Leviticus 27:16 · Bible study
Leviticus 27:16 Commentary: Valuing a Dedicated Field by Its Seed
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does the valuation of a field dedicated to the Lord depend on the seed required to sow it? Explore the meaning of the homer of barley and the fifty shekels of silver, including the debate over one-time vs.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The valuation of a dedicated inherited field is based on the amount of barley seed required to sow it; a homer of barley (approx. 220 litres) is set at fifty shekels of silver.
- Key words: field (שָׂדֶה), possession (אֲחֻזָּה), valuation (עֵרֶךְ), seed (זֶרַע), homer (חֹמֶר), barley (שְׂעֹרִים), shekel (שֶׁקֶל).
- Main debate: Is the fifty shekels a one-time payment covering the entire Jubilee period (Wesley, Poole) or an annual rate for each remaining year to Jubilee (Keil & Delitzsch, Mishnah)?
- Theological theme: God’s sovereignty over the land and the seriousness of vows. Our possessions are His; dedicating them requires thoughtful commitment and a fair measure.
- Best use: Teaching on stewardship, the nature of voluntary giving, and the continuity of God’s standards for offering our resources to Him.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
If a man consecrates to the LORD a parcel of his land, then your valuation shall be proportional to the seed required for it—fifty shekels of silver for every homer of barley seed.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“‘If a man dedicates to Yahweh part of the field of his possession, then your valuation shall be according to the seed for it. The sowing of a homer of barley shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And if a man shall sanctify unto Jehovah part of the field of his possession, then thy estimation shall be according to the sowing thereof: the sowing of a homer of barley shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`And if of the field of his possession a man sanctify to Jehovah, then hath thy valuation been according to its seed; a homer of barley-seed at fifty shekels of silver;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And if a man hallow to Jehovah [part] of a field of his possession, thy valuation shall be according to what may be sown in it: the homer of barley seed at fifty shekels of silver.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And if he vow the field of his possession, and consecrate it to the Lord, the price shall be rated according to the measure of the seed. If the ground be sown with thirty bushels of barley, let it be sold for fifty sicles of silver.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y si alguno santificare de la tierra de su posesión á Jehová, tu estimación será conforme á su sembradura: un omer de sembradura de cebada se apreciará en cincuenta siclos de plata.
E se alguém santificar da terra de sua possessão ao SENHOR, tua avaliação será conforme sua semeadura: um ômer de semeadura de cevada se avaliará preço em cinquenta siclos de prata.
Si quelqu’ un sanctifie à l’ Éternel un champ de sa propriété, ton estimation sera en rapport avec la quantité de semence, cinquante sicles d’ argent pour un homer de semence d’ orge.
Wenn jemand ein Stück Acker von seinem Erbgut dem HERRN heiligt, so soll es geschätzt werden nach der Aussaat. Ist die Aussaat ein Homer Gerste, so soll es fünfzig Silberlinge gelten.
Indien ook iemand van den akker zijner bezitting den HEERE wat geheiligd zal hebben, zo zal uw schatting zijn naar zijn zaad; een homer gerstezaad zal zijn op vijftig sikkelen zilvers.
Se uno consacra all’Eterno un pezzo di terra della sua proprietà, ne farai la stima in ragione della sementa: cinquanta sicli d’argento per un omer di seme d’orzo.
Jeźli też kto część roli z dziedzictwa swego poświęcił Panu tedy będzie szacunek twój według zasiewku jej; gdzie się wysieje chomer jęczmienia, za pięćdziesiąt syklów srebra szacowane będzie.
Если поле из своего владения посвятит кто Господу, то оценка твоя должна быть по мере посева: за посев хомера ячменя пятьдесят сиклей серебра;
「人 若 將承受為業 的幾分地 分別為聖，歸給耶和華，你要 按 這地撒種 多少估定價值，若撒大麥 一賀梅珥，要估價 五十 舍客勒。
And if a man gives to the Lord part of the field which is his property, then let your value be in relation to the seed which is planted in it; a measure of barley grain will be valued at fifty shekels of silver.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Leviticus 27:16
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse governs the dedication of a portion of inherited land to the Lord. The valuation is based on the quantity of seed needed to sow the field rather than on market price or soil quality. A homer of barley, a dry measure of about 225 litres (Ezekiel 45:11), is set at fifty shekels of silver. Wesley and Poole argue this is a single payment covering the entire period until the next Jubilee, noting that no yearly instalment is mentioned and that the sum is moderate, encouraging vows. Keil and Delitzsch, citing the Mishnah, understand it as an annual rate: a shekel and a fifth per year for the remaining years to Jubilee. All agree the valuation is fair and standardized, reflecting the land's potential produce rather than its present condition. The field itself remains inalienable; only the harvests until the Jubilee are dedicated. The redemption provision (adding a fifth, v.19) further underscores the seriousness of the vow: once dedicated, reclaiming the use requires a penalty.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- One-time payment for Jubilee period: Wesley and Poole argue that no yearly payment is mentioned, and the moderate sum encourages vows rather than deters them. The text says 'shall be valued at fifty shekels,' suggesting a single valuation.
