Leviticus 27:27
And if it is an unclean animal, then he shall buy it back at the valuation, and add a fifth to it; or, if it is not redeemed, it shall be sold at the valuation.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse reveals a subtle but important distinction: it's not just about any unclean animal, but specifically about the firstborn of unclean animals. Unlike firstborn clean animals, which were destined for sacrifice, the firstborn of unclean animals couldn't be offered, so this law provides a way to "redeem" them or sell them for the sanctuary's needs.
This passage deals with what happens when someone vows an unclean animal, specifically the firstborn of an unclean animal, building directly on the previous verse. Since such animals couldn't be offered to God and had different redemption rules than clean animals, this verse clarifies that the owner could buy it back at a priest's valuation plus an additional fifth, or it would be sold at that valuation with the money going to the sanctuary.
What happens when something dedicated to God isn't 'pure' enough for sacrifice? This verse reveals a surprising pathway for the 'unclean'.
In the ancient Israelite system, animals were categorized as 'clean' or 'unclean' primarily for dietary and sacrificial purposes. Clean animals could be offered to God on the altar, while unclean ones could not.
Leviticus 27:26 tells us that the firstborn of clean animals already belonged to the Lord and couldn't be 'sanctified' again by a vow, as they were destined for sacrifice or the priests. However, the firstborn of an unclean animal presented a unique challenge. It couldn't be sacrificed, but it was the Lord's by virtue of being a firstborn.
This verse, Leviticus 27:27, addresses this situation. Instead of being simply discarded, an unclean animal (specifically, a firstborn of an unclean kind that had been vowed) had a specific process. It could be 'redeemed' – bought back – but at a higher cost than its estimated value, requiring an extra fifth. This acknowledged its 'vowed' status while accounting for its impurity.
Why an extra payment for something 'unclean'? This extra 'fifth' points to a deeper principle of God's ownership and value.
The requirement to add a fifth part to the valuation when redeeming an unclean animal is significant. It wasn't just about assigning a monetary worth; it was about acknowledging God's ultimate ownership and the sanctity of the vow, even for something imperfect.
Think of it this way: The animal was declared 'Lord's' by the vow. Its estimated value was what it was worth in the market. But because it was vowed, and couldn't be sacrificed (thus not fulfilling its potential 'purpose' in the sacrificial system), a penalty or premium was added. This 'fifth part' served multiple functions:
Understand the original words
tame · Hebrew Adjective
Ritually unfit for ceremonial use in the sanctuary or for consumption by the people under the law. It represents a state of separation from the holy because of physical defects or prescribed religious categories.
padah · Hebrew Verb
The act of recovering property or a person by paying a price, symbolizing the restoration of what was under obligation or bondage back to its original owner or status.
This passage speaks to the redemption of the firstborn of an unclean animal, like an ass, by substituting a lamb. It highlights the principle of redemption and substitution, showing that even things not suitable for sacrifice could be dealt with according to God's law.
Numbers 18:15This verse states that all the firstborn of man and of beasts that are offered to the Lord shall be the priests' (with specific redemption for unclean firstborn beasts). It reinforces the idea that such items, whether clean or unclean, had a designated purpose within the priestly system, often involving redemption or allocation to the priests.
Ezekiel 44:30Here, the firstfruits and every offering of all manner of firstborn of all things are declared to be for the priests. This echoes the Leviticus passage by showing that redeemed or allocated items, including those from unclean beasts, contributed to the sustenance of the priestly service.
2 Corinthians 9:7This New Testament passage speaks about giving cheerfully as each person has decided in their heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion. It relates to the underlying principle of dedicating and giving to God, even when it involves a cost or a specific valuation, as seen in Leviticus 27.
pooleLeviticus 27:27: "And if it be of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it according to thine estimation, and shall add a fifth part of it thereto: or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to thy estimation."
If it be of an unclean beast, i.e. if it be the first-born of an unclean beast, as appears from Leviticus 27:26 , which could not be vowed, because it was a first-born, nor offered, because it was unclean, and therefore is here commanded to be redeemed or sold. Others und…
ellicottLeviticus 27:27: "And if it be of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it according to thine estimation, and shall add a fifth part of it thereto: or if it be not redeemed, then it shall be sold according to thy estimation."
(27) And if it be of an unclean beast. —That is, if he vows the firstling of an unclean beast he could redeem it according to the valuation of the priest with the addition of one-fifth over and above the fixed value. If he did not redeem it the treasurer of the sanctuary…
This verse reveals a subtle but important distinction: it's not just about any unclean animal, but specifically about the firstborn of unclean animals. Unlike firstborn clean animals, which were destined for sacrifice, the firstborn of unclean animals couldn't be offered, so this law provides a way to "redeem" them or sell them for the sanctuary's needs.
This passage deals with what happens when someone vows an unclean animal, specifically the firstborn of an unclean animal, building directly on the previous verse. Since such animals couldn't be offered to God and had different redemption rules than clean animals, this verse clarifies that the owner could buy it back at a priest's valuation plus an additional fifth, or it would be sold at that valuation with the money going to the sanctuary.
This passage deals with what happens when someone vows an animal, specifically the firstborn of an unclean animal, building directly on the previous verse. Since such animals couldn't be offered to God and had different redemption rules than clean animals, this verse clarifies that the owner could buy it back at a priest's valuation plus an additional fifth, or it would be sold at that valuation with the money going to the sanctuary.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Leviticus 27:27 is available in the Sola app.
If the owner chose not to pay this higher price, the animal would be sold for its original valuation, with the money going to the priests or the sanctuary treasury. This ensured that God's portion was still honored, even if the original vower didn't reclaim the animal.
"And if it is an unclean animal, then he shall buy it back at the valuation, and add a fifth to it; or, if it is not redeemed, it shall be sold at the valuation." — This verse reveals a subtle but important distinction: it's not just about any unclean animal, but specifically about the firstborn of unclean animals. Unlike firstborn clean animals, which were…
