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.
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.
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,
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.
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).