Breakdown of Leviticus 27:30-33

"“Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD’s; it is holy to the LORD. If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. And every tithe of herds and flocks, ev…" — It's easy to read this as just another rule about giving ten percent, but notice that the tithe is called "holy to the LORD" before it's even given. This reminds us that the tithe isn't just a paym…

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Leviticus 27:30-33

What does Leviticus 27:30-33 mean?

It's easy to read this as just another rule about giving ten percent, but notice that the tithe is called "holy to the LORD" before it's even given. This reminds us that the tithe isn't just a payment; it's fundamentally God's already, a recognition that all our abundance belongs to Him from the start.

“Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD’s; it is holy to the LORD. If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add a fifth to it. And every tithe of herds and flocks, every tenth animal of all that pass under the herdsman’s staff, shall be holy to the LORD. One shall not differentiate between good or bad, neither shall he make a substitute for it; and if he does substitute for it, then both it and the substitute shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.”

English Standard Version (ESV)

What Leviticus 27:30-33 means

This passage continues the discussion about dedicating possessions to the Lord, specifically addressing the tithe. It clarifies that the tithe, an already established practice of giving a tenth of the land's produce, inherently belongs to God and cannot be "vowed" or dedicated again as if it were personal property. This instruction sets the stage for the rules on redeeming or commuting these tithes if an individual wished to keep them.

God's Prior Claim: Not Just a Vow, but His Own

Ever felt like you were giving something away that was already owed? This verse clarifies God's ownership before any vow is even made.

This passage in Leviticus addresses the concept of vows and dedications. However, it makes a crucial distinction for tithes. Unlike other possessions that a person could vow to God, the tithe of the land was already and always God's.

Already His

Divine Ownership: The text states, "Every tithe of the land... is the LORD’s; it is holy to the LORD." This isn't a new donation; it's an acknowledgment of God's pre-existing ownership over all of creation and its produce.
Mosaic Law Reinforces: The Mosaic Law designated tithes for the support of the Levites and priests (Numbers 18:21-24), who served the Tabernacle. This was God's established system for sustaining His ministry.
Not for Vowing, But for Giving: Because it was already God's, one couldn't 'vow' to give it as if it were their own personal offering. They were bound by the existing law to give it. This highlights that our giving isn't just about generosity, but also about returning what rightfully belongs to God.

The 'Holy' Nature of God's Portion

The word 'holy' appears twice here. What does that intense designation mean for agricultural produce?

Leviticus 27:30 uses the strong word 'holy' (or 'set apart') twice to describe the tithe of the land. This isn't just about setting aside a tenth; it's about consecrating it.

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What Leviticus 27:30-33 means

What does Leviticus 27:30-33 mean?

What Leviticus 27:30-33 means

God's Prior Claim: Not Just a Vow, but His Own

The 'Holy' Nature of God's Portion

Ask Sola about this verse

What Leviticus 27:30-33 means

God's Prior Claim: Not Just a Vow, but His Own

The 'Holy' Nature of God's Portion

Ask Sola about this verse

The original words in Leviticus 27:30-33

The situation behind Leviticus 27:30-33

Key themes in Leviticus 27:30-33

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Scholarly commentary on Leviticus 27:30-33

Frequently asked questions about Leviticus 27:30-33

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