TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Leviticus 27:14–25. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Here is the law concerning real estates dedicated to the service of God by a singular vow.
I.Suppose a man, in his zeal for the honour of God, should sanctify his house to God (Lev 27:14), the house must be valued by the priest, and the money got by the sale of it was to be converted to the use of the sanctuary, which by degrees came to be greatly enriched with dedicated things, Kg1 15:15. But, if the owner be inclined to redeem it himself, he must not have it so cheap as another, but must add a fifth part to the price, for he should have considered before he had vowed it, Lev 27:15. To him that was necessitous God would abate the estimation (Lev 27:8); but to him that was fickle and humoursome, and whose second thoughts inclined more to the world and his secular interest than his first, God would rise in the price. Blessed be God, there is a way of sanctifying our houses to be holy unto the Lord, without either selling them or buying them. If we and our houses serve the Lord, if religion rule in them, and we put away iniquity far from them, and have a church in our house, holiness to the Lord is written upon it, it is his, and he will dwell with us in it.
II.Suppose a man should sanctify some part of his land to the Lord, giving it to pious uses, then a difference must be made between land that came to the donor by descent and that which came by purchase, and accordingly the case altered.
1.If it was the inheritance of his fathers, here called the field of his possession, which pertained to his family from the first division of Canaan, he might not give it all, no, not to the sanctuary; God would not admit such a degree of zeal as ruined a man's family. But he might sanctify or dedicate only some part of it, Lev 27:16. And in that case,
(1.)The land was to be valued (as our countrymen commonly compute land) by so many measures' sowing of barley. So much land as would take a homer, or chomer, of barley, which contained ten ephahs, Eze 45:11 (not, as some have here mistaken it, an omer, which was but a tenth part of an ephah, Exo 16:36), was valued at fifty shekels, a moderate price (Lev 27:16), and that if it were sanctified immediately from the year of jubilee, Lev 27:17. But, if some years after, there was to be a discount accordingly, even of that price, Lev 27:18. And,
(2.)When the value was fixed, the donor might, if he pleased, redeem it for sixty shekels the homer's sowing, which was with the addition of a fifth part: the money then went to the sanctuary, and the land reverted to him that had sanctified it, Lev 27:19. But if he would not redeem it, and the priest sold it to another, then at the year of jubilee, beyond which the sale could not go, the land came to the priests, and was theirs for ever, Lev 27:20, Lev 27:21. Note, What is given to the Lord ought not to be given with a power of revocation; what is devoted to the Lord must be his for ever, by a perpetual covenant.
2.If the land was his own purchase, and came not to him from his ancestors, then not the land itself, but the value of it was to be given to the priests for pious uses, Lev 27:22, Lev 27:24. It was supposed that those who, by the blessing of God, had grown so rich as to become purchasers would think themselves obliged in gratitude to sanctify some part of their purchase, at least (and here they are not limited, but they might, if they pleased, sanctify the whole), to the service of God. For we ought to give as God prospers us, Co1 16:2. Purchasers are in a special manner bound to be charitable. Now, forasmuch as purchased lands were by a former law to return at the year of jubilee to the family from which they were purchased, God would not have that law and the intentions of it defeated by making the lands corban, a gift, Mar 7:11. But it was to be computed how much the land was worth for so many years as were from the vow to the jubilee; for only so long it was his own, and God hates robbery for burnt-offerings. We can never acceptably serve God with that of which we have wronged our neighbour. And so much money he was to give for the present, and keep the land in his own hands till the year of jubilee, when it was to return free of all encumbrances, even that of its being dedicated to him of whom it was bought. The value of the shekel by which all these estimations were to be made is here ascertained (Lev 27:25); it shall be twenty gerahs, and every gerah was sixteen barley-corns. This was fixed before (Exo 30:13); and, whereas there had been some alterations, it is again fixed in the laws of Ezekiel's visionary temple (Eze 45:12), to denote that the gospel should reduce things to their ancient standard.
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Summary
Leviticus 27:17 articulates a specific regulation concerning the dedication of agricultural land to the Lord, establishing the method for its valuation and potential redemption. This verse specifies that if a field is consecrated from the Year of Jubilee, its assessed value for dedication or repurchase is determined by a precise priestly estimation, which takes into account the full remaining years until the next Jubilee, when all land was destined to revert to its ancestral owners. It powerfully underscores the divine ownership of all land in Israel and the meticulous integrity required in fulfilling sacred vows made to God.
Context
Literary Context
Leviticus 27 serves as a concluding appendix to the extensive legal and ritual instructions found throughout the book of Leviticus. While much of the preceding text (chapters 1-26) details mandatory sacrifices, purity laws, and covenant observances, Chapter 27 shifts focus to voluntary vows and dedications made by individuals to the Lord. These dedications could involve persons, animals, houses, or, as in this verse, fields. Verses 16-25 specifically address the complex rules for dedicating and redeeming fields, with verse 17 clarifying the valuation method when the dedication occurs at the beginning of a Jubilee cycle. This section is deeply interwoven with the broader land laws and the concept of the Year of Jubilee introduced in Leviticus 25, particularly the principle that all land ultimately belongs to God and reverts to its original tribal inheritance every fifty years (Leviticus 25:10). The meticulousness of these regulations ensures both fairness in transactions and the sanctity of commitments made to the divine.
