation: kaw-dash'
    Description: a primitive root; to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally); appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self), [idiom] wholly.
  3. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
  4. Strong's Number: H7704
    There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׂדֶה
    Transliteration: sâdeh
    Pronunciation: saw-deh'
    Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild.
  5. Strong's Number: H272
    There are 190 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֲחֻזָּה
    Transliteration: ʼăchuzzâh
    Pronunciation: akh-ooz-zaw'
    Description: feminine passive participle from אָחַז; something seized, i.e. a possession (especially of land); possession.
  6. Strong's Number: H6187
    There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עֵרֶךְ
    Transliteration: ʻêrek
    Pronunciation: eh'rek
    Description: from עָרַךְ; a pile, equipment, estimate; equal, estimation, (things that are set in) order, price, proportion, [idiom] set at, suit, taxation, [idiom] valuest.
  7. Strong's Number: H6310
    There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פֶּה
    Transliteration: peh
    Pronunciation: peh
    Description: from פָּאָה; the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with preposition) according to; accord(-ing as, -ing to), after, appointment, assent, collar, command(-ment), [idiom] eat, edge, end, entry, [phrase] file, hole, [idiom] in, mind, mouth, part, portion, [idiom] (should) say(-ing), sentence, skirt, sound, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, tenor, [idiom] to, [phrase] two-edged, wish, word.
  8. Strong's Number: H2233
    There are 205 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: זֶרַע
    Transliteration: zeraʻ
    Pronunciation: zeh'-rah
    Description: from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time.
  9. Strong's Number: H2563
    There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֹמֶר
    Transliteration: chômer
    Pronunciation: kho'mer
    Description: from חָמַר; properly, a bubbling up, i.e. of water, a wave; of earth, mire or clay (cement); also a heap; hence, a chomer or dry measure; clay, heap, homer, mire, motion.
  10. Strong's Number: H8184
    There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׂעֹרָה
    Transliteration: sᵉʻôrâh
    Pronunciation: seh-o-raw'
    Description: or שְׂעוֹרָה (feminine meaning the plant); and (masculine meaning the grain); also שְׂעֹר; or שְׂעוֹר; from שָׂעַר in the sense of roughness; barley (as villose); barley.
  11. Strong's Number: H2572
    There are 141 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֲמִשִּׁים
    Transliteration: chămishshîym
    Pronunciation: kham-ish-sheem'
    Description: multiple of חָמֵשׁ; fifty; fifty.
  12. Strong's Number: H8255
    There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֶׁקֶל
    Transliteration: sheqel
    Pronunciation: sheh'-kel
    Description: from שָׁקַל; probably a weight; used as a commercial standard; shekel.
  13. Strong's Number: H3701
    There are 343 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כֶּסֶף
    Transliteration: keçeph
    Pronunciation: keh'-sef
    Description: from כָּסַף; silver (from its pale color); by implication, money; money, price, silver(-ling).