Regulations for voluntary dedications to the LORD: assessed values for persons, animals, houses, and land dedicated by vow. Provisions allow redemption (buying back) of most dedications by adding twenty percent. Permanently devoted things (cherem) and tithes cannot be redeemed. The chapter closes Leviticus.
The erekh ("assessed value") system converts devotional impulse into manageable obligation -- a person who vows to dedicate themselves or a family member can pay a standardized monetary equivalent instead. The sliding scale by age and sex reflects economic capacity, not human worth. The cherem ("devoted thing") is the most extreme form of dedication: irrevocable and belonging entirely to God, it cannot be bought back.
We rendered yaphli neder ("makes an extraordinary vow") to capture the force of pala ("to be wonderful, to set apart") -- this is no casual promise. The erekh system's differing valuations by sex required careful notes explaining that these are economic assessments in an agrarian context, not statements about inherent dignity. The term cherem ("devoted thing," v28) carries both sacred and destructive connotations (the same word describes the ban on Jericho in Josh 6:17), and we rendered it to preserve its severity.
Hannah's dedication of Samuel (1 Sam 1:11, 28) illustrates the personal vow. Jephthah's vow (Judg 11:30-39) shows the danger of rash dedications. The tithe legislation (vv 30-33) connects to Gen 14:20 (Abraham's tithe to Melchizedek) and Mal 3:8-10 ("will a man rob God?"). The cherem concept connects to the conquest narratives of Joshua. The chapter's placement as an appendix after the blessings and curses of ch 26 mirrors Deuteronomy's structure.
וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃
The LORD spoke to Moses:
KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אִ֕ישׁ כִּ֥י יַפְלִ֖א נֶ֑דֶר בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֥ נְפָשֹׁ֖ת לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃
"Tell the Israelites: When someone makes an extraordinary vow dedicating persons to the LORD by their assessed value,
KJV Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow, the persons shall be for the LORD by thy estimation.
וְהָיָ֤ה עֶרְכְּךָ֙ הַזָּכָ֔ר מִבֶּן֙ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וְעַ֖ד בֶּן־שִׁשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וְהָיָ֣ה עֶרְכְּךָ֗ חֲמִשִּׁ֛ים שֶׁ֥קֶל כֶּ֖סֶף בְּשֶׁ֥קֶל הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃
the assessed value for a male between twenty and sixty years of age will be fifty shekels of silver, measured by the sanctuary standard.
KJV And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary.
וְאִם־נְקֵבָ֖ה הִ֑וא וְהָיָ֥ה עֶרְכְּךָ֖ שְׁלֹשִׁ֥ים שָֽׁקֶל׃
If the person is female, the assessed value will be thirty shekels.
KJV And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels.
וְאִ֨ם מִבֶּן־חָמֵ֜שׁ שָׁנִ֗ים וְעַד֙ בֶּן־עֶשְׂרִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה וְהָיָ֧ה עֶרְכְּךָ֛ הַזָּכָ֖ר עֶשְׂרִ֣ים שְׁקָלִ֑ים וְלַנְּקֵבָ֖ה עֲשֶׂ֥רֶת שְׁקָלִֽים׃
If the person is between five and twenty years of age, the assessed value will be twenty shekels for a male and ten shekels for a female.
KJV And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels.
וְאִ֣ם מִבֶּן־חֹ֗דֶשׁ וְעַד֙ בֶּן־חָמֵ֣שׁ שָׁנִ֔ים וְהָיָ֤ה עֶרְכְּךָ֙ הַזָּכָ֔ר חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה שְׁקָלִ֖ים כָּ֑סֶף וְלַנְּקֵבָ֣ה עֶרְכְּךָ֔ שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת שְׁקָלִ֖ים כָּֽסֶף׃
If the person is between one month and five years of age, the assessed value will be five shekels of silver for a male and three shekels of silver for a female.
KJV And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver.
וְ֠אִ֠ם מִבֶּן־שִׁשִּׁ֨ים שָׁנָ֤ה וָמַ֙עְלָה֙ אִם־זָכָ֔ר וְהָיָ֣ה עֶרְכְּךָ֔ חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר שָׁ֑קֶל וְלַנְּקֵבָ֖ה עֲשָׂרָ֥ה שְׁקָלִֽים׃
If the person is sixty years of age or older, the assessed value will be fifteen shekels for a male and ten shekels for a female.
KJV And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels.
