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Tuesday, July 15th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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New Life Version

Leviticus 27:28

‘But nothing that a man sets apart to the Lord of all he has, of man or animal or his own land, will be sold or bought. Everything that has been set apart is most holy to the Lord.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Dedication;   Property;   Redemption;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Dedication;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Anathema;   Vow;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Devote, Devoted;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Anathema;   Consecration;   Jericho;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Anathema;   Devoted Thing;   Hormah;   Jephthah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Accursed;   Anathema;   Avenger;   Excommunication;   Leviticus;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Ban;   Chronology of the New Testament;   Vows;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Anathema;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Firstborn;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Anathema,;   First-Born;   Law of Moses;   Vows;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Consecration;   Jephthah;   Vow;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Priesthood, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Accursed;   Forfeit;   Punishments;   Vow;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Anathema;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - 'Arakin;   Ban;   Commandments, the 613;   Sidra;   Valuation;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Notwithstanding, no devoted thing, that a man shall devote to the LORD of all that he has, whether of man or animal, or of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy to the LORD.
King James Version
Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the Lord of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the Lord .
Lexham English Bible
However, anything devoted that a man has devoted to Yahweh from all that he has, from human or animal, or from the field of his property, may not be sold, and it may not be redeemed; anything devoted is a most holy thing for Yahweh.
New Century Version
"‘There is a special kind of gift that people set apart to give to the Lord ; it may be a person, animal, or field from the family property. That gift cannot be bought back or sold. Every special kind of gift is most holy to the Lord .
New English Translation
"‘Surely anything which a man permanently dedicates to the Lord from all that belongs to him, whether from people, animals, or his landed property, must be neither sold nor redeemed; anything permanently dedicated is most holy to the Lord .
Amplified Bible
'But nothing that a man sets apart [that is, devotes as an offering] to the LORD out of all that he has, of man or of animal or of the fields of his own property, shall be sold or redeemed. Anything devoted to destruction (banned, cursed) is most holy to the LORD.
New American Standard Bible
'Nevertheless, anything which someone sets apart to the LORD for destruction out of all that he has, of man or animal or of the field of his own property, shall not be sold nor redeemed. Anything set apart for destruction is most holy to the LORD.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Notwithstanding, nothing separate from the common vse that a man doeth separate vnto the Lord of all that he hath (whether it bee man or beast, or lande of his inheritance) may be solde nor redeemed: for euery thing separate from the common vse is most holy vnto the Lorde.
Legacy Standard Bible
‘Nevertheless, anything which a man devotes to Yahweh out of all that he has, of man or animal or of the fields of his own possession, shall not be sold or redeemed. Anything devoted to destruction is most holy to Yahweh.
Contemporary English Version
Anything that you completely dedicate to me must be completely destroyed. It cannot be bought back or sold. Every person, animal, and piece of property that you dedicate completely is only for me.
Complete Jewish Bible
However, nothing consecrated unconditionally which a person may consecrate to Adonai out of all he owns — person, animal or field he possesses — is to be sold or redeemed; because everything consecrated unconditionally is especially holy to Adonai .
Darby Translation
Notwithstanding, no devoted thing that a man hath devoted to Jehovah of all that he hath, of man or beast, or of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy to Jehovah.
Easy-to-Read Version
"There is a special kind of gift that people give to the Lord . It belongs only to him, and it cannot be bought back or sold. This gift belongs to the Lord . This type of gift includes people, animals, and fields from the family property.
English Standard Version
"But no devoted thing that a man devotes to the Lord , of anything that he has, whether man or beast, or of his inherited field, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord .
George Lamsa Translation
But every devoted thing that a man shall devote to the LORD of all that he has, both of man and beast and of the field of his inheritance, shall not be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to the LORD.
Good News Translation
None of you may sell or buy back what you have unconditionally dedicated to the Lord , whether it is a human being, an animal, or land. It belongs permanently to the Lord .
Christian Standard Bible®
