Leviticus 27:28
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This verse highlights a crucial distinction: a "devoted thing" isn't just dedicated, it's utterly set apart with an accompanying curse if its purpose isn't met. This makes it "most holy," meaning it cannot be bought back or traded, unlike other consecrated items, emphasizing its irrevocable and absolute nature to the Lord.
“But no devoted thing that a man devotes to the LORD, of anything that he has, whether man or beast, or of his inherited field, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This chapter concludes Leviticus by detailing the rules for what happens when people make vows to dedicate things or people to the LORD. Following discussions on redeeming vows, this verse introduces a stricter category called a "devoted thing" (often translated as "banned thing"), which is absolutely unredeemable and considered most holy to God, unlike the previously mentioned consecrated items.
When we think of giving things to God, we might imagine a donation plate or a special offering. But Leviticus 27:28 speaks of something far more absolute.
The Hebrew word used here for 'devoted thing' is cherem. This wasn't just a promise to give something; it carried the weight of an irrevocable curse or ban. If someone vowed something as cherem, they were essentially saying, 'If this doesn't go entirely to the LORD, let a curse fall on me.' This made the item or person completely unchangeable and unredeemable.
Think of it like this:
Leviticus 27:28 is striking because it doesn't limit this 'devoted thing' to inanimate objects. It includes people and property, pushing the boundaries of our understanding of consecration.
This verse reveals the extreme measures of dedication possible within ancient Israelite law:
Devoting People
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Devoting Possessions
The 'Most Holy' Status
Understand the original words
cherem · Hebrew Noun
A term describing property or persons irrevocably set apart for God's exclusive use or judgment. Unlike other offerings, these cannot be bought back, indicating their complete and final surrender to the divine will.
qodesh qodashim · Hebrew Noun phrase
A status indicating something is set apart exclusively for God's use and presence. It must be treated with utmost reverence, as it is separated from common use and belongs entirely to the sacred sphere.
This passage describes the total destruction of Jericho, illustrating the concept of 'devoted' or 'banned' things (herem) being completely set apart for destruction by God's command, similar to how individuals or items in Leviticus 27:28 are irrevocably given to the Lord.
1 Samuel 15:21Here, Saul admits to sparing the best of the livestock that was 'devoted' (herem) to destruction, highlighting that such things were absolutely forbidden from personal gain and were meant for complete destruction or divine disposal, aligning with the unredeemable nature mentioned in Leviticus 27:28.
Judges 11:30-31Jephthah's vow to sacrifice 'whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me' demonstrates the severe and unchangeable consequences of a 'devoted' (herem) vow, even when it led to tragic personal loss, reinforcing the idea that such vows were absolute and without redemption.
Matthew 19:21Jesus tells the rich young ruler to sell all he has and give to the poor to be a disciple, which speaks to a voluntary, complete surrender of possessions for a higher calling, echoing the spirit of total devotion found in Leviticus 27:28, though distinct from the legalistic 'ban'.
Romans 12:1Paul calls believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which reflects a voluntary and complete offering of oneself to God, paralleling the concept of being wholly 'devoted' to the Lord, though in a spiritual and transformed sense rather than a literal ban.
gillLeviticus 27:28: "Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD."
Notwithstanding, no devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord,.... This is a different vow from the former, expressed by "sanctifying"; for though "sanctifying" and "devoting" were both vows, yet the latter had an execration or curse added to…
pulpitLeviticus 27:28: "Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD."
Verses 28, 29. - Whatever is already cherem (a word here first used as a term well understood), that is, devoted to God, whether devoted for the purpose of destruction or of entire surrender to him, may be neither redeemed nor sold. Whether it be of man…
This verse highlights a crucial distinction: a "devoted thing" isn't just dedicated, it's utterly set apart with an accompanying curse if its purpose isn't met. This makes it "most holy," meaning it cannot be bought back or traded, unlike other consecrated items, emphasizing its irrevocable and absolute nature to the Lord.
This chapter concludes Leviticus by detailing the rules for what happens when people make vows to dedicate things or people to the LORD. Following discussions on redeeming vows, this verse introduces a stricter category called a "devoted thing" (often translated as "banned thing"), which is absolutely unredeemable and considered most holy to God, unlike the previously mentioned consecrated items.
This chapter concludes Leviticus by detailing the rules for what happens when people make vows to dedicate things or people to the LORD. Following discussions on redeeming vows, this verse introduces a stricter category called a "devoted thing" (often translated as "banned thing"), which is absolutely unredeemable and considered most holy to God, unlike the previously mentioned consecrated items.
"“But no devoted thing that a man devotes to the LORD, of anything that he has, whether man or beast, or of his inherited field, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to the LORD." — This verse highlights a crucial distinction: a "devoted thing" isn't just dedicated, it's utterly set apart with an accompanying curse if its purpose isn't met. This makes it "most holy," meaning it…
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Last reviewed October 2026
