Leviticus 27:31 Meaning: Why the Extra Fifth?
If a man redeems anything of his tithe, he shall add a fifth part to it.
And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
And if a man will redeem aught of his tithe, he shall add unto it the fifth part thereof.
`And if a man really redeem any of his tithe, its fifth he addeth to it.
And if any one will at all redeem of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth thereof.
Meaning in one sentence
Understand why Leviticus 27:31 requires an extra fifth to redeem a tithe, and what it teaches about God's ownership and our giving.
Context
The last chapter of Leviticus gathers laws about vows and sacred gifts. The tithe stands apart: it is not something a person can vow, because it already belongs to the Lord. Verse 30 makes that clear, the tithe of the land and its fruit is holy to Him. Yet the law allows a way out. If someone wishes to keep part of that holy portion for themselves, they may redeem it. But the cost is not just the value. They must add a fifth more. This rule appears alongside instructions about the tithe of herds and flocks, which could not be redeemed at all. It is a small provision, but it carries a weighty message about whose we really are.
Key Words
The Hebrew verb for redeem here is ga'al, a word used throughout the Old Testament for buying back a family member, a field, or even a person from slavery. It means you are getting back something that rightfully belonged to you but is now held by another. In this case, the tithe belongs to God. To redeem it is to request it back, and the act itself admits that God holds the rightful claim.
The fifth part (chamishi) is the penalty, twenty percent over the value. It is not a small fee. The verb add (yasaph) means to do more, to increase. Putting the two together: if you want to keep what is already God's, you do not just return its worth. You bring more. This extra amount does not buy God's favor. It reminds the giver that the holy is not to be treated casually. The cost is meant to shape the heart.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christian commentators across traditions see this verse as a window into God's holiness and Israel's worship. Anglican scholar S. R. Driver (in the Cambridge Bible) notes that while the tithe of land could be redeemed with the fifth, the tithe of animals could not, a distinction that highlights how God received the very best. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, follows Jewish tradition in seeing this as the second tithe, the one Israel ate in Jerusalem, and the fifth prevented misuse. Reformed writers like Keil and Delitzsch simply observe that the tithe was already the Lord's, so redemption was only possible at a cost. Matthew Henry focuses on the principle that what belongs to God cannot be turned to common use without acknowledging His claim. All agree: the extra fifth is no loophole but a lesson in reverence.
A common misunderstanding
Some read this verse and think it gave people a way to avoid tithing altogether by paying a fine. In fact, the context shows that only the tithe of the land (grain, fruit) could be redeemed, never the tithe of the herds and flocks, which was strictly non-negotiable (verse 33). The fifth is not a bypass but a recognition that the tithe is already holy. The law does not let you off the hook; it makes you pay more to keep what is God's, teaching that His claim is not to be lightly dismissed.
Living This Out
This week, consider something you know should be given over to God, time, money, a talent, a possession. You might be tempted to keep it for yourself, thinking you can somehow make it up later. This verse invites you to stop and see that what belongs to God is not really yours to bargain with. If you do hold it back, don't pretend it costs nothing. Let the extra fifth remind you that God's share is holy. Then ask yourself: am I treating what I give to Him as sacred, or am I just going through the motions? Let a holy awe shape your hand.
Main takeaway: God's tithe is holy; redeeming it for our own use requires an extra cost, reminding us that He is the true owner of all we have.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God said the first tenth of the harvest belongs to Him. If someone wanted to keep it for themselves, they had to give an extra amount. This helped everyone remember that God is the real owner of everything.
For ages 9, 12
In Old Testament times, the tithe (a tenth of the crops) was already set apart as God's. If someone wanted to use part of it for themselves, they had to pay back its value plus an extra fifth. This rule reminds us that God's claim on our resources is real, and we should treat what we give to Him as holy and not just optional.
Questions People Ask
Does Leviticus 27:31 mean you could avoid tithing by paying a fine?
No. The verse only applies to the tithe of the land (grain and fruit), not to the tithe of animals. The animal tithe could not be redeemed at all (verse 33). The fifth is not a fine to skip giving; it acknowledges that the tithe is already holy to the Lord, so reclaiming it has a cost.
Why did God require an extra fifth instead of just the value?
The extra fifth (20% more) served as a penalty that showed the tithe was not ordinary property. By adding more, the person admitted that God's claim was real and that taking back what was holy came at a cost. It taught reverence and honesty in handling what belongs to God.
What does it mean to redeem a tithe?
In the biblical context, to redeem means to buy back something that already belongs to another. Since the tithe was holy to God, redeeming it meant requesting it for personal use while paying its value plus an added fifth. It was a way the law allowed for extreme need, but it intentionally made the transaction costly.
How should Christians apply this Old Testament law today?
Christians are not bound by the civil laws of Israel, but the principle remains: God owns everything, and what we give to Him should be treated as sacred. The extra fifth reminds us that generosity involves sacrifice and that we cannot treat God's portion casually. It points our hearts to joyful, wholehearted giving.
Was the tithe in Leviticus 27 the same as the tithe in Numbers 18?
Many scholars see differences. Some Jewish interpreters understood this tithe as the second tithe (eaten in Jerusalem), while the tithe in Numbers 18 was the first tithe given to the Levites. The commentary traditions reflect this complexity, but the key point in Leviticus 27 is that the tithe is already God's, and redeeming it carries an extra cost.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study