“Nothing that a man permanently sets apart to the Lord from all he owns, whether a person, an animal, or his inherited landholding, can be sold or redeemed; everything set apart is especially holy to the Lord.
Literal Translation
But any devoted thing which a man devotes to Jehovah from all which belongs to him, of man or of animal, or of the field of his possession, it shall not be sold nor redeemed. Every devoted thing to Jehovah is most holy.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
There shall no dedicated thinge be solde ner bought out, yt eny man dedicateth vnto ye LORDE, of all yt is his good, whether it be me, catell or lode. For euery dedicated thige, is most holy vnto ye LORDE.
American Standard Version
Notwithstanding, no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto Jehovah of all that he hath, whether of man or beast, or of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto Jehovah.
Bible in Basic English
But nothing which a man has given completely to the Lord, out of all his property, of man or beast, or of the land which is his heritage, may be given away or got back in exchange for money; anything completely given is most holy to the Lord.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Notwithstandyng, nothyng seperate from the common vse that a man doth seperate vnto the Lorde of all that he hath, whether it be man or beast, or lande of his inheritaunce, may be solde or redeemed: for euery thyng seperate from the common vse, is most holy vnto the Lorde.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Notwithstanding, no devoted thing, that a man may devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, whether of man or beast, or of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD.
King James Version (1611)
Notwithstanding, no deuoted thing that a man shall deuote vnto the Lord, of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: euery deuoted thing is most holy vnto the Lord.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And every dedicated thing which a man shall dedicate to the Lord of all that he has, whether man or beast, or of the field of his possession, he shall not sell it, nor redeem it: every devoted thing shall be most holy to the Lord.
English Revised Version
Notwithstanding, no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, whether of man or beast, or of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD from all he owns-whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land-can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Al thing which is halewid to the Lord, whether it is man, whether beeste, whether feeld, it schal not be seeld, nether it schal mow be ayenbouyt; whateuer thing is halewid onys, it schal be hooli of the noumbre of hooli thingis to the Lord,
Young's Literal Translation
`Only, no devoted thing which a man devoteth to Jehovah, of all that he hath, of man, and beast, and of the field of his possession, is sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to Jehovah.
Update Bible Version
Notwithstanding, no devoted thing, that a man shall devote to Yahweh of all that he has, whether of man or beast, or of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy to Yahweh.
Webster's Bible Translation
Notwithstanding, no devoted thing that a man shall devote to the LORD of all that he hath, [both] of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy to the LORD.
World English Bible
Notwithstanding, no devoted thing, that a man shall devote to Yahweh of all that he has, whether of man or animal, or of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy to Yahweh.
New King James Version
"Nevertheless no devoted offering that a man may devote to the LORD of all that he has, both man and beast, or the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted offering is most holy to the LORD.
New Living Translation
"However, anything specially set apart for the Lord —whether a person, an animal, or family property—must never be sold or bought back. Anything devoted in this way has been set apart as holy, and it belongs to the Lord .
New Revised Standard
Nothing that a person owns that has been devoted to destruction for the Lord , be it human or animal, or inherited landholding, may be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to the Lord .
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Only no devoted thing which any man shall devote unto Yahweh, of all that belongeth to him, - of man or beast, or of the field of his possession, shall be either sold or redeemed, - as to every devoted thing, most holy, it is unto Yahweh.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Any thing that is devoted to the Lord, whether it be man, or beast, or field, shall not be sold: neither may it be redeemed. Whatsoever is once consecrated shall be holy of holies to the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
"But no devoted thing that a man devotes to the LORD, of anything that he has, whether of man or beast, or of his inherited field, shall be sold or redeemed; every devoted thing is most holy to the LORD.
THE MESSAGE
"But nothing that a man irrevocably devotes to God from what belongs to him, whether human or animal or family land, may be either sold or bought back. Everything devoted is holy to the highest degree; it's God 's inalienable property.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'Nevertheless, anything which a man sets apart to the LORD out of all that he has, of man or animal or of the fields of his own property, shall not be sold or redeemed. Anything devoted to destruction is most holy to the LORD.

