Leviticus 27:6
Now if the person is from one month to five years of age, then your valuation for the male shall be five shekels of silver, and for the female three shekels of silver.
Now if the person is from one month to five years of age,

Infants were included in the vow regulations after one month, when they had passed the earliest and most vulnerable stage of life. Children in this age range were not yet expected to perform the work associated with adult service.

Num 18:15-16 The firstborn of every womb, whether man or beast…
Num 3:15 Number the Levites by their families and clans.…
Exo 13:13-15 You must redeem every firstborn donkey with a lamb…

then your valuation for the male shall be five shekels of silver,

The five-shekel amount was the required redemption value for a male child dedicated by vow. It reflected the established valuation scale for the sanctuary rather than the child’s personal or spiritual worth.

Num 3:46-47 To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites…
Exo 30:13-16 Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay…
Exo 38:25-26 The silver from those numbered among the congregation…

and for the female three shekels of silver.

A female child’s redemption value was three shekels. The differing amounts followed Israel’s social and economic order, in which males and females ordinarily had different anticipated roles and labor capacities. Both were included among those who could be devoted to the Lord and redeemed according to His appointed standard.

Deu 22:29 the man who lay with her must pay the young woman’s father…
Hos 3:2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver.…
Exo 21:7-11 And if a man sells his daughter as a servant,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The author of Leviticus, who received the laws from God on Mount Sinai. He is the central figure in delivering God's commandments to the Israelites.

2. Israelites
The recipients of the laws in Leviticus, including the instructions on vows and valuations.

3. Tabernacle
The place where the Israelites worshiped and where offerings and vows were made. It served as the central place of worship during their journey in the wilderness.

4. Priests
The individuals responsible for overseeing the valuations and ensuring that the laws were followed according to God's instructions.

5. Shekel
The unit of currency used in ancient Israel, significant in the context of valuations and offerings.
Teaching Points
Understanding Valuation in Worship
The valuation system reflects the importance of dedicating individuals to God and the recognition of their worth in His service. It teaches us to consider the value of our commitments to God.

Equality and Distinction
While there is a difference in valuation between males and females, it reflects the cultural context of the time. Today, we recognize the equal value of all individuals in Christ (Galatians 3:28).

Commitment to God
The passage encourages us to consider what we dedicate to God, whether it be our time, resources, or talents. It challenges us to evaluate our commitments and ensure they honor Him.

Faithfulness in Promises
Just as the Israelites were expected to fulfill their vows, we are called to be faithful in our promises to God and others, reflecting His faithfulness to us.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the valuation system in Leviticus 27:6 reflect the cultural and religious context of ancient Israel, and what can we learn from it today?

2. In what ways does the concept of dedicating individuals to God in Leviticus connect with the New Testament teachings on offering ourselves as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1)?

3. How can we apply the principle of valuing our commitments to God in our daily lives, and what practical steps can we take to ensure we honor these commitments?

4. What does the difference in valuation between males and females in this passage teach us about the cultural context of the Bible, and how can we apply a biblical understanding of equality today?

5. How does the practice of making vows and fulfilling them in the Old Testament relate to Jesus' teachings on oaths and promises in the New Testament (Matthew 5:33-37)?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 30:11-16
Discusses the census tax and the use of shekels, providing context for the valuation system in Leviticus.

Numbers 3:40-51
Describes the redemption of the firstborn, which involves a valuation system similar to that in Leviticus 27.

1 Samuel 1:11
Hannah's vow to dedicate her son Samuel to the Lord, illustrating the practice of making vows and dedicating individuals to God's service.
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
Estimation, Female, Male, Month, Shekels, Silver, Valuation, Value
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 27:6

     4363   silver

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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