וְאִם־מָ֥ךְ הוּא֙ מֵֽעֶרְכֶּ֔ךָ וְהֶֽעֱמִידוֹ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְהֶעֱרִ֥יךְ אֹת֖וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֑ן עַל־פִּ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר תַּשִּׂיג֙ יַ֣ד הַנֹּדֵ֔ר יַעֲרִיכֶ֖נּוּ הַכֹּהֵֽן׃
But if the person is too poor to pay the assessed value, they must be presented before the priest, and the priest will set the value according to what the one making the vow can afford.
KJV But if he be poorer than thy estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him.
וְאִ֨ם־בְּהֵמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַקְרִ֧יבוּ מִמֶּ֛נָּה קׇרְבָּ֖ן לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה כֹּל֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִתֵּ֥ן מִמֶּ֛נּוּ לַיהֹוָ֖ה יִֽהְיֶה־קֹּֽדֶשׁ׃
If the dedication involves a type of animal from which offerings are brought to the LORD, whatever is given to the LORD from it becomes holy.
KJV And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the LORD, all that any man giveth of such unto the LORD shall be holy.
לֹ֣א יַחֲלִיפֶ֗נּוּ וְלֹֽא־יָמִ֥יר אֹת֛וֹ ט֥וֹב בְּרָ֖ע אוֹ־רַ֣ע בְּט֑וֹב וְאִם־הָמֵ֨ר יָמִ֤יר בְּהֵמָה֙ בִּבְהֵמָ֔ה וְהָֽיָה־ה֥וּא וּתְמוּרָת֖וֹ יִֽהְיֶה־קֹּֽדֶשׁ׃
The owner must not swap or substitute it — neither a good animal for a bad one, nor a bad one for a good one. If someone does substitute one animal for another, then both the original and the replacement will be holy.
KJV He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good for a bad, or a bad for a good: and if he shall at all change beast for beast, then it and the exchange thereof shall be holy.
וְאִם֙ כׇּל־בְּהֵמָ֣ה טְמֵאָ֔ה אֲ֠שֶׁ֠ר לֹא־יַקְרִ֧יבוּ מִמֶּ֛נָּה קׇרְבָּ֖ן לַֽיהֹוָ֑ה וְהֶֽעֱמִ֥יד אֶת־הַבְּהֵמָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֥י הַכֹּהֵֽן׃
If it is a ritually impure animal — a kind from which no offering is brought to the LORD — the owner must present the animal before the priest.
KJV And if it be any unclean beast, of which they do not offer a sacrifice unto the LORD, then he shall present the beast before the priest:
וְהֶעֱרִ֤יךְ הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֹתָ֔הּ בֵּ֥ין ט֖וֹב וּבֵ֣ין רָ֑ע כְּעֶרְכְּךָ֥ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן כֵּ֥ן יִהְיֶֽה׃
The priest will appraise it, whether the animal is of good or poor quality. Whatever value the priest assigns — that is what it will be.
KJV And the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad: as thou valuest it, who art the priest, so shall it be.
וְאִם־גָּאֹ֖ל יִגְאָלֶ֑נָּה וְיָסַ֥ף חֲמִישִׁת֖וֹ עַל־עֶרְכֶּֽךָ׃
If the owner insists on buying it back, a fifth must be added on top of the assessed value.
KJV But if he will at all redeem it, then he shall add a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation.
וְאִ֗ישׁ כִּֽי־יַקְדִּ֨שׁ אֶת־בֵּית֥וֹ קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה וְהֶעֱרִיכוֹ֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן בֵּ֥ין ט֖וֹב וּבֵ֣ין רָ֑ע כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲרִ֥יךְ אֹת֛וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֖ן כֵּ֥ן יָקֽוּם׃
When someone consecrates a house as holy to the LORD, the priest will appraise it based on its quality — good or poor. Whatever the priest determines as its value, that amount stands.
KJV And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the LORD, then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand.
וְאִ֨ם־הַמַּקְדִּ֔ישׁ יִגְאַ֖ל אֶת־בֵּית֑וֹ וְ֠יָסַ֠ף חֲמִישִׁ֧ית כֶּֽסֶף־עֶרְכְּךָ֛ עָלָ֖יו וְהָ֥יָה לֽוֹ׃
If the one who consecrated the house wants to buy it back, that person must add a fifth of the appraised monetary value on top. Then it will be returned.
KJV And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be his.
וְאִ֣ם ׀ מִשְּׂדֵ֣ה אֲחֻזָּת֗וֹ יַקְדִּ֥ישׁ אִישׁ֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה וְהָיָ֥ה עֶרְכְּךָ֖ לְפִ֣י זַרְע֑וֹ זֶ֚רַע חֹ֣מֶר שְׂעֹרִ֔ים בַּחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים שֶׁ֥קֶל כָּֽסֶף׃
If someone consecrates to the LORD a portion of their hereditary landholding, the assessed value will be calculated by its seed capacity: land requiring a homer of barley seed is valued at fifty shekels of silver.