- Annual rate for remaining years to Jubilee: Keil and Delitzsch, following the Mishnah (Arakhin 7:1), interpret the fifty shekels to mean a shekel per year for fifty years, with the fifth added for redemption. This aligns with the principle of paying for each year of use until Jubilee.
What is clear: The valuation is based on the seed required for sowing, using a homer of barley as a standard measure, and the payment—whether one-time or annual—is made in shekels of silver according to the sanctuary standard.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose of the valuation | The valuation determines what must be paid to the sanctuary when a field is dedicated by vow, either as a gift or for redemption. | Whether the payment is a single lump sum for the entire Jubilee period or an annual amount spread over the remaining years. |
| Basis of the valuation | The valuation is based on the quantity of seed required to sow the field (seed capacity), not on market price or soil quality. | None; this is universally understood from the text. |
| Payment structure | The text states a homer of barley at 50 shekels; both sides agree that this is a standardized unit. | One side (Wesley, Poole) says it is a one-time payment; the other (Keil, citing Mishnah) insists on an annual rate of one shekel plus a fifth per year for the Jubilee cycle. |
| Redeemability and the fifth | If the dedicator wishes to redeem the field, they must add a fifth (20%) of the valuation price (v.19). | None; the text is clear, and all commentators affirm it. |
| Application to New Testament giving | The principle of deliberate, proportional giving is reflected in the early church’s practice of selling property (Acts 4:34-37). | Some traditions see this as grounds for mandated tithing; others view it as a voluntary model no longer binding in detail. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Leviticus 27 concludes the Holiness Code (chapters 17, 26) and deals with vows and dedications to the sanctuary. The land of Israel was Yahweh’s own possession (Leviticus 25:23), and each tribe received an inheritance (nachalah) that was not to be permanently sold. The Jubilee year (Leviticus 25) ensured that land returned to its original family every fifty years.
Dedicating part of a field was a serious act: it transferred the use of that land’s produce to the sanctuary. The valuation system based on seed required for sowing was practical, seed quantity provided a reliable index of field size, independent of land quality. The homer (חֹמֶר) was a large dry measure, roughly ten ephahs (Ezekiel 45:11), equal to about 220, 250 litres. Barley, a staple crop cheaper than wheat (cf. Revelation 6:6), was chosen as the standard. The fifty shekels, paid either as a lump sum or annually, belonged to the sanctuary (shekel of the sanctuary, v.25). The Mishnah (tractate Arakhin) later systematized these rules, stipulating that redemption of a field cost a shekel and a fifth per year of the Jubilee cycle.
The distinction between inherited and purchased fields (vv.16, 24) protected tribal boundaries. Also, Clarke notes that a man could not vow his entire estate, lest he impoverish his family, a merciful provision. The New Testament reflects similar dedication: Ananias and Sapphira sold a field and claimed to dedicate the full proceeds (Acts 5:1, 4), but Peter reminds them the land was theirs to keep before the vow, underscoring the gravity of dedicating property.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentaries note no significant textual variants for Leviticus 27:16. The phrase “some part” is implied in the Hebrew (שָׂדֵה אֲחֻזָּתוֹ, “field of his possession”), but all major manuscripts agree on the wording. The rendering of the homer measure is consistent across Hebrew witnesses. The verse is textually secure.
Reception History
In Jewish tradition, the Mishnah (tractate Arakhin) developed detailed rules based on this verse, calculating redemption values by the year. Early Christian writers like Origen and Jerome allegorized the field as the soul or the Church, but the literal sense was preserved in monastic regulations for dedicating property. During the Reformation, commentators such as Calvin and Luther emphasized the historical meaning and the principle of fair valuation. Matthew Henry applied the passage to Christian conduct, urging believers to make their vows thoughtfully and not to reclaim them lightly. The verse has also been cited in discussions of church finance and the sanctity of pledges, especially in traditions that practice tithe or pledge cards.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Measure of Devotion, Valuing what we give to God not by its current appearance but by its capacity to produce. The seed required for sowing indicates the land’s potential yield; God evaluates our gifts by their potential for His kingdom.
- The Time-Bound Gift, Dedications tied to the Jubilee remind us that our possessions are on loan from God. The horizon of the Jubilee shapes how we give: it is a temporary surrender of use, not permanent alienation, mirroring our stewardship.
- The Cost of Reclaiming, Redemption with a fifth (v.19) shows that vows to God are not casually retracted. Adding a fifth is a penalty for changing one’s mind, a call to deliberate commitment.
Five-point outline
- Hereditary Land, The field is a gift of inheritance; all we have ultimately comes from God.
- Valuation by Potential, God sees not only what we have but what our resources can become when dedicated to Him.
- The Homer of Barley, Barley was a humble crop; even modest gifts have great value when given in faith.
