Leviticus 27:9

And if [it be] a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD, all that [any man] giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy.

And if it be a beast {H929}, whereof men bring {H7126} an offering {H7133} unto the LORD {H3068}, all that any man giveth {H5414} of such unto the LORD {H3068} shall be holy {H6944}.

"'If the vow is for the value of an animal of the kind used when people bring an offering to ADONAI, all that a person gives of such animals to ADONAI will be holy.

If he vows an animal that may be brought as an offering to the LORD, any such animal given to the LORD shall be holy.

And if it be a beast, whereof men offer an oblation unto Jehovah, all that any man giveth of such unto Jehovah shall be holy.

Commentary

Leviticus 27:9 is part of a chapter detailing laws concerning vows and dedications made to the Lord. While the preceding verses discuss the monetary valuation of persons dedicated, verse 9 shifts focus to the dedication of animals. It specifically addresses beasts that are already suitable for sacrificial offerings, declaring that any such animal given or vowed to the LORD becomes holy and cannot be redeemed or exchanged.

Historical and Cultural Context

In ancient Israel, making vows was a significant spiritual practice, often undertaken during times of distress or thanksgiving. These vows frequently involved dedicating possessions or even persons to God. The laws in Leviticus 27 provided a structured framework for these dedications, ensuring fairness and respect for the sanctity of what was given to the divine. The distinction between clean and unclean animals was fundamental to Israelite worship, as only clean animals, fit for consumption and sacrifice, could be offered to the LORD. This verse assumes the dedicated animal is already of a type acceptable for sacrifice, such as those detailed in Leviticus 1, which outlines the categories of acceptable offerings.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Sanctity of Dedication: The primary message is that anything truly dedicated to the LORD becomes consecrated and set apart for Him. It transitions from common to holy.
  • Irrevocability of Vows: Once an animal suitable for sacrifice is vowed and given to the LORD, it is irrevocably His. This principle is reinforced in the subsequent verse, Leviticus 27:10, which forbids exchanging or altering the dedicated animal.
  • Integrity in Worship: This law underscores the importance of sincerity and commitment in one's offerings and vows to God. It prevents casual or insincere dedication, ensuring that what is given is truly intended for divine purposes.
  • God's Ownership: While all things ultimately belong to God, specific acts of dedication formalize and acknowledge His claim over particular possessions.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "holy" is qodesh (ืงึนื“ึถืฉื), which signifies being "set apart" or "consecrated" for divine use. When something is declared qodesh, it is removed from common use and dedicated exclusively to God. The term "offering" comes from qorban (ืงึธืจึฐื‘ึธึผืŸ), meaning "that which is brought near" to God, emphasizing the act of drawing close to Him through sacrifice.

Practical Application

While we no longer offer animal sacrifices, the spiritual principles of Leviticus 27:9 remain profoundly relevant. This verse reminds believers today of the seriousness of their commitments to God. When we dedicate our lives, time, talents, or resources to the Lord, they become holyโ€”set apart for His purposes. This calls for integrity, reminding us to give our best to God, not our leftovers, and to uphold our spiritual vows with faithfulness, recognizing that what is given to Him is truly His. This echoes the New Testament call to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

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