KJV And if a man shall sanctify unto the LORD some part of a field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the seed thereof: an homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.
אִם־מִשְּׁנַ֥ת הַיֹּבֵ֖ל יַקְדִּ֣ישׁ שָׂדֵ֑הוּ כְּעֶרְכְּךָ֖ יָקֽוּם׃
If the field is consecrated starting from the Jubilee year, the full assessed value applies.
KJV If he sanctify his field from the year of jubile, according to thy estimation it shall stand.
וְאִם־אַחַ֣ר הַיֹּבֵל֮ יַקְדִּ֣ישׁ שָׂדֵ֒הוּ֒ וְחִשַּׁב־ל֨וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־הַכֶּ֗סֶף עַל־פִּ֤י הַשָּׁנִים֙ הַנּ֣וֹתָרֹ֔ת עַ֖ד שְׁנַ֣ת הַיֹּבֵ֑ל וְנִגְרַ֖ע מֵֽעֶרְכֶּֽךָ׃
But if the field is consecrated after the Jubilee year, the priest will calculate the monetary value based on the years remaining until the next Jubilee, and the assessed value will be reduced proportionally.
KJV But if he sanctify his field after the jubile, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain, even unto the year of the jubile, and it shall be abated from thy estimation.
וְאִם־גָּאֹ֤ל יִגְאַל֙ אֶת־הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה הַמַּקְדִּ֖ישׁ אֹת֑וֹ וְ֠יָסַ֠ף חֲמִשִׁ֧ית כֶּֽסֶף־עֶרְכְּךָ֛ עָלָ֖יו וְקָ֥ם לֽוֹ׃
If the one who consecrated the field truly wants to buy it back, that person must add a fifth to the assessed monetary value, and the field will be confirmed as theirs again.
KJV And if he that sanctified the field will in any wise redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be assured to him.
וְאִם־לֹ֤א יִגְאַל֙ אֶת־הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וְאִם־מָכַ֥ר אֶת־הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה לְאִ֣ישׁ אַחֵ֑ר לֹ֥א יִגָּאֵ֖ל עֽוֹד׃
If the owner does not buy back the field, or if the field has been sold to another party, it can never be redeemed.
KJV And if he will not redeem the field, or if he have sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more.
וְהָיָ֨ה הַשָּׂדֶ֜ה בְּצֵאת֣וֹ בַיֹּבֵ֗ל קֹ֛דֶשׁ לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה כִּשְׂדֵ֣ה הַחֵ֑רֶם לַכֹּהֵ֖ן תִּהְיֶ֥ה אֲחֻזָּתֽוֹ׃
When the field is released at the Jubilee, it will become holy to the LORD — like a field under the ban of irrevocable dedication. It will become the permanent possession of the priests.
KJV But the field, when it goeth out in the jubile, shall be holy unto the LORD, as a field devoted; the possession thereof shall be the priest's.
וְאִם֙ אֶת־שְׂדֵ֣ה מִקְנָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֕ר לֹ֖א מִשְּׂדֵ֣ה אֲחֻזָּת֑וֹ יַקְדִּ֖ישׁ לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃
If someone consecrates to the LORD a field that was purchased — one that is not part of their hereditary landholding —
KJV And if a man sanctify unto the LORD a field which he hath bought, which is not of the fields of his possession;
וְחִשַּׁב־ל֣וֹ הַכֹּהֵ֗ן אֵ֚ת מִכְסַ֣ת הָֽעֶרְכְּךָ֔ עַ֖ד שְׁנַ֣ת הַיֹּבֵ֑ל וְנָתַ֤ן אֶת־הָעֶרְכְּךָ֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא קֹ֖דֶשׁ לַיהֹוָֽה׃
the priest will calculate the proportional assessed value through the Jubilee year, and the person must pay that amount on the same day as a holy contribution to the LORD.
KJV Then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy estimation, even unto the year of the jubile: and he shall give thine estimation in that day, as a holy thing unto the LORD.
בִּשְׁנַ֤ת הַיּוֹבֵל֙ יָשׁ֣וּב הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר קָנָ֖הוּ מֵאִתּ֑וֹ לַאֲשֶׁר־ל֖וֹ אֲחֻזַּ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
In the Jubilee year, the field reverts to the person from whom it was purchased — the one whose hereditary landholding it originally was.
KJV In the year of the jubile the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought, even to him to whom the possession of the land did belong.
