Verse: Leviticus 27:5
Theme: Divine Valuation, Sacred Vows, and the Redemption of Human Worth in God’s Economy
“The price for a person between five and twenty years old will be twenty pieces of silver for a male and ten pieces of silver for a female.”
— Leviticus 27:5, New Century Version (NCV)
“If it is a person from five years even to twenty years old then your valuation shall be twenty shekels for the male and ten shekels for the female.”
— Leviticus 27:5, New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“If the person is from five to twenty years old, your assessment for a male is twenty shekels and ten shekels for a female.”
— Leviticus 27:5, Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
“If the person is between five and twenty years of age, set the value of a male at twenty shekels and of a female at ten shekels.”
— Leviticus 27:5, New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Meaning of Leviticus 27:5
This verse establishes God’s prescribed valuation system for redeeming vows made to dedicate human beings to the Lord’s service. The specific amounts reflect practical economic considerations while maintaining the sacred nature of commitments made to God in worship and devotion.
The age range of five to twenty years represents the period of developing strength and capability, when individuals transition from childhood dependency to adult productivity. God’s valuation acknowledges this developmental phase with standardized amounts that reflect general economic capacity.
The differential between male and female valuations reflects the economic realities of ancient Near Eastern society, where physical strength determined much of a person’s earning capacity in agricultural and manual labor contexts, rather than inherent worth or spiritual value.
These valuations provided a merciful alternative to literal fulfillment of rash vows, allowing people to maintain their family relationships while still honoring their sacred commitments to God through monetary payment to the sanctuary.
The system demonstrates God’s wisdom in providing structured ways to handle human promises made in emotional moments, creating pathways for redemption that preserve both family integrity and the sanctity of vows made to the Almighty.
Popular Words of Wisdom from Leviticus 27:5
“A promise made is a debt unpaid, and the trail has its own stern code.”
— Robert Service, British-Canadian Poet
“It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.”
— King Solomon, Wisest King of Israel
“The worth of a soul cannot be measured in silver or gold, but God provides means for redemption.”
— Charles Spurgeon, Prince of Preachers
“Vows are the vehicles of prayer; but they must be kept in repair, or they will break down.”
— Henry Ward Beecher, American Congregationalist
“Every man’s life is a plan of God, and the value placed upon it reflects divine wisdom and mercy.”
— Oswald Chambers, Scottish Evangelist
“The highest use of capital is not to make more money, but to make money do more for the betterment of life.”
— Henry Ford, American Industrialist
Explaining the Context of Leviticus 27:5
This verse appears within Leviticus chapter 27, which deals comprehensively with vows and dedications made to the Lord. The entire chapter provides God’s instructions for handling various types of sacred commitments that people might make during worship or in times of crisis.
The historical context involves the wilderness period when Israel was receiving detailed instructions for worship, social organization, and religious practice. These laws would govern their community life once they settled in the Promised Land.
The practice of making vows to dedicate people to God’s service was common in ancient Israel, often occurring during times of distress, celebration, or deep spiritual commitment. However, literal fulfillment could create severe family and social disruptions.
The redemption system reflected God’s mercy in providing alternatives to potentially devastating vows while maintaining the seriousness and sanctity of commitments made to Him. This prevented rash promises from destroying families while preserving reverence for sacred vows.
The specific monetary amounts were based on the silver shekel, which served as a standard unit of value in ancient commerce and religious transactions. These valuations provided objective, standardized amounts that prevented arbitrary pricing or exploitation.
Explaining the Key Parts of Leviticus 27:5
“For a person between the ages of five and twenty”
This age range represents the developmental period from early childhood through young adulthood, when individuals are gaining strength, skills, and economic capacity but have not yet reached their full productive potential.
The lower boundary of five years acknowledges that very young children have minimal economic value in ancient society, while the upper boundary of twenty represents the threshold of full adult capability and responsibility.
“Set the value of a male at twenty shekels”
The twenty shekel valuation for males in this age range reflects their developing physical strength and potential for heavy labor in an agricultural society where manual work determined much of a person’s economic contribution.
This amount was substantial but not excessive, representing approximately two years’ wages for a common laborer, making redemption possible for most families while maintaining the seriousness of the vow.
“And of a female at ten shekels”
The ten shekel valuation for females reflects the economic realities of ancient society where women’s work, while essential, was often valued differently in monetary terms due to the types of labor typically performed by each gender.
This differential should be understood in economic rather than spiritual terms, as Scripture clearly teaches the equal spiritual worth and value of all people regardless of gender, age, or social position.
Lessons to Learn from Leviticus 27:5
1. God Provides Merciful Alternatives to Potentially Destructive Sacred Commitments
The redemption system shows God’s wisdom in allowing people to honor their vows without destroying family relationships, demonstrating divine mercy that prevents rash promises from causing devastating consequences.
