Leviticus 27:16
If a man consecrates to the LORD a parcel of his land, then your valuation shall be proportional to the seed required for it--fifty shekels of silver for every homer of barley seed.
If a man consecrates to the LORD a parcel of his land,

Israelite land was a covenant inheritance from the LORD, who declared that the land ultimately belonged to Him (Leviticus 25:23). A man could voluntarily devote part of his ancestral property to the sanctuary, acknowledging God’s ownership and supporting the worship and service appointed by Him. Such a vow was serious, yet God provided an orderly way for devoted property to be valued and redeemed.

Ezk 45:1-4 When you divide the land by lot as an inheritance…
Lev 25:23-24 The land must not be sold permanently, because it is Mine…
1Ki 21:3 But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should…

then your valuation shall be proportional to the seed required for it—

The priest assessed the field according to the amount of seed needed to sow it, measuring its productive acreage rather than merely its location or appearance. The valuation assumed the field’s value through the remaining years until the Jubilee, when inherited land returned to the family originally allotted it (Leviticus 27:17–18; 25:10). God’s law guarded both the holiness of vows and the permanence of family inheritances.

Lev 25:50-52 He and his purchaser will then count the time…
Isa 5:10 For ten acres of vineyard will yield but a bath of wine,…
Ezk 45:11-12 The ephah and the bath shall be the same quantity…

fifty shekels of silver for every homer of barley seed.

A homer was a large measure of grain, and barley was a common staple crop in Israel. Fifty shekels established the full valuation for land sufficient to sow one homer of barley when dedicated at the beginning of a Jubilee cycle. The fixed standard prevented arbitrary assessments and showed that devotion to God involved tangible, accountable stewardship.

Hos 3:2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver.…
2Ki 7:1 Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD!…
Jer 32:9-10 So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel…

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD
The covenant God of Israel, to whom the field is consecrated.

2. The Man
An Israelite who chooses to consecrate a part of his field to the LORD.

3. The Field
Represents a portion of land that is dedicated to God, reflecting the agricultural context of ancient Israel.

4. Shekels of Silver
The currency used for the valuation of the consecrated field.

5. Homer of Barley Seed
A unit of measure for the seed, indicating the size of the field being consecrated.
Teaching Points
Consecration and Commitment
Dedicating a portion of one's resources to God is an act of worship and commitment. It reflects a heart that prioritizes God's kingdom over personal gain.

Valuation and Fairness
The valuation system ensures fairness and equity, reminding us that our offerings to God should be proportional to what we have received.

Stewardship of Resources
This passage encourages believers to be wise stewards of their resources, recognizing that everything we have ultimately belongs to God.

Spiritual Significance of Material Offerings
Material offerings have spiritual significance, symbolizing our trust in God's provision and our dedication to His purposes.

Reflecting on Priorities
This scripture challenges us to reflect on our priorities and consider how we can dedicate our time, talents, and treasures to God's work.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does it mean to consecrate a part of your resources to the LORD in today's context?

2. How does the concept of valuation in Leviticus 27:16 relate to the idea of giving proportionally in the New Testament?

3. In what ways can we apply the principle of stewardship from this passage to our daily lives?

4. How does the act of consecrating a field to the LORD demonstrate trust in God's provision?

5. What are some practical ways we can ensure that our priorities align with God's kingdom, as suggested by this passage?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 25
Discusses the Year of Jubilee, which impacts the valuation of land and its redemption.

Numbers 18:21-24
Describes the tithes given to the Levites, which relates to the concept of dedicating portions of one's resources to God.

Deuteronomy 14:22-29
Talks about tithing and the use of resources for worship and support of the Levites, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

Matthew 6:19-21
Jesus teaches about storing treasures in heaven, which parallels the idea of dedicating earthly resources to God.
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
People
Israelites, Moses
Places
Mount Sinai
Topics
Amount, Barley, Dedicates, Family, Field, Fifty, Homer, Possession, Required, Seed, Shekels, Silver, Sowing, Valuation, Value, Valued
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 27:16

     4363   silver
     4456   grain
     4506   seed
     5616   measures, dry
     5619   measures, distance and area
     5682   family, significance

Leviticus 27:1-25

     5741   vows

Leviticus 27:1-27

     8223   dedication

Leviticus 27:1-33

     6714   ransom

Leviticus 27:15-20

     6721   redemption, in life

Leviticus 27:16-19

     7482   Year of Jubilee

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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