וְכׇ֨ל־עֶרְכְּךָ֔ יִהְיֶ֖ה בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים גֵּרָ֖ה יִהְיֶ֥ה הַשָּֽׁקֶל׃
Every assessed value must be calculated using the sanctuary shekel standard. The shekel equals twenty gerahs.
KJV And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs shall be the shekel.
אַךְ־בְּכ֞וֹר אֲשֶׁר־יְבֻכַּ֤ר לַֽיהֹוָה֙ בִּבְהֵמָ֔ה לֹֽא־יַקְדִּ֥ישׁ אִ֖ישׁ אֹת֑וֹ אִם־שׁ֣וֹר אִם־שֶׂ֔ה לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה הֽוּא׃
However, no one may consecrate a firstborn animal by vow, since the firstborn among livestock already belongs to the LORD — whether it is a bull or a sheep, it is the LORD's.
KJV Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the LORD'S firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the LORD'S.
וְאִ֨ם בַּבְּהֵמָ֤ה הַטְּמֵאָה֙ וּפָדָ֣ה בְעֶרְכֶּ֔ךָ וְיָסַ֥ף חֲמִשִׁת֖וֹ עָלָ֑יו וְאִם־לֹ֥א יִגָּאֵ֖ל וְנִמְכַּ֥ר בְּעֶרְכֶּֽךָ׃
If it is a firstborn of a ritually impure animal, the owner may ransom it at the assessed value plus an additional fifth. If it is not ransomed, it will be sold at the assessed value.
KJV 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.
אַךְ־כׇּל־חֵ֡רֶם אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַחֲרִם֩ אִ֨ישׁ לַֽיהֹוָ֜ה מִכׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־ל֗וֹ מֵאָדָ֤ם וּבְהֵמָה֙ וּמִשְּׂדֵ֣ה אֲחֻזָּת֔וֹ לֹ֥א יִמָּכֵ֖ר וְלֹ֣א יִגָּאֵ֑ל כׇּל־חֵ֕רֶם קֹֽדֶשׁ־קׇדָשִׁ֥ים ה֖וּא לַיהֹוָֽה׃
Nevertheless, anything that a person places under the ban of irrevocable dedication to the LORD — whether from persons, livestock, or hereditary landholding — may not be sold and may not be bought back. Everything placed under the ban is most holy to the LORD.
KJV 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.
כׇּל־חֵ֗רֶם אֲשֶׁ֧ר יׇחֳרַ֛ם מִן־הָאָדָ֖ם לֹ֣א יִפָּדֶ֑ה מ֖וֹת יוּמָֽת׃
No person who has been placed under the ban may be ransomed — that person must be put to death.
KJV None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death.
וְכׇל־מַעְשַׂ֨ר הָאָ֜רֶץ מִזֶּ֤רַע הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ מִפְּרִ֣י הָעֵ֔ץ לַיהֹוָ֖ה ה֑וּא קֹ֖דֶשׁ לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃
Every tenth portion from the land — whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees — belongs to the LORD. It is holy to the LORD.
KJV And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.
וְאִם־גָּאֹ֥ל יִגְאַ֛ל אִ֖ישׁ מִמַּֽעַשְׂר֑וֹ חֲמִשִׁית֖וֹ יֹסֵ֥ף עָלָֽיו׃
If someone insists on buying back any portion of their tithe, they must add a fifth to its value.
KJV And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
וְכׇל־מַעְשַׂ֤ר בָּקָר֙ וָצֹ֔אן כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲבֹ֖ר תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑בֶט הָֽעֲשִׂירִ֕י יִֽהְיֶה־קֹּ֖דֶשׁ לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃
As for the tithe of cattle and sheep — every animal that passes under the counting rod, the tenth one will be holy to the LORD.
KJV And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.
לֹ֧א יְבַקֵּ֛ר בֵּֽין־ט֥וֹב לָרַ֖ע וְלֹ֣א יְמִירֶ֑נּוּ וְאִם־הָמֵ֣ר יְמִירֶ֔נּוּ וְהָֽיָה־ה֧וּא וּתְמוּרָת֛וֹ יִֽהְיֶה־קֹּ֖דֶשׁ לֹ֥א יִגָּאֵֽל׃
The owner must not sort between good and bad animals, and must not make a substitution. If a substitution is made, both the original and the replacement become holy — neither may be bought back.
KJV He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.
אֵ֣לֶּה הַמִּצְוֺ֗ת אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּהַ֖ר סִינָֽי׃
These are the commandments that the LORD gave Moses for the Israelites at Mount Sinai.
KJV These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.