Leviticus 27:10
New International Version
They must not exchange it or substitute a good one for a bad one, or a bad one for a good one; if they should substitute one animal for another, both it and the substitute become holy.

New Living Translation
You may not exchange or substitute it for another animal—neither a good animal for a bad one nor a bad animal for a good one. But if you do exchange one animal for another, then both the original animal and its substitute will be considered holy.

English Standard Version
He shall not exchange it or make a substitute for it, good for bad, or bad for good; and if he does in fact substitute one animal for another, then both it and the substitute shall be holy.

Berean Standard Bible
He must not replace it or exchange it, either good for bad or bad for good. But if he does substitute one animal for another, both that animal and its substitute will be holy.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
He shall not substitute it or exchange it, good for bad or bad for good; and if he at all exchanges animal for animal, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy.

New American Standard Bible
He shall not replace it nor exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good; yet if he does exchange animal for animal, then both it and its substitute shall become holy.

NASB 1995
‘He shall not replace it or exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good; or if he does exchange animal for animal, then both it and its substitute shall become holy.

NASB 1977
‘He shall not replace it or exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good; or if he does exchange animal for animal, then both it and its substitute shall become holy.

Legacy Standard Bible
He shall not replace it or exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good; or if he does exchange animal for animal, then both it and its substitute shall become holy.

Amplified Bible
He shall not replace it or exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good; but if he does exchange an animal for an animal, then both the original offering and its substitute shall be holy.

Christian Standard Bible
He may not replace it or make a substitution for it, either good for bad, or bad for good. But if he does substitute one animal for another, both that animal and its substitute will be holy.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He may not replace it or make a substitution for it, either good for bad, or bad for good. But if he does substitute one animal for another, both that animal and its substitute will be holy.”

American Standard Version
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 both it and that for which it is changed shall be holy.

Contemporary English Version
If you try to substitute any other animal, no matter how good, for the one you promised, they will both become holy and must be sacrificed.

English Revised Version
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 both it and that for which it is changed shall be holy.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't exchange or substitute animals, a good one for a bad one or a bad one for a good one. If you do exchange one animal for another, then both animals will be holy.

Good News Translation
and you may not substitute another animal for it. If you do, both animals belong to the LORD.

International Standard Version
He is not to substitute it or exchange it—the good with the bad or the bad with the good. If he ever makes an exchange of an animal for an animal, then it and what's being exchanged is holy.

Majority Standard Bible
He must not replace it or exchange it, either good for bad or bad for good. But if he does substitute one animal for another, both that animal and its substitute will be holy.

NET Bible
He must not replace or exchange it, good for bad or bad for good, and if he does indeed exchange one animal for another animal, then both the original animal and its substitute will be holy.

New Heart English Bible
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 animal for animal, then both it and that for which it is changed shall be holy.

Webster's Bible Translation
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 of it shall be holy.

World English Bible
He shall not alter it, nor exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good. If he shall at all exchange animal for animal, then both it and that for which it is exchanged shall be holy.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
he does not change it nor exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good; and if he really exchanges beast for beast, then it has been [holy] and its exchange is holy.

Young's Literal Translation
he doth not change it nor exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good; and if he really change beast for beast, -- then it hath been -- it and its exchange is holy.

Smith's Literal Translation
He shall not change it, and he shall not exchange it, good for evil, or evil for good: and if changing, he shall change cattle for cattle, and the beast, it and its exchange shall be holy.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And cannot be changed, that is to say, neither a better for a worse, nor a worse for a better. And if he shall change it: both that which was changed, and that for which it was changed, shall be consecrated to the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and it cannot be exchanged, that is, neither better for worse, nor worse for better. And if he has exchanged it, both that which was exchanged, and that for which it was exchanged shall be consecrated to the Lord.

New American Bible
The offerer shall not substitute or exchange another for it, either a worse or a better one. If the offerer exchanges one animal in place of another, both the original and its substitute shall become sacred.

New Revised Standard Version
Another shall not be exchanged or substituted for it, either good for bad or bad for good; and if one animal is substituted for another, both that one and its substitute shall be holy.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He shall not exchange it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good; and if he shall at all exchange an animal for an animal, then both it and the one exchanged for it shall be holy to the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He shall not exchange a good one for a bad one, or an afflicted one for good one, and if he will exchange a beast to be exchanged for a beast, it and its exchange shall be holy to LORD JEHOVAH.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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 both it and that for which it is changed shall be holy.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He shall not change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good; and if he do at all change it, a beast for a beast, it and the substitute shall be holy.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Rules about Valuations
9If he vows an animal that may be brought as an offering to the LORD, any such animal given to the LORD shall be holy. 10He must not replace it or exchange it, either good for bad or bad for good. But if he does substitute one animal for another, both that animal and its substitute will be holy. 11But if the vow involves any of the unclean animals that may not be brought as an offering to the LORD, the animal must be presented before the priest.…

Cross References
Numbers 30:2
If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word; he must do everything he has promised.

