Leviticus 27:28-29
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Unlike other vows, this "devoted thing" refers to something under a sacred ban, an irrevocable surrender to the Lord. This means that once something is devoted in this way, it's absolutely off-limits for sale or redemption, belonging entirely to God's sacred service. It highlights a profound and ultimate commitment, so absolute that it cannot be undone or exchanged.
“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. No one devoted, who is to be devoted for destruction from mankind, shall be ransomed; he shall surely be put to death.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage introduces the concept of a "devoted thing," a solemn vow that goes beyond ordinary consecration by imprecating a curse if the vow isn't kept. Unlike other vows where items might be redeemed, these "devoted things"—whether people, animals, or inherited land—are absolutely irrevocably set apart for the Lord and cannot be sold or bought back. This chapter concludes by transitioning from these strict personal vows to the tithes of the land and livestock, which were already understood as belonging to God.
Some vows were more than just promises; they carried an absolute, life-altering weight. What made a devotion 'most holy' and unchangeable?
Leviticus 27 distinguishes between different types of vows. While some things could be redeemed or exchanged, a 'devoted thing' (often associated with the Hebrew term cherem) was different. This wasn't just a promise to give something to God; it often included a solemn imprecation, a curse upon oneself if the vow wasn't fulfilled exactly as stated.
This made it 'most holy to the LORD,' meaning it was utterly set apart, removed from common use and the owner's control. It couldn't be sold or bought back because its status was absolute and irrevocable. Think of it as a final, sacred commitment that surrendered all rights of redemption.
Could you 'devote' a person to the Lord? This passage speaks of it, but what did it truly mean, and what were the implications?
This verse is startling because it includes 'man' and 'beast' and 'field' as things that could be devoted. When it came to people, this wasn't about offering human sacrifice. Instead, it referred to individuals over whom the vower had absolute authority, typically slaves, or perhaps even citizens under a judicial ban.
Such a person, once devoted, was 'most holy' and could not be redeemed or sold. For human beings, the implication was severe: they were irrevocably set apart, often meaning they were to be put to death (as suggested in verse 29 and potentially seen in narratives like Jephthah's vow). This was not a casual vow but an ultimate surrender, reflecting the gravity of dedicating something or someone entirely to God's ownership.
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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.
muth · Hebrew Verb
The legal requirement of removing a life from the community as an act of divine judgment. It involves complete separation from the world and surrender to the justice of God.
This passage shows a direct application of the concept of 'devoted things' (cherem) where an entire city and its possessions were to be destroyed or given over to the Lord, illustrating the unredeemable and holy nature of such items.
1 Samuel 15:3Saul is commanded to utterly destroy the Amalekites and all that they have, indicating that these 'devoted things' are not to be sold or redeemed but are completely set apart for destruction or God's use.
Ezekiel 44:29This prophetic passage mentions that the priests would eat the 'grain offering, and the sin offering, and the guilt offering,' and 'every devoted thing in Israel.' This connects the concept of 'devoted things' to being 'most holy' and specifically designated for the priests, just as Leviticus 27:28 states.
Judges 11:30-31Jephthah's vow to sacrifice whatever came out to meet him if he returned victorious illustrates the severe and irreversible nature of a vow that devotes something 'to the LORD,' akin to the 'devoted thing' in Leviticus, though the application here is interpreted differently in light of other scriptures.
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…
Unlike other vows, this "devoted thing" refers to something under a sacred ban, an irrevocable surrender to the Lord. This means that once something is devoted in this way, it's absolutely off-limits for sale or redemption, belonging entirely to God's sacred service. It highlights a profound and ultimate commitment, so absolute that it cannot be undone or exchanged.
This passage introduces the concept of a "devoted thing," a solemn vow that goes beyond ordinary consecration by imprecating a curse if the vow isn't kept. Unlike other vows where items might be redeemed, these "devoted things"—whether people, animals, or inherited land—are absolutely irrevocably set apart for the Lord and cannot be sold or bought back. This chapter concludes by transitioning from these strict personal vows to the tithes of the land and livestock, which were already understood as belonging to God.
This passage introduces the concept of a "devoted thing," a solemn vow that goes beyond ordinary consecration by imprecating a curse if the vow isn't kept. Unlike other vows where items might be redeemed, these "devoted things"—whether people, animals, or inherited land—are absolutely irrevocably set apart for the Lord and cannot be sold or bought back. This chapter concludes by transitioning from these strict personal vows to the tithes of the land and livestock, which were already understood as belonging to God.
"“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. No one devoted, who is to be devoted f…" — Unlike other vows, this "devoted thing" refers to something under a sacred ban, an irrevocable surrender to the Lord. This means that once something is devoted in this way, it's absolutely off-limits…
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Last reviewed October 2026
