Leviticus 27:31 · Bible study
Leviticus 27:31 Commentary: The Cost of Redeeming a Tithe
Hebrew · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Leviticus 27:31: why a fifth must be added when redeeming a tithe. This study examines the theological meaning of redeeming what is already holy.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The tithe cannot be taken back without compensating God beyond its value.
- Key words: Redeem (ga'al), tithe (ma'aser), add (yasaph), fifth (chasmishi).
- Main debate: Whether this refers to the first or second tithe; Jewish and many Christian interpreters see the second tithe in view.
- Geological theme: God's absolute ownership and the cost of treating holy things as common.
- Best use: Understanding the seriousness of vows and the principle that God's portion is not ours to reclaim at will.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
If a man wishes to redeem part of his tithe, he must add a fifth to its value.
WEB World English Bible 2000
If a man redeems anything of his tithe, he shall add a fifth part to it.
KJV King James Version 1769
And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And if a man will redeem aught of his tithe, he shall add unto it the fifth part thereof.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`And if a man really redeem any of his tithe, its fifth he addeth to it.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And if any one will at all redeem of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth thereof.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And if any man will redeem his tithes, he shall add the fifth part of them.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y si alguno quisiere redimir algo de sus décimas, añadirá su quinto á ello.
E se alguém quiser resgatar algo de seus dízimos, acrescentará seu quinto a ele.
Si quelqu’ un veut racheter quelque chose de sa dîme, il y ajoutera un cinquième.
Will aber jemand seinen Zehnten lösen, der soll den Fünften darübergeben.
Maar zo iemand van zijn tienden immer iets lossen zal, hij zal zijn vijfde deel daarboven toedoen.
Se uno vuol riscattare una parte della sua decima vi aggiungerà il quinto.
Ale kto by chciał odkupić co z dziesięcin swoich, piątą część ceny przyda do nich.
если же кто захочет выкупить десятину свою, то пусть приложит к цене ее пятую долю.
人 若 要 贖 這十分之一的甚麼物，就要加 上 五分之一。
And if a man has a desire to get back any of the tenth part which he has given, let him give a fifth more.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Leviticus 27:31
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse concerns the redemption of the tithe, which is already holy to the Lord (v.30). The addition of a fifth, a 20% surcharge, serves as a recognition that the tithe belongs to God. Jewish tradition, cited by Gill and Ellicott, identifies this as the 'second tithe', distinct from the Levitical tithe of Numbers 18. Keil and Delitzsch note that the tithe of the land could be redeemed by adding a fifth, while the animal tithe could not be redeemed at all (v.33). The logic is consistent with the rest of Leviticus 27: when something already consecrated is taken back for personal use, compensation beyond its value is required. The fifth discourages casual redemption and underscores that God's portion is not negotiable.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The tithe is holy to the Lord; if a man redeems part of it, he must add a fifth to its value, acknowledging God’s prior claim.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Which tithe is in view? | The tithe in question is already holy to the Lord. | Some (e.g., the Talmud, Ellicott, Gill) identify it as the second tithe (eaten at the sanctuary), while others consider it a general reference to all agricultural tithes, including the Levitical tithe (Numbers 18). The law of Numbers 18 does not mention redemption, suggesting a different application. |
| Purpose of the fifth | The fifth discourages casual redemption and upholds the tithe’s holiness. | Whether the fifth is a penalty for breaking a vow, a compensation to the sanctuary for lost income, or an acknowledgment that the tithe’s value to God exceeds its market value. The text does not specify its rationale. |
| Applicability to New Testament believers | God’s ownership of all things is a permanent biblical principle. Christians are called to give generously and honor commitments made to God. | Whether the specific percentage of a tithe (ten percent plus a fifth surcharge) is binding under the new covenant, or whether the passage only illustrates a principle of integrity in giving. Traditions differ on tithing as a continuing obligation. |
| Redeemability of the animal tithe | Verse 33 forbids exchanging or redeeming the animal tithe. | Some interpret this as absolute: the animal tithe is not redeemable at all. Others suggest the prohibition applies only if the owner attempts to substitute a better or worse animal; the tithe itself is fixed by the rod. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Leviticus 27 forms an appendix to the book, regulating vows and dedications. The tithe system in Israel had two main streams. The first tithe (Numbers 18:21, 24) was assigned to the Levites for their service; it was not considered redeemable by the giver. The second tithe (Deuteronomy 14:22, 29) was a sacred meal tithe eaten at the sanctuary, sometimes called the 'festival tithe'. Jewish interpreters, as Ellicott notes, consistently apply this passage to the second tithe, which was holy but could be used by the owner in a restricted way. Redemption allowed the owner to convert the tithe into money for personal use, but the fifth part functioned as both a penalty and an acknowledgment that the tithe was not ordinary property.
The surrounding passage (vv.28, 33) distinguishes devoted things (herem), which could never be redeemed, from tithes, which could. The valuation system is part of the priestly oversight, ensuring holy things are not treated carelessly. The addition of a fifth appears also in redemption of vowed animals and houses (vv.13,15,19), forming a consistent pattern: recovering what belongs to God costs more than its base value.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentaries note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Masoretic Text is consistent, and the ancient versions (Septuagint, Targum, Peshitta) agree in wording. The Hebrew verb construction ga’ol yig’al (infinitive absolute + imperfect) appears in several manuscripts with the same emphatic sense.
