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VBVMI StaffWhat is the meaning of the property law in Leviticus 27? What does verse 29 mean for those set apart for the Lord?
Leviticus 27:29 is part of a section in the law that begins in v.14:
The topic in this section is a home or field consecrated to the Lord (i.e., given to the priests for their use). If the owner of that property later wants to redeem it (i.e., buy it back from the priests), then he must pay the price the priests have determined the property is worth according to the law. For example, the Lord says:
We see that the law established strict rules for how property set apart for the Lord could be transferred. Then in v.29, the Lord says that a man attempting to redeem property set apart for the Lord cannot use worthless things to pay the ransom. For example, the Lord says that a first born animal may not be used to pay the ransom, since all first born animals already belong to the Lord:
Furthermore, a slave or any person already committed to the Lord under a vow (whether for good reasons or bad) cannot be used to ransom the property.
For example, a slave who has been previously consecrated to the Lord is already the Lord's property, so such a slave could not be used as payment for the ransom. Likewise, a man already set apart to die for murder can be used to redeem property. That is the point of v.29.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org