Leviticus – Chapter 27

Old Testament34 Verses

Chapter Summary

"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:" — so begins Leviticus 27. Moses stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 34 verses, two threads run through the text: holiness and God's covenant promises. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

2Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The man that shall have made a vow, and promised his soul to God, shall give the price according to estimation.

3If it be a man from twenty years old unto sixty years old, he shall give fifty sicles of silver, after the weight of the sanctuary:

4If a woman, thirty.

5But from the fifth year until the twentieth, a man shall give twenty sicles: a woman ten.

6From one month until the fifth year, for a male shall be given five sicles: for a female three.

7A man that is sixty years old or upward, shall give fifteen sicles: a woman ten.

8If he be poor, and not able to pay the estimation, he shall stand before the priest: and as much as he shall value him at, and see him able to pay, so much shall he give.

9But a beast that may be sacrificed to the Lord, if any one shall vow, shall be holy,

10And 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.

11An unclean beast, which cannot be sacrificed to the Lord, if any man shall vow, shall be brought before the priest:

12Who judging whether it be good or bad, shall set the price.

13Which, if he that offereth it will give, he shall add above the estimation the fifth part.

14If a man shall vow his house, and sanctify it to the Lord, the priest shall consider it, whether it be good or bad: and it shall be sold according to the price, which he shall appoint.

15But if he that vowed, will redeem it, he shall give the fifth part of the estimation over and above: and shall have the house.

16And if he vow the field of his possession, and consecrate it to the Lord, the price shall be rated according to the measure of the seed. If the ground be sown with thirty bushels of barley, let it be sold for fifty sicles of silver.

17If he vow his field immediately from the year of jubilee that is beginning: as much as it may be worth, at so much it shall be rated.

18But if some time after, the priest shall reckon the money according to the number of years that remain until the jubilee, and the price shall be abated.

19And if he that had vowed, will redeem his field, he shall add the fifth part of the money of the estimation, and shall possess it.

20And if he will not redeem it, but it be sold to any other man, he that vowed it, may not redeem it any more.

21For when the day of jubilee cometh, it shall be sanctified to the Lord, and as a possession consecrated, pertaineth to the right of the priest.

22If a field that was bought, and not of a man's ancestors' possession, be sanctified to the Lord:

23The priest shall reckon the price according to the number of years, unto the jubilee. And he that had vowed, shall give that to the Lord.

24But in the jubilee, it shall return to the former owner, who had sold it, and had it in the lot of his possession.

25All estimation shall be made according to the sicle of the sanctuary. A sicle hath twenty obols.

26The firstborn, which belong to the Lord, no man may sanctify and vow: whether it be bullock, or sheep, they are the Lord's.

27And if it be an unclean beast, he that offereth it shall redeem it, according to thy estimation, and shall add the fifth part of the price. If he will not redeem it, it shall be sold to another for how much soever it was estimated by thee.

28Any thing that is devoted to the Lord, whether it be man, or beast, or field, shall not be sold: neither may it be redeemed. Whatsoever is once consecrated shall be holy of holies to the Lord.

29And any consecration that is offered by man, shall not be redeemed, but dying shall die.

30All tithes of the land, whether of corn, or of the fruits of trees, are the Lord's, and are sanctified to him.

31And if any man will redeem his tithes, he shall add the fifth part of them.

32Of all the tithes of oxen, and sheep, and goats, that pass under the shepherd's rod, every tenth that cometh shall be sanctified to the Lord.

33It shall not be chosen neither good nor bad, neither shall it be changed for another. If any man change it: both that which was changed, and that for which it was changed, shall be sanctified to the Lord, and shall not be redeemed.

34These are the precepts which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

Important Verses in Leviticus 27

Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The man that shall have made a vow, and promised his soul to God, shall give the price according to estimation.

Leviticus 27:2

But a beast that may be sacrificed to the Lord, if any one shall vow, shall be holy,

Leviticus 27:9

Any thing that is devoted to the Lord, whether it be man, or beast, or field, shall not be sold: neither may it be redeemed. Whatsoever is once consecrated shall be holy of holies to the Lord.

Leviticus 27:28

These are the precepts which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

Leviticus 27:34

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Leviticus was written with the priests (sons of Aaron) and the whole assembly of Israel in view. Chapter 27 of 27 brings the book to its close, gathering up themes introduced earlier. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 34 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter focuses on Moses, whose actions and words drive the passage forward. It opens with the line: "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:" The chapter ends with: "These are the precepts which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai. " In terms of historical background, Leviticus is the liturgical handbook of ancient Israel, given at Sinai to teach a newly freed people how to worship a holy God. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Leviticus around Core traditions from the wilderness period; final form by the 5th century BC.

Who Wrote It

Traditionally attributed to Moses; contains priestly legislation preserved by the Levitical priesthood

When It Was Written

Core traditions from the wilderness period; final form by the 5th century BC

Catholic Commentary

Read at the narrative level, this chapter describes real persons, decisions, and consequences within holiness, sacrifice, and priestly worship. A pivotal line is verse 2: "Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The man that shall have made a vow, and promised his soul to God, shall give the price according…" The passage repeatedly touches on holiness before God.

Catholic exegesis reads Leviticus 27 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Catholic theology sees these sacrifices fulfilled in Christ's one perfect sacrifice (CIC 1539-1545). St. Athanasius and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 355).

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Leviticus 27 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • 'Be holy, for I am holy': God calls His people to be set apart for Him in every area of life.
  • God binds Himself to His people by covenant, and He never breaks His word.
  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.

People in This Chapter

Moses2 mentions

Reflection for Today

When the Church proclaims Leviticus Chapter 27 at Mass or in the Liturgy of the Hours, she treats this text as the living voice of God.

In the four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—the Church finds rich meaning in Leviticus Chapter 27. At the moral level, repentance and the mercy of God challenges us to examine conscience and amend our lives (CIC 721).

If this passage raises questions, seek the Church's teaching through the Catechism, a faithful priest, or sound Catholic commentaries. Private interpretation must remain in harmony with the Magisterium (CIC 958).

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Leviticus Chapter 27 about?

Leviticus 27 contains 34 verses. It opens with "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:" and closes with "These are the precepts which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai. ". The book as a whole is law and liturgical instruction.

What is a key verse in Leviticus 27?

One of the most significant verses is verse 2: "Speak to the children of Israel, and thou shalt say to them: The man that shall have made a vow, and promised his soul to God, shall give the price according to estimation." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Leviticus Chapter 27?

This chapter mentions Moses.

Who wrote Leviticus and when?

Traditionally attributed to Moses; contains priestly legislation preserved by the Levitical priesthood. Core traditions from the wilderness period; final form by the 5th century BC.

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