How does Leviticus 27:28 connect to the idea of holiness in Scripture? “Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD from all he owns—whether a person, an animal, or his land—may be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD.” What “devoted” means • The Hebrew word ḥerem speaks of something irrevocably set apart for God. • Once devoted, the object moves from common use to God’s exclusive domain. • “Most holy” (qōdesh qodāshîm) underscores a heightened level of separation, shared by the Holy of Holies and the altar (Exodus 30:29). Holiness as God’s unique ownership • Holiness (qōdesh) in Scripture is primarily about belonging to God. • Leviticus repeatedly ties holiness to the Lord’s nature: “I am the LORD who sets you apart” (Leviticus 20:8). • Because God is holy, what He claims inherits that same distinct status. Echoes across the Old Testament • Exodus 19:6: “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” – Israel’s national identity mirrors the “devoted” concept: wholly God’s. • Joshua 6:17–19: Jericho’s spoils were ḥerem, illustrating the danger of reclaiming what God has stamped as His alone (cf. Achan in Joshua 7). • Isaiah 6:3: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts.” – God’s thrice-repeated holiness sets the pattern for absolute separation. Fulfillment in the New Testament • 1 Peter 1:15-16: “Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” – Peter cites Leviticus to show believers now share the same “most holy” calling. • 1 Corinthians 6:20: “You were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.” – Redemption makes the believer God’s possession; our bodies are not for sale or self-redemption, echoing Leviticus 27:28. • Romans 12:1: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” – The “living sacrifice” idea takes the ḥerem principle into daily discipleship. Key takeaways • Holiness is inseparable from ownership: what belongs to God is removed from ordinary circulation. • Leviticus 27:28 teaches that devotion to God is total and non-negotiable. • From Old to New Testament, the call is consistent: God’s people, like devoted things, are set apart for His exclusive purposes. |
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