2. Sacred Vows Require Serious Consideration and Should Not Be Made Lightly
The substantial monetary cost of redemption emphasizes that commitments made to God carry significant weight and should be approached with careful thought rather than emotional impulsiveness.
3. God’s Valuations Reflect Practical Wisdom About Human Development and Capacity
The age-specific amounts acknowledge different stages of human development and capability, showing divine understanding of how people grow and change throughout their lives.
4. Economic Systems Can Serve Sacred Purposes When Properly Structured
The use of standardized monetary valuations for religious purposes demonstrates how God can sanctify practical systems to serve spiritual ends and maintain community order.
5. Divine Mercy Operates Within Framework of Justice and Accountability
While God provided alternatives to literal fulfillment of vows, the redemption prices ensured that sacred commitments still carried real cost and couldn’t be dismissed casually or without consequence.
Related Bible Verses
“When you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.”
— Deuteronomy 23:21, Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
“It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows.”
— Proverbs 20:25, New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow.”
— Ecclesiastes 5:4, English Standard Version (ESV)
“Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”
— Ecclesiastes 5:5, King James Version (KJV)
“Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ Otherwise you will be condemned.”
— James 5:12, New International Version (NIV)
“You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ.”
— 1 Peter 1:18-19, New Living Translation (NLT)
How This Verse Points to Christ
Leviticus 27:5 points to Christ as our ultimate redemption, where human valuations and monetary payments pale in comparison to the infinite price He paid for our salvation. The silver shekels mentioned here foreshadow the thirty pieces of silver involved in Christ’s betrayal.
Joseph’s sale for twenty shekels (matching the male valuation in this verse) creates a prophetic connection to Christ’s redemptive work, as both involved prescribed amounts and both led to salvation for many people through apparent disaster.
The redemption system described here demonstrates humanity’s need for a substitute payment to fulfill sacred obligations, pointing forward to Christ as the perfect substitute who paid the ultimate price for our spiritual debts.
Where Leviticus provided temporary monetary redemption for human vows, Christ provides eternal spiritual redemption for human sin, accomplishing what no amount of silver or gold could achieve through His sacrificial death.
The age range mentioned in this verse (five to twenty years) represents developing human potential, while Christ’s redemption transforms people of every age and stage of development into mature spiritual beings capable of eternal fellowship with God.
The standardized valuations show God’s orderly approach to redemption, while Christ’s sacrifice demonstrates divine love that transcends all human systems and provides redemption beyond any earthly price or measurement.
Closing Reflection
Leviticus 27:5 reveals God’s practical wisdom in handling the complex intersection of sacred vows, family relationships, and economic realities. The verse demonstrates divine mercy that provides alternatives to potentially destructive commitments while maintaining the seriousness of promises made to God.
These ancient valuations remind us that our commitments to God carry real weight and should not be made casually or in emotional moments without careful consideration of their implications for ourselves and our families.
The economic framework established here shows how God can sanctify practical systems to serve spiritual purposes, creating orderly ways to handle human promises while preserving both family integrity and the sanctity of sacred vows.
The differential valuations, while reflecting ancient economic realities, remind us that God’s ultimate valuation of human worth transcends all earthly measurements and encompasses the equal spiritual value of every person regardless of age, gender, or social position.
This passage points us toward our ultimate need for redemption that exceeds any monetary payment, finding its fulfillment in Christ’s sacrifice that paid the price for our spiritual debts and reconciled us to God.
The redemption system described here encourages us to approach our commitments to God with both serious intention and confidence in His mercy, knowing that He provides ways to honor our sacred promises without destroying our relationships or overwhelming our capacity.
Modern applications might include how we handle pledges, commitments to ministry, or promises made during times of crisis, always remembering that God values faithfulness while providing grace for our human limitations and the complexity of life circumstances.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the wisdom shown in Your redemption system that provided merciful alternatives to potentially destructive vows while maintaining the seriousness of sacred commitments made to You.
Help us to approach our promises and commitments to You with careful consideration rather than emotional impulsiveness, understanding that our words carry weight and consequences in both earthly and spiritual realms.
When we make vows or pledges to You, give us wisdom to fulfill them faithfully while also providing grace when circumstances make literal fulfillment impossible or harmful to our families and relationships.
Protect us from making rash promises during times of crisis or strong emotion, and help us to be people whose simple “yes” or “no” can be trusted without need for elaborate vows or commitments.
Thank You for Christ, our ultimate redemption, who paid the price that no amount of silver or gold could accomplish. Help us to live in gratitude for His sacrifice that freed us from spiritual debts we could never pay.
Show us how to honor our commitments to You in ways that reflect both faithfulness to our promises and love for the people You have placed in our lives.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.