- The Shekel of the Sanctuary, God sets the standard for giving; we do not negotiate the measure of devotion.
- Jubilee Horizon, Every dedication points forward to the ultimate restoration of all things in Christ.
Illustration hooks
- A farmer deciding to dedicate a field’s entire future harvest to a church: the field’s value lies not in the bare soil but in what it will produce year after year.
- A family heirloom placed in a museum: you give up the use but not the ownership; at a set time it could return. This parallels the Jubilee release of dedicated land.
- When planning a charitable budget, people often base their gift on the potential increase of their income (e.g., a raise or bonus). The valuation ‘according to the seed’ invites us to give based on what our resources can yield, not just what they are now.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Should I consider giving inherited property or land to the church? How does the Old Testament principle apply today?
- Is my gift too small if it’s not a large amount? The homer of barley shows that even a common crop has standard value.
- Does God care about the details of my giving? Yes, the precision of the valuation shows God’s concern for fairness and intentionality.
Leading a Discussion
Leviticus 27:16 may seem like an obscure tax law, but it reveals deep principles about intentional giving, the sanctity of vows, and God’s ownership of our resources. The valuation system is charged with meaning. This passage also prepares us for the New Testament emphasis on joyful and generous dedication (2 Corinthians 9:7). As you discuss, consider how the details of this law point to the character of God and shape our own practices of giving.
Discussion questions
- What does “valuation according to the seed” convey about how God measures our resources? How does this differ from market-driven assessments?
- Why do you think the law allowed redemption with a 20% surcharge? What does this teach us about the permanence of our commitments?
- How does the Jubilee principle (land returning to original owners) affect the way we understand temporary versus permanent giving? Can you think of modern parallels?
- In what ways do our church dedication or pledge practices reflect the Old Testament pattern of valuation and redemption? Where do they differ?
- How can we apply the principle of “valuing by potential” to the use of our time, talents, and money for God’s kingdom today?
- What does this passage suggest about God’s concern for fairness, precision, and order in matters of giving? Why does that matter for worship?
- How does Jesus’ commendation of the widow’s mite (Mark 12:41, 44) relate to the principle of proportional sacrifice seen in Leviticus 27?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Isaiah 5:10 | For ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and a homer of seed shall yield an ephah.” |
| Ezekiel 45:11 | The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain one tenth of a homer, and the ephah one tenth of a homer. Its measure shall be the same as the homer. |
| Ezekiel 45:14 | and the set portion of oil, of the bath of oil, one tenth of a bath out of the cor, which is ten baths, even a homer (for ten baths are a homer), |
| Hosea 3:2 | So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley. |
| Acts 4:34 | For neither was there among them any who lacked, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, |
| Acts 4:37 | having a field, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet. |
| Acts 5:4 | While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights the rabbinical view that a field vowed to the Lord was valued by its crop yield, not its size. He notes disagreement over whether the fifty-shekel rate applied to
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that the field's value is determined by the amount of seed needed to sow it properly, not by its size. He notes that an homer of barley, about 5½ bushels, was worth 50 shekels, tying the property's worth directly to its agricultural capacity.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that fifty shekels of silver represents the maximum redemption payment, calculated at a rate of one shekel per year. The standard for such valuations was the shekel of the sanctuary, whose exact meaning and value is discussed by Driver in his commentary on Exodus.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note clarifies that the value of dedicated land was assessed not by its market price but by its productive capacity, measured in the amount of barley seed needed to sow it. This fixed rate of fifty shekels per homer of seed provided a clear, objective standard for the priests to apply.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill clarifies that when a field is dedicated to the Lord, its value is set by the amount of seed needed to sow it, not by the quality of the land. He corrects a common mistake by distinguishing an "omer" from an "homer," explaining that fifty shekels applied to a field requiring one homer of barley seed, not to a fixed price per bushel.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights a key difference in Leviticus: vowed hereditary land that was not redeemed became permanent sanctuary property, while vowed acquired land returned to the donor at Jubilee. The reason was to pressure the owner or his nearest relative to redeem it, preventing any family's inherited land from permanently leaving the tribe.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch highlight that the fifty-shekel valuation for a vowed field sown with an omer of barley represents the total produce over the entire fifty-year jubilee cycle, not a yearly amount. This rabbinic understanding means the field itself remains inalienable; only its harvests until the next jubilee are consecrated. Redemption requires payment for the remaining years plus a fifth.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the graded valuations for vowed persons suggest actual dedication to sanctuary service,
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees these regulations as the practical outworking of a singular, voluntary vow to dedicate property to God. The priest's valuation and the redemption with a fifth added both prevent rash promises and protect the sanctity of what has been set apart.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley clarifies that the valuation of vowed land is set by how much seed it can receive and yield, and the fifty shekels is a single, not annual, payment. He believes this moderate rate was deliberately set to encourage, not discourage, people from making such vows to the Lord.