Deuteronomy 23:21-23
If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to keep it, because He will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. / But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty of sin. / Be careful to follow through on what comes from your lips, because you have freely vowed to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it, because He takes no pleasure in fools. Fulfill your vow. / It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.

Malachi 1:14
“But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.

Matthew 5:33-37
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ / But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; / or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ...

James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.

Numbers 18:17
But you must not redeem the firstborn of an ox, a sheep, or a goat; they are holy. You are to splatter their blood on the altar and burn their fat as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

1 Samuel 1:11
And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

1 Samuel 1:28
I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.

2 Samuel 24:24
“No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

Psalm 15:4
who despises the vile but honors those who fear the LORD, who does not revise a costly oath,

Psalm 50:14
Sacrifice a thank offering to God, and fulfill your vows to the Most High.

Psalm 76:11
Make and fulfill your vows to the LORD your God; let all the neighboring lands bring tribute to Him who is to be feared.

Proverbs 20:25
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.

Acts 5:1-4
Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. / With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. / Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? ...


Treasury of Scripture

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 27:15-33
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…

James 1:8
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

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Leviticus 27
1. He who makes a singular vow must be the Lord's
3. The estimation of the person
9. of a beast given by vow
14. of a house
16. of a field, and the redemption thereof
28. No devoted thing may be redeemed
30. The tithe may not be changed














He must not replace it or exchange it
This phrase underscores the sanctity and inviolability of vows made to God. In the Hebrew context, the word for "replace" (יַחֲלִיפֶנּוּ, yachaliphennu) and "exchange" (יַמִּירֶנּוּ, yamirennu) convey a sense of altering or substituting something that has been dedicated. The historical context of Leviticus involves a society where vows and offerings were integral to worship and community life. The prohibition against replacing or exchanging emphasizes the seriousness of commitments made to God, reflecting His unchanging nature and the expectation of faithfulness from His people.

either good for bad, or bad for good
This phrase highlights the impartiality and integrity required in offerings. The Hebrew words for "good" (טוֹב, tov) and "bad" (רַע, ra) are often used in moral and qualitative contexts. The instruction not to substitute a good offering for a bad one, or vice versa, speaks to the heart of worship—offering God our best without deceit or manipulation. It reflects a broader biblical principle that God desires sincerity and truth in worship, as seen throughout Scripture.

But if he does substitute one animal for another
Here, the text acknowledges human fallibility and the possibility of substitution, yet it sets a clear consequence. The Hebrew word for "substitute" (יַמִּיר, yamir) suggests a deliberate action. This provision indicates that while God’s laws are firm, they also account for human actions and provide a framework for maintaining holiness even when mistakes are made. It reflects God’s justice and mercy, ensuring that His holiness is upheld.

both that animal and its substitute will be holy
This final phrase reveals the gracious nature of God’s law. The Hebrew word for "holy" (קֹדֶשׁ, qodesh) signifies something set apart for God. By declaring both the original and the substitute as holy, the text emphasizes that once something is dedicated to God, it retains its sacred status. This principle teaches that God’s claim on what is His cannot be nullified by human actions. It serves as a reminder of the enduring nature of God’s holiness and the call for His people to honor their commitments with reverence and integrity.

(10) He shall not alter it, nor change it.--The identical animal vowed is to be delivered; no change whatever, even if it is in the substitution of a better for an inferior animal, is permitted. The stress laid upon this part of the enactment is indicated by the employment here of two verbs of the same import. If he who vows does change the one he dedicated to the Lord, both the animals, the one he originally vowed and the one he substituted for it, are alike holy, and must be delivered to the sanctuary.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He must not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

replace it
יַחֲלִיפֶ֗נּוּ (ya·ḥă·lî·p̄en·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2498: To slide by, to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce, change

or exchange it,
יָמִ֥יר (yā·mîr)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4171: To alter, to barter, to dispose of

either good
ט֥וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

for bad
בְּרָ֖ע (bə·rā‘)
Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

or
אוֹ־ (’ōw-)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

bad
רַ֣ע (ra‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

for good.
בְּט֑וֹב (bə·ṭō·wḇ)
Preposition-b | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

But if
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

he does substitute
הָמֵ֨ר (hā·mêr)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 4171: To alter, to barter, to dispose of

one animal
בְּהֵמָה֙ (bə·hê·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 929: A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal

for another,
בִּבְהֵמָ֔ה (biḇ·hê·māh)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 929: A dumb beast, any large quadruped, animal

both that animal
ה֥וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

and its substitute
וּתְמוּרָת֖וֹ (ū·ṯə·mū·rā·ṯōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8545: Barter, compensation

will be
וְהָֽיָה־ (wə·hā·yāh-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

holy.
קֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ (qō·ḏeš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity


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OT Law: Leviticus 27:10 He shall not alter it nor change (Le Lv Lev.)
Leviticus 27:9
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