Leviticus 27:27
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This passage reveals a fascinating detail: even though unclean animals couldn't be offered to God, they still had a value when set apart for Him. If someone vowed one, they had to buy it back with an added fee, or it was sold for the sanctuary's benefit, showing that all creation, even what's considered "unclean" by human standards, ultimately belongs to God and has a place in His purposes.
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 passage addresses the unique situation of an unclean animal that has been vowed to the Lord, building on the previous verse about firstborn animals. Since such an animal couldn't be offered as a sacrifice due to its uncleanness, this section details how it could be redeemed with a priest's valuation plus an additional fifth, or if not redeemed, sold with the proceeds going to the sanctuary.
What do you do when a vow falls on an animal that can't even be offered to God? Leviticus 27 unpacks this unique situation.
This verse deals with a specific category of vows: those concerning unclean animals. While the firstborn of clean animals belonged to the Lord and were to be offered, the firstborn of unclean animals presented a challenge. They couldn't be sacrificed.
Leviticus 27:26 clarifies that the firstborn of any animal already belonged to the Lord and couldn't be specially consecrated as a vow. However, if an unclean animal was somehow vowed (perhaps through a mistake or a general dedication for sanctuary repairs, as later interpretations suggest), there was a different process.
Here, redemption wasn't about returning the animal to the owner's personal use but involved a financial transaction. The animal was valued, and the owner had to pay that value plus an additional fifth to 'redeem' it. If they didn't, it was sold, and the money went to the sanctuary's needs.
Vowing animals wasn't just about sacrifice; it was about supporting the ministry. This verse shows how that worked, even with 'problem' animals.
The system described here highlights a practical aspect of Israelite worship: the financial upkeep of the sanctuary. When an unclean animal was vowed and then redeemed, or if it was sold because it wasn't redeemed, the resulting money was directed towards God's house.
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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 describes the redemption of the firstborn of an unclean animal, like an ass, which was to be exchanged for a lamb, highlighting a similar concept of replacing something consecrated but unusable with something acceptable.
Exodus 34:20This verse reiterates the requirement to redeem the firstborn of an ass, connecting to Leviticus 27:27 by showing how God established a system for dealing with firstborn animals that could not be offered as sacrifices.
Numbers 18:15-16These verses explain that firstborn sons and firstborn of unclean animals that were redeemed were to be given to the priests, underscoring the principle that such consecrated items had value and purpose within the sacred system, even if not offered as sacrifices.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20This New Testament passage speaks to believers being bought with a price and belonging to God, mirroring the Old Testament idea that even something 'unclean' or imperfect, when dedicated, had a redemption value and belonged to the Lord's treasury.
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 passage reveals a fascinating detail: even though unclean animals couldn't be offered to God, they still had a value when set apart for Him. If someone vowed one, they had to buy it back with an added fee, or it was sold for the sanctuary's benefit, showing that all creation, even what's considered "unclean" by human standards, ultimately belongs to God and has a place in His purposes.
This passage addresses the unique situation of an unclean animal that has been vowed to the Lord, building on the previous verse about firstborn animals. Since such an animal couldn't be offered as a sacrifice due to its uncleanness, this section details how it could be redeemed with a priest's valuation plus an additional fifth, or if not redeemed, sold with the proceeds going to the sanctuary.
This passage addresses the unique situation of an unclean animal that has been vowed to the Lord, building on the previous verse about firstborn animals. Since such an animal couldn't be offered as a sacrifice due to its uncleanness, this section details how it could be redeemed with a priest's valuation plus an additional fifth, or if not redeemed, sold with the proceeds going to the sanctuary.
"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 passage reveals a fascinating detail: even though unclean animals couldn't be offered to God, they still had a value when set apart for Him. If someone vowed one, they had to buy it back with an…
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Last reviewed October 2026
