Leviticus 27:13 - But if he will indeed redeem it, then he shall add the fifth part of it to its valuation.

Generated Verse: Leviticus 27:13

What does "Leviticus 27:13" mean?


Leviticus 27 deals with things dedicated to the Lord. This particular verse concerns land that has been dedicated to the Lord, but the original owner wants to buy it back (redeem it).

Here's a breakdown of what Leviticus 27:13 means:

"But if he will indeed redeem it..." This refers to the person who originally dedicated the land to the Lord. They have the option of buying it back.
"...then he shall add the fifth part of it to its valuation." If the owner wants to redeem the land, they must pay the set value of the land (determined by the priest, as described in earlier verses) plus an additional 20% (one-fifth).

In simpler terms:

If someone dedicates land to the Lord but later changes their mind and wants to get it back, they have to pay the agreed-upon value of the land, plus a 20% redemption fee.

Purpose:

The added 20% served a few purposes:

It discouraged impulsive or insincere dedication. It made the person think carefully before dedicating something to the Lord, knowing that redeeming it would be costly.
It compensated the sanctuary. The sanctuary had presumably been using the land or planning to use it. This extra payment compensated for the disruption of those plans and the potential loss of income.
It reaffirmed the holiness of dedication. Even when redeemed, the dedication to the Lord wasn't treated lightly. The extra payment acknowledged the sanctity of the initial vow.

In summary, Leviticus 27:13 outlines the financial terms for redeeming land that has been dedicated to the Lord. It ensures that the original owner pays not only the value of the land but also an additional fee to acknowledge the sanctity of the dedication and compensate the sanctuary.