Contextual Overview

26 ‘But no man may set apart a first-born of the animals. A first-born of the cattle or the flock belongs to the Lord. 27 If it is an animal that is unclean, he will buy it again by paying your price and one-fifth part added to it. If it is not bought again, then it will be sold for your price. 28 ‘But nothing that a man sets apart to the Lord of all he has, of man or animal or his own land, will be sold or bought. Everything that has been set apart is most holy to the Lord. 29 No person who has been set apart to be destroyed from among men can be paid for. He must be put to death. 30 ‘The tenth part of all the land, of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's. It is holy to the Lord. 31 If a man wants to buy any of the tenth part that belongs to the Lord, he will add one-fifth part to its price. 32 And every tenth animal of the cattle or flock, whatever passes under the shepherd's stick, the tenth one will be holy to the Lord. 33 The man will not ask if it is good or bad, or trade it for something else. If he does trade it for something else, then both will become holy. He cannot buy them again.'" 34 These are the Laws the Lord gave Moses on Mount Sinai for the sons of Israel.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

no devoted: This is the cherem, the absolute, irredeemable grant to God. Leviticus 27:21, Exodus 22:20, Numbers 21:2, Numbers 21:3, Deuteronomy 7:1, Deuteronomy 7:2, Deuteronomy 13:15, Deuteronomy 13:16, Deuteronomy 20:16, Deuteronomy 20:17, Deuteronomy 25:19, Joshua 6:17-19, Joshua 6:26, Joshua 7:1, Joshua 7:11-13, Joshua 7:25, Judges 11:30, Judges 11:31, Judges 21:5, Judges 21:11, Judges 21:18, 1 Samuel 14:24-28, 1 Samuel 14:38-45, 1 Samuel 15:3, 1 Samuel 15:18, 1 Samuel 15:32, 1 Samuel 15:33, Matthew 25:41, Acts 23:12-14, Romans 9:3, 1 Corinthians 16:22, Galatians 3:10, Galatians 3:13

Reciprocal: Numbers 16:26 - I pray you Numbers 16:37 - hallowed Numbers 18:14 - General Deuteronomy 2:34 - utterly destroyed Deuteronomy 3:6 - we utterly Deuteronomy 7:26 - shalt Deuteronomy 13:17 - cursed Joshua 9:23 - General Judges 11:35 - have opened Judges 11:39 - did with 2 Chronicles 31:14 - the most Ezra 10:8 - forfeited Ezekiel 44:29 - dedicated Ezekiel 48:14 - they shall

Cross-References

Genesis 27:5
And Rebekah was listening while Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for meat to bring home,
Genesis 27:7
'Bring me some meat. Make good-tasting food for me to eat. And before I die I will pray to the Lord for good to come to you.'
Genesis 27:9
Go to the flock and bring me two fat young goats. I will cook them into good-tasting food, just what your father loves to eat.
Genesis 27:11
Jacob said to his mother Rebekah, "But my brother Esau has much hair. And my skin is smooth.
Genesis 27:12
If my father touches me, he will think of me as one trying to fool him. Then he will bring a curse upon me instead of good."
Genesis 27:13
His mother said to him, "The curse will come upon me instead of you, my son. You do what I say, and go get them for me."
Genesis 27:39
Then his father Isaac answered him: "See, the place where you live will be away from the riches of the earth, and away from the water on the grass in the early morning.
Genesis 45:18
Take your father and your families and come to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt. And you will live on the fat of the land.'
Genesis 49:20
"Asher's food will be rich. He will give pleasing food to kings.
Numbers 13:20
Find out if the land is rich or poor, and if there are trees in it or not. Then try to get some of the fruit of the land." Now this was the gathering time of the first grown grapes.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Notwithstanding, no devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord,.... This is a different vow from the former, expressed by "sanctifying"; for though "sanctifying" and "devoting" were both vows, yet the latter had an execration or curse added to it, by which a man imprecated a curse upon himself, if that itself, which he devoted, was put to any other use than that for which he devoted it; wherefore this sort of vow was absolute and irrevocable, and what was vowed was unalienable, and therefore not to be sold or redeemed as afterwards expressed, whereas things sanctified might:

