Leviticus 27:25 - All your valuations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary: twenty gerahs to the shekel.

Generated Verse: Leviticus 27:25

What does "Leviticus 27:25" mean?


Leviticus 27 deals with various kinds of vows and dedications that people could make to the Lord. This verse, Leviticus 27:25, specifies a standard for valuing those vows and dedications in terms of money. Let's break it down:

"All your valuations...": This refers to the monetary value assigned to various things that were dedicated to the sanctuary. The previous verses outlined specific valuations