Historical & Cultural Context
Ancient Israel was fundamentally an agrarian society, where land was not merely an economic asset but a central component of family identity, tribal inheritance, and covenantal blessing. The land tenure system, particularly the Jubilee laws, set Israel apart from other ancient Near Eastern cultures, where land could be permanently bought and sold. In Israel, the land was considered God's ultimate possession (Leviticus 25:23), and human ownership was temporary, a stewardship. The Jubilee, occurring every 50 years, mandated the return of all land to its original family allotments, preventing the permanent accumulation of wealth and power, fostering social equity, and maintaining the tribal structure. When an Israelite "sanctified" a field, it was a profound act of devotion, dedicating a vital asset to the Lord. The law, however, provided a mechanism for redemption, allowing the original owner or a kinsman to buy it back. The valuation, as described in Leviticus 27:16-24, was not based on fluctuating market prices but on a fixed rate per homer of barley seed, proportional to the number of harvests remaining until the next Jubilee. The priest's role in this "estimation" was critical, acting as God's representative to ensure adherence to divine law and to arbitrate justly.
Key Themes
This verse, situated within the broader context of Leviticus, contributes to several overarching themes. Firstly, it reinforces the theme of Divine Sovereignty and Ownership, particularly over the land, emphasizing that all earthly possessions ultimately belong to God and are held by humans in stewardship. Secondly, it highlights the Sanctity of Vows and Commitments made to the Lord, demonstrating that such dedications are to be treated with utmost seriousness and precision, requiring careful valuation and adherence to divine standards. Thirdly, the verse, through its reliance on the Jubilee principle, underscores God's concern for Justice, Equity, and Restoration within the covenant community, ensuring that economic disparities do not become permanent and that ancestral inheritances are preserved. Finally, it points to the Role of the Priesthood as divine arbiters, responsible for administering God's laws and ensuring their righteous application in the lives of the people, from matters of sacrifice to the valuation of dedicated property.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root means "to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)." In the context of Leviticus 27:17, it signifies the act of "setting apart," "consecrating," or "making holy" a field to the Lord. Once sanctified, the field was considered sacred and subject to divine regulations, no longer for common use. This act was a voluntary expression of devotion and commitment, placing the dedicated item under God's special claim.
Derived from a word related to the blast of a horn, this term refers to the "Year of Jubilee," a pivotal institution in Israelite law observed every fifty years. It was a year of profound liberty, marked by the restoration of land to its original tribal owners, the release of Hebrew slaves, and the remission of debts. The mention of "jubile" here is paramount because it serves as the fixed temporal anchor from which the value of a dedicated field is calculated, underscoring the temporary nature of human land possession and God's ultimate, cyclical reassertion of ownership.
This noun, meaning "a pile, equipment, estimate," refers to a "valuation," "assessment," or "fixed price." In the context of Leviticus 27, it denotes the precise, divinely ordained method by which the priest would calculate the redemption value of a dedicated item, specifically a field. This was not a subjective appraisal but a formulaic calculation based on the number of years remaining until the next Jubilee, at a rate of fifty shekels of silver per homer of barley seed for a full fifty-year period (Leviticus 27:16). The phrase "according to thy estimation it shall stand" emphasizes the authoritative and binding nature of this priestly assessment.
A primitive root meaning "to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)," in this context, qûwm signifies that the estimation "shall be established" or "shall be confirmed." It conveys the idea of permanence and legal force. Once the priestly assessment is made, it is fixed and unchangeable, serving as the definitive value for the dedicated field, whether for its dedication itself or for its subsequent redemption. This highlights the immutability and authority of God's prescribed legal framework.
Verse Breakdown
"If he sanctify his field from the year of jubile"
This clause sets the precise condition for the subsequent valuation. It describes a scenario where an individual voluntarily "sanctifies" or dedicates their agricultural field to the Lord. The critical temporal marker "from the year of jubile" indicates that this act of dedication occurs at the very beginning of a Jubilee cycle, implying a full 50-year period stretching ahead until the next Jubilee. This starting point is essential because it means the field's value will be assessed based on the maximum possible duration of its use before its mandated reversion to its ancestral owners. The act of "sanctifying" underscores the intentional and sacred nature of the commitment.
"according to thy estimation it shall stand"
This phrase declares the authoritative and binding nature of the valuation process. "Thy estimation" refers to the assessment made by the priest, who functioned as God's designated representative in matters of sacred law and valuation. This estimation was not arbitrary but followed a precise, divinely established formula (as outlined in Leviticus 27:16), taking into account the number of years remaining until the next Jubilee. The declaration "it shall stand" emphasizes the immutability, legal force, and finality of this priestly assessment. Once determined, this value was the fixed price for the dedicated field, ensuring fairness, preventing disputes, and upholding the sanctity of the dedication.
