Leviticus 27:3
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.
if the valuation concerns a male

A person dedicated by vow to the LORD could be redeemed by paying the assigned value. The higher valuation for males reflects their customary economic responsibilities and labor capacity in Israelite society.

Deu 16:16 Three times a year all your men appear before the LORD…
Exo 34:23 Three times a year all your males are to appear…

from twenty to sixty years of age,

These were generally the years of greatest physical strength and productive work.

Num 1:3 You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years old…
Num 26:2 Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel…

then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver,

The required payment was substantial, reflecting the expected value of a man’s labor during his prime years. It was not a price placed on human worth before God, but a fixed amount governing vows made to Him.

2Sa 24:24 So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen…
Exo 21:30 If payment is demanded of him instead, he may…

according to the sanctuary shekel.

The payment followed the official weight standard used for sacred offerings and tabernacle administration, preventing unequal measures in matters devoted to the LORD.

Exo 30:13 Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay…
Exo 38:26 a beka per person, that is, half a shekel,…
Num 18:16 You are to pay the redemption price for a month-old male…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The prophet and leader of the Israelites, who received the laws from God on Mount Sinai and communicated them to the people.

2. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, to whom the laws in Leviticus were given as part of their covenant relationship with Him.

3. The Tabernacle
The portable sanctuary where the Israelites worshiped God and where offerings and vows were made.

4. Vows
Commitments made to God, often involving a promise to dedicate a person or object to the Lord.

5. The Priests
The descendants of Aaron, responsible for overseeing the fulfillment of vows and offerings in accordance with God's laws.
Teaching Points
The Value of a Vow
Vows are serious commitments made to God and should not be taken lightly. They reflect a heart of dedication and worship.

Understanding the Worth
Leviticus 27:3 provides a specific valuation for a person dedicated by a vow, highlighting the importance of understanding the worth and implications of our commitments to God.

Cultural Context and Modern Application
While the specific valuations may not apply today, the principle of dedicating ourselves and our resources to God remains relevant. Consider how you can dedicate your time, talents, and treasures to God's service.

Integrity in Commitment
The passage encourages believers to be people of integrity, ensuring that their commitments to God and others are honored and fulfilled.

Reflecting on Personal Dedication
Use this passage as an opportunity to reflect on your personal dedication to God. Are there areas in your life where you need to renew your commitment or fulfill a promise made to Him?
Bible Study Questions
1. What does Leviticus 27:3 teach us about the seriousness of making vows to God, and how can this principle be applied in our lives today?

2. How does the concept of valuing a person dedicated by a vow in Leviticus 27:3 relate to the broader biblical theme of dedication and sacrifice?

3. In what ways can we ensure that our commitments to God and others are honored, reflecting the integrity taught in both Leviticus and the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament?

4. How can the principles found in Leviticus 27:3 guide us in dedicating our resources and talents to God's service in a modern context?

5. Reflect on a time when you made a commitment to God. How did you fulfill it, and what did you learn from the experience that can be applied to future commitments?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Numbers 30
Discusses the making and breaking of vows, emphasizing the seriousness and binding nature of vows made to God.

Ecclesiastes 5
Warns about making rash vows and the importance of fulfilling what one promises to God.

Matthew 5
Jesus teaches about the integrity of one's word, encouraging believers to let their "yes" be "yes" and their "no" be "no."
Singular VowsJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 27:1-25
Spontaneous DevotionW. Clarkson Leviticus 27:1-33
On Keeping VowsR.M. Edgar Leviticus 27:1-34
Vows and DuesR.A. Redford Leviticus 27:1-34
A Vow FulfilledMemoir of Sir Francis Crossley.Leviticus 27:2-13
A Vow KeptElihu Burritt.Leviticus 27:2-13
Brittle VowsJ. Spencer.Leviticus 27:2-13
Influence of a Singular VowPresident Lincoln.Leviticus 27:2-13
Laws Concerning VowsF. W. Brown.Leviticus 27:2-13
Philip Henry's VowC. Bullock.Leviticus 27:2-13
The Extraordinary in the Service of GodHenry, MatthewLeviticus 27:2-13
The Provisions of Righteousness and GraceC. H. Mackintosh.Leviticus 27:2-13
The Redemption of a Singular VowRobert Spurgeon.Leviticus 27:2-13
The Singular VowH. Christopherson.Leviticus 27:2-13
The Distinctions Which RemainW. Clarkson Leviticus 27:3-7
People
Israelites, Moses
Places
Mount Sinai
Topics
Ages, Estimation, Fifty, Holy, Male, Sanctuary, Scale, Shekel, Shekels, Silver, Sixty, Twenty, Valuation, Value
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 27:3

     5204   age

Leviticus 27:1-7

     5615   weights

Leviticus 27:1-8

     5260   coinage

Leviticus 27:1-25

     5741   vows

Leviticus 27:1-27

     8223   dedication

Leviticus 27:1-33

     6714   ransom

Leviticus 27:3-7

     5716   middle age

Library
List of Abbreviations Used in Reference to Rabbinic Writings Quoted in this Work.
THE Mishnah is always quoted according to Tractate, Chapter (Pereq) and Paragraph (Mishnah), the Chapter being marked in Roman, the paragraph in ordinary Numerals. Thus Ber. ii. 4 means the Mishnic Tractate Berakhoth, second Chapter, fourth Paragraph. The Jerusalem Talmud is distinguished by the abbreviation Jer. before the name of the Tractate. Thus, Jer. Ber. is the Jer. Gemara, or Talmud, of the Tractate Berakhoth. The edition, from which quotations are made, is that commonly used, Krotoschin,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Tithing
There are few subjects on which the Lord's own people are more astray than on the subject of giving. They profess to take the Bible as their own rule of faith and practice, and yet in the matter of Christian finance, the vast majority have utterly ignored its plain teachings and have tried every substitute the carnal mind could devise; therefore it is no wonder that the majority of Christian enterprises in the world today are handicapped and crippled through the lack of funds. Is our giving to be
Arthur W. Pink—Tithing

Circumcision, Temple Service, and Naming of Jesus.
(the Temple at Jerusalem, b.c. 4) ^C Luke II. 21-39. ^c 21 And when eight days [Gen. xvii. 12] were fulfilled for circumcising him [The rite was doubtless performed by Joseph. By this rite Jesus was "made like unto his brethren" (Heb. ii. 16, 17); that is, he became a member of the covenant nation, and became a debtor to the law--Gal. v. 3] , his name was called JESUS [see Luke i. 59], which was so called by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. [Luke i. 31.] 22 And when the days of their
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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