Leviticus 27:20 - If he will not redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more;

Generated Verse: Leviticus 27:20

What does "Leviticus 27:20" mean?


Leviticus 27 deals with laws concerning vows and dedications to the Lord. This particular verse (Leviticus 27:20) refers to a specific situation where a person has dedicated a field to the Lord, but then tries to buy it back ("redeem" it). Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:

"If he will not redeem the field...": This means that the person who originally dedicated the field decides not to exercise their right to buy it back from the sanctuary by paying the assessed value plus a penalty (as described in earlier verses of the chapter).

"...or if he has sold the field to another man...": This is a crucial addition. It means that instead of redeeming the field himself, the original owner sells his right to redeem it to a third party. He's essentially profiting from his vow, circumventing the rules of dedication.

"...it shall not be redeemed any more;": This is the key consequence. Because the original owner neglected to redeem it or further sold it to another person, the field now permanently belongs to the Lord (specifically, the sanctuary). No one, including the original owner or the person who bought the redemption right, can now buy it back. It becomes holy and remains the possession of the priesthood.

In simpler terms:

Imagine someone vows their field to the church. They have the option to buy it back. However, if they decide against it or they sell their right to buy it back to someone else, then the field permanently belongs to the church and can never be bought back by anyone.

Purpose of the Law:

This law likely served a few purposes:

Preventing profiting from vows: It discouraged people from making vows lightly and then trying to make a financial gain from them. You couldn't dedicate a field, see if it increased in value, and then sell the redemption right for a profit.
Protecting the sanctuary's interests: It ensured that dedicated property would eventually become a permanent asset of the sanctuary, contributing to its financial stability.
Reinforcing the seriousness of vows: It emphasized that vows made to God were not to be treated lightly or manipulated for personal gain. Once a vow was made, it had real consequences.

In essence, this verse is a safeguard against the abuse of vows and a protection for the sanctuary's resources. It highlights the importance of honoring commitments made to God and discourages attempts to circumvent the true spirit of dedication.

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