of all that he hath, [both] of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed; but must be put to the use for which it was devoted. This must be understood of such as were his own, and he had a right to dispose of; which were in his own power, as Aben Ezra interprets the phrase, "of all that he hath": if of men, they must be such as were his slaves, which he had a despotic power over; such as he could sell, or give to another, or leave to his children for a perpetual inheritance, Leviticus 25:46; and could dispose of as he pleased, and so devote to the service of the priests: thus Jarchi interprets it of menservants and maidservants, Canaanitish ones; and if of beasts, such as were his own property, and not another's; and if of fields, such as were his possession by inheritance. Some Jewish writers, as Abendana, from the phrase, "of all that he hath", gather, that a man might devote only a part of what he had, and not the whole; and so it is said in the Misnah,

"a man may devote of his flock and of his herd, of his servants and maidens Canaanites, and of the field of his possession; but if he devote all of them, they are not devoted k,''

the vow is null and void; and so one of the commentators l upon it says, he may devote some movable things, but not all; some of his Canaanitish servants and maidens, but not all; some part of the field of his possession, but not the whole: but a man's children, and Hebrew servants, and purchased fields, according to the Jewish canon, might not be devoted;

"if anyone devotes his son or his daughter, his servant or his handmaid, that are Hebrews, or the field of his purchase, they are not devoted (or to be reckoned so), for no man devotes (or ought to devote) what is not his own m.''

A commentator n excepts his daughter, and says, he may devote his daughter, because he may sell her while a minor, but not an adult virgin; see Exodus 21:7;

every devoted thing [is] most holy unto the Lord; and therefore not to be appropriated to any use but his, nor to be meddled with, not even touched or handled by any but the priests, as the most holy things that were eatable were only to be eaten by them.

k Eracin, c. 8. sect. 4. l Bartenora in ib. m lb. sect. 5. n Bartenora in Misn. Eracin, c. 8. sect. 5.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Devoted thing - The primary meaning of the Heb. word חרם chērem is something cut off, or shut up. Its specific meaning in the Law is, that which is cut off from common use and given up in some sense to Yahweh, without the right of recal or commutation. It is applied to a field wholly appropriated to the sanctuary Leviticus 27:21, and to whatever was doomed to destruction 1 Samuel 15:21; 1 Kings 20:42. Our translators have often rendered the word by “cursed,” or “a curse,” which in some places may convey the right sense, but it should be remembered that the terms are not identical in their compass of meaning (Deuteronomy 7:26; Joshua 6:17-18; Joshua 7:1; Isaiah 34:5; Isaiah 43:28, etc. Compare Galatians 3:13).

Of man and beast - This passage does not permit human sacrifices. Man is elsewhere clearly recognized as one of the creatures which were not to be offered in sacrifice Exodus 13:13; Exodus 34:20; Numbers 18:15.

Therefore the application of the word חרם chērem to man is made exclusively in reference to one rightly doomed to death and, in that sense alone, given up to Yahweh. The man who, in a right spirit, either carries out a sentence of just doom on an offender, or who, with a single eye to duty, slays an enemy in battle, must regard himself as God’s servant rendering up a life to the claim of the divine justice (compare Romans 13:4). It was in this way that Israel was required to destroy the Canaanites at Hormah (Numbers 21:2-3; compare Deuteronomy 13:12-18), and that Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord 1 Samuel 15:33. In all such instances, a moral obligation rests upon him whose office it is to take the life: he has to look upon the object of his stroke as under a ban to the Lord (compare Deuteronomy 20:4; Galatians 3:13). Therefore, there can be neither redemption nor commutation.

It is evident that the righteousness of this law is not involved in the sin of rash or foolish vows, such as Saul’s 1 Samuel 14:24 or Jephthah’s Judges 11:30.

And it seems hardly needful to add that sacrifice, as it is represented both in the Law and in the usage of the patriarchs, is something very different from consecration under a ban, though a tiring to be sacrificed might come under the designation of חרם chērem in its wider sense. The sacrifice was always the offering up of the innocent life of a creature chosen, approved, and without spot or blemish.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Leviticus 27:28. No devoted thing - shall be sold or redeemed — This is the חרם cherem, which always meant an absolute unredeemable grant to God.


 
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