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Leviticus 27:13

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But if he will at all redeem it, then he shall add a fifth [part] thereof unto thy estimation.

But if he will at all {H1350} redeem {H1350} it, then he shall add {H3254} a fifth {H2549} part thereof unto thy estimation {H6187}.

But if the person making the vow wishes to redeem the animal, he must add one-fifth to your valuation.

If, however, the owner decides to redeem the animal, he must add a fifth to its value.

But if he will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part thereof unto thy estimation.

Commentary

Commentary on Leviticus 27:13 (KJV)

Leviticus 27:13 is part of a chapter that outlines the laws concerning vows and dedications made to the Lord. This specific verse addresses the redemption of something (a person, animal, or field) that has been consecrated or dedicated to God, and for which a monetary value has been set by the priest. If the original owner or another individual wishes to buy it back, an additional charge is applied.

Context

The entire chapter of Leviticus 27 deals with various types of vows and dedications through which Israelites could consecrate possessions, animals, or even themselves to the Lord. While such dedications were voluntary, once made, they were considered extremely serious and binding. This chapter provides the framework for how these vows were to be valued and, if desired, redeemed. The purpose was to ensure that dedicated items were treated with the utmost respect due to their sacred status, reflecting the holiness of God and the seriousness of promises made to Him.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Seriousness of Vows and Dedications: This law underscores that any vow or dedication made to the Lord was not to be taken lightly. Once consecrated, an item or person belonged to God, and reclaiming it incurred a penalty. This aligns with the broader biblical teaching on the importance of fulfilling one's promises to God, as seen in Deuteronomy 23:21-23.
  • Principle of Restitution and Penalty: The requirement to "add a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation" (an additional 20%) serves as a penalty for taking back what was dedicated. This additional cost emphasizes that changing one's mind about a sacred dedication carries a consequence, reinforcing the sanctity of the original vow. This concept of adding a fifth part is also found in laws concerning restitution for unintentional trespasses against the Lord's holy things or fraud, such as in Numbers 5:7.
  • God's Ownership and Holiness: Ultimately, these laws remind the people that everything belongs to God. The dedication acknowledged His supreme ownership, and the redemption process, with its added cost, reaffirmed that divine claim even when an item was returned to human possession.

Linguistic Insights

The key term "redeem" in Hebrew is גָּאַל (ga'al), which means to buy back, reclaim, or set free. It implies a transaction where a price is paid to restore something to its original state or owner, or to liberate it. In this context, it's about buying back something that was dedicated. The "estimation" refers to the value assigned to the dedicated item by the priest, who acted as an impartial arbiter in such matters.

Practical Application

While the specific laws of Leviticus 27 are part of the Old Covenant, the underlying principles remain relevant for believers today:

  • Integrity in Our Commitments: This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness with which we should approach our commitments, especially those made to God. Whether it's a pledge of service, a baptismal vow, or a commitment in prayer, God expects faithfulness and integrity.
  • The Cost of Changing Course: There are often consequences, spiritual or otherwise, when we retract or fail to fulfill commitments made in good faith. This ancient law illustrates that there is a "cost" associated with not following through on our dedicated intentions.
  • Recognizing God's Ownership: All that we have, our time, talents, and possessions, ultimately belong to God. When we dedicate something to Him, whether literally or figuratively, it's an acknowledgment of His ultimate ownership and our role as stewards.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Leviticus 27:15 (4 votes)

    And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth [part] of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his.

  • Leviticus 27:19 (4 votes)

    And if he that sanctified the field will in any wise redeem it, then he shall add the fifth [part] of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be assured to him.

  • Leviticus 22:14 (3 votes)

    And if a man eat [of] the holy thing unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth [part] thereof unto it, and shall give [it] unto the priest with the holy thing.

  • Leviticus 5:16 (2 votes)

    And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him.

  • Leviticus 27:10 (2 votes)

    He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: and if he shall at all change beast for beast, then it and the exchange thereof shall be holy.

  • Leviticus 6:4 (2 votes)

    Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,

  • Leviticus 6:5 (2 votes)

    Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, [and] give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.