Leviticus 27:3

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary.

Complete Jewish Bible:

the value you are to assign to a man between the ages of twenty and sixty years is to be fifty shekels of silver [one-and-a-quarter pounds], with the sanctuary shekel being the standard,

Berean Standard Bible:

if the valuation concerns a male from twenty to sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel.

American Standard Version:

And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And thy estimation^{H6187} shall be of the male^{H2145} from twenty^{H6242} years^{H8141} old^{H1121} even unto sixty^{H8346} years^{H8141} old^{H1121}, even thy estimation^{H6187} shall be fifty^{H2572} shekels^{H8255} of silver^{H3701}, after the shekel^{H8255} of the sanctuary^{H6944}.

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Commentary for Leviticus 27:3

1. **Themes**:
- **Valuation and Dedication**: Leviticus 27:3 is part of a larger section that deals with the valuation of individuals for the purpose of dedicating them to the service of the Lord. This practice allowed people to pledge a monetary value to God in lieu of actual service or as a form of vow or freewill offering.
- **Equality Before God**: The verse specifies a standard valuation for males of different ages, emphasizing that all Israelites, regardless of social status, are to be evaluated by the same standard when it comes to religious duties and commitments.
- **Sanctity of Life**: By assigning a monetary value to a person's service, the verse underscores the sanctity and inherent value of human life in the eyes of God.

2. **Historical Context**:
- **Mosaic Law**: The book of Leviticus is traditionally attributed to Moses and contains laws and regulations given to the Israelites after their Exodus from Egypt, while they were wandering in the wilderness.
- **The Sanctuary Shekel**: The valuation is given in shekels, which was a unit of weight and currency in ancient Israel. The "shekel of the sanctuary" refers to the standardized weight used for religious offerings and transactions, ensuring consistency and fairness in the valuation process.
- **Agrarian Society**: At the time, Israel was primarily an agrarian society, and the valuation of persons in terms of silver reflects the economic realities of the time, where silver had significant value and could be used as a standard for exchange.
- **Cultic Practices**: The practice of vowing or dedicating persons to God was a common cultic practice in the ancient Near East. Leviticus 27 provides regulations to ensure that such practices were carried out in a way that was consistent with Israel's faith and ethical standards.

In summary, Leviticus 27:3 addresses the theme of dedicating oneself or others to God by providing a monetary equivalent for the service of males between the ages of 20 and 60. This practice was part of the broader legal and cultic framework established for the Israelite community in the wilderness period, reflecting the values of equality, the sanctity of life, and adherence to a standardized system of valuation based on the sanctuary shekel.

*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: 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.
   
2. Strong's Number: H2145
   There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זָכָר
   Transliteration: zâkâr
   Pronunciation: zaw-kawr'
   Description: from זָכַר; properly, remembered, i.e. a male (of man or animals, as being the most noteworthy sex); [idiom] him, male, man(child, -kind).
   
3. Strong's Number: H6242
   There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עֶשְׂרִים
   Transliteration: ʻesrîym
   Pronunciation: es-reem'
   Description: from עֶשֶׂר; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth; (six-) score, twenty(-ieth).
   
4. Strong's Number: H8141
   There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁנֶה
   Transliteration: shâneh
   Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
   Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly).
   
5. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8346
   There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שִׁשִּׁים
   Transliteration: shishshîym
   Pronunciation: shish-sheem'
   Description: multiple of שֵׁשׁ; sixty; sixty, three score.
   
7. 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.
   
8. 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.
   
9. 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).
   
10. Strong's Number: H6944
    There are 382 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קֹדֶשׁ
    Transliteration: qôdesh
    Pronunciation: ko'-desh
    Description: from קָדַשׁ; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity; consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.