Literary Devices
Leviticus 27:17, like much of the Mosaic Law, prominently employs Legal Language and a Prescriptive Tone. The verse begins with a clear Conditional Clause ("If he sanctify..."), which is characteristic of ancient Near Eastern legal codes, establishing the specific circumstances under which the subsequent regulation applies. This structure provides clarity and precision in the application of the law. The phrase "according to thy estimation it shall stand" highlights the Divine Authority vested in the priest, who acts as the arbiter and enforcer of God's laws. The entire system of the Jubilee, which underpins the valuation method in this verse, functions as a profound Symbolism of divine ownership, ultimate redemption, and the cyclical restoration of order. The Jubilee year itself serves as a powerful Metaphor for God's ultimate sovereignty over all creation, emphasizing that human possession is temporary stewardship, and pointing forward to a future, ultimate restoration of all things.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Leviticus 27:17, with its intricate regulations for dedicated fields, profoundly illustrates God's meticulous concern for justice, order, and the sanctity of vows within His covenant community. It underscores the foundational truth that all things, especially the land, ultimately belong to God, and human ownership is a stewardship, temporary and subject to divine prerogative. The Jubilee system, from which this verse derives its valuation principle, served as a tangible reminder of God's sovereignty and His provision for social and economic equity, preventing permanent destitution and ensuring that the blessings of the land were broadly distributed. This principle extends to our modern understanding of commitment and resources: what we dedicate to God, whether time, talent, or treasure, is to be treated with utmost seriousness and integrity, reflecting His ownership and our faithful stewardship. Our vows are not mere suggestions but sacred promises that God takes seriously, and He expects us to do the same.
Reflection and Application
Leviticus 27:17, though rooted in the specific land laws of ancient Israel, offers timeless principles for contemporary believers concerning our relationship with God and our possessions. It challenges us to consider the profound seriousness with which we approach our commitments, particularly those made to God. Just as the Israelites were meticulous in valuing dedicated fields according to divine standards, we are called to bring integrity, intentionality, and a spirit of reverence to our vows, whether they involve our time, finances, spiritual disciplines, or service. The underlying principle of divine ownership, powerfully highlighted by the Jubilee, reminds us that everything we possess—our abilities, resources, relationships, and even our very lives—is ultimately a gift from God, entrusted to us for His purposes. This perspective transforms our understanding of "ownership" into "stewardship," compelling us to manage all that God has given us in a way that honors Him, advances His kingdom, and reflects His character. We are to live with an awareness that our earthly possessions are temporary, and our ultimate inheritance lies in God's eternal kingdom, fostering a spirit of generosity, detachment from materialism, and a deep reliance on His provision.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of "from the year of jubile" in this verse?
The phrase "from the year of jubile" is profoundly significant because it establishes the precise starting point for the valuation of a dedicated field. In ancient Israel, the Year of Jubilee, occurring every 50 years, was a time when all land reverted to its original tribal families, symbolizing God's ultimate ownership and the temporary nature of human possession. Therefore, if a field was dedicated to the Lord at the beginning of a Jubilee cycle, its value for redemption or dedication purposes was calculated based on the full 50-year period until the next Jubilee. This ensured a standardized, fair valuation that accounted for the temporary nature of land possession and God's ultimate claim over the land, as detailed in Leviticus 25. It underscored that even dedicated property was subject to the overarching divine economy.
Who made the "estimation" mentioned in the verse, and why was it binding?
The "estimation" was made by the priest. In the Mosaic Law, priests served as crucial mediators between God and the people, responsible for upholding, interpreting, and applying God's laws, especially concerning matters of holiness, vows, and sacred dedications. The valuation was not arbitrary or subjective but followed a specific, divinely ordained formula based on the number of harvest years remaining until the next Jubilee, as outlined in Leviticus 27:16. It was binding ("it shall stand") because it represented God's own assessment, ensuring justice, preventing fraud, and upholding the sanctity of anything dedicated to Him. The priest's role was to apply God's law faithfully and accurately, making the assessment an authoritative declaration from God Himself.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Leviticus 27:17, with its focus on the dedication and valuation of a field in relation to the Jubilee, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The Jubilee year, a divinely ordained time of liberty, release, and restoration of inheritance, serves as a powerful foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate redemptive mission. Jesus Himself proclaimed His ministry by quoting Isaiah 61:1-2, declaring, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18-19). This "acceptable year of the Lord" is the spiritual Jubilee, ushered in by Christ, offering true freedom from the bondage of sin, spiritual debt, and the curse of the law, thereby restoring humanity to its lost inheritance in God. While the Old Testament field was temporarily sanctified and valued until the next earthly Jubilee, Christ's singular sacrifice on the cross represents the ultimate and eternal sanctification, dedicating believers permanently to God (Hebrews 10:10). He is the true "estimation" of our worth, having paid the ultimate and unrepeatable price for our redemption, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with His precious, incorruptible blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). Through Him, we are not merely returned to an earthly inheritance, but granted an incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading inheritance reserved in heaven (1 Peter 1:4). The temporary valuations and redemptions of the Old Covenant find their eternal and perfect "standing" in the finished work of Christ, who is our ultimate Jubilee, bringing everlasting liberty and restoration.