Reception History
This verse has been referenced in Christian discussions about the tithe’s sacredness. Early Christian writers applied it to the principle that God’s claim on the believer’s resources is absolute. Medieval interpreters used it to support the concept of church tithes as a divine right. Reformation-era commentators saw it as part of the ceremonial law fulfilled in Christ, while affirming the ethical principle that vows are serious. In modern theology, it is often cited in discussions about tithing and stewardship, particularly the idea that what is offered to God is not to be taken back carelessly.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The tithe is already the Lord's. God does not need our gifts, but He calls us to acknowledge His ownership. This verse reminds us that what we offer is not ours to rearrange at will.
- Redemption is permitted but costly. God allows His people to buy back something they had consecrated, but the fifth makes the transaction a deterrent, a tangible reminder that holy things are not to be treated lightly.
- The fifth points to God's rightful claim. Adding 20% above the value is not a fine; it is an admission that the regular value is not sufficient. It says, 'This was never mine to begin with.'
Five-point outline
- Context: things already belonging to God. Firstborn, devoted things, and tithes cannot be vowed because they are not ours to give (v.20, 30).
- The nature of the tithe. The land tithe (v.30) was holy, taken from the yearly produce and fruit. The animal tithe (v.32) was even stricter, it could not be redeemed at all.
- Redemption conditions. If a man redeems part of his land tithe, he pays the priest's valuation plus one-fifth. The Hebrew uses an emphatic infinitive absolute (ga’ol yig’al), stressing that if he does choose to redeem, the fifth is mandatory.
- The theological logic. The fifth protects the sanctity of the tithe and provides compensation for the loss to the sanctuary service. It teaches that God's portion is not optional.
- Application for believers. While the specific law does not bind Christians as a rule, the principle stands: God claims our first and best, and treating His claim lightly comes at a cost.
Illustration hooks
- A farmer who has dedicated a field to the Lord later wants to use it for himself. He must pay not just the field's value but an added penalty, like a late fee on a borrowed item that was never truly the borrower's.
- A family that promised to give a portion of their income to the church later feels financial pressure and wants that money back. The fifth represents the seriousness of retracting a vow.
- Buying back a family heirloom from a pawn shop often costs more than the loan: the interest acknowledges that the item was pledged and no longer fully yours.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this mean I have to add a fifth to my tithe if I miss giving it? (No, this is about redeeming a portion of the tithe for personal use, not about missed giving.)
- Why can we redeem the land tithe but not the animal tithe? (The animal tithe, passing under the rod, was a direct act of God's provision; exchange or redemption would undermine its sacredness.)
- How does this Old Testament law apply to New Testament giving? (It teaches the principle that our giving to God is serious and should not be casually reversed.)
Leading a Discussion
This short verse sits in a long chapter about vows and valuations. The tithe is already holy, yet the law allows a person to redeem it for personal use, but only by paying full value plus one-fifth. This opens questions about God's ownership and the cost of treating holy things as common. Use the following questions to guide your group toward the passage's theological and practical implications.
Discussion questions
- What does the surrounding context (vv.30, 33) tell us about the tithe's status? How does verse 30 define it?
- Why do you think the law allows redemption at all? Why not simply forbid taking back the tithe?
- The fifth part is a 20% surcharge. In your view, is it a penalty, a fee, or a recognition of God's ownership? How does the chapter treat similar cases (vv.13,15,19)?
- Jewish tradition identifies this as the second tithe, eaten at Jerusalem. Why would that tithe be redeemable while the Levitical tithe was not?
- What does this verse reveal about God's character? About His relationship with His people?
- Are there things in our lives today that we have 'dedicated' to God but later treat as our own? How might the principle of the fifth apply to those situations?
- How does this passage help us understand the seriousness of vows and commitments in the Christian life?
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.
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary notes a key distinction between tithes on crops and those on livestock. Crops could be redeemed by adding one-fifth to their value, but animals could not be redeemed at all. The cattle tithe is treated as a separate, stricter requirement not found elsewhere in the Old Testament except in 2 Chronicles.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible note highlights that anyone wishing to reclaim their tithe must pay an additional fifth of its value. This rule prevented people from casually buying back what was already consecrated to God, making redemption costly enough to discourage it.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws a careful distinction: only a man's own tithes, not his neighbor's, can be redeemed, and doing so requires adding a fifth of the value. The purpose of this redemption, as he follows Jarchi, was to allow the owner to eat the tithe anywhere instead of being required to eat it in Jerusalem.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch clarifies that the tithe of the land includes both grain and fruit, all produce that the soil yields. Because this tenth already belongs to the Lord and is holy, it cannot be offered to Him again through a vow. The only option is to redeem it by adding one-fifth to its value.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry warns against a careless approach to vows: no one should treat sanctifying something to the Lord as a jest by offering a firstling, for that already belongs to God by law. A meaningful vow gives what is not already owed, distinguishing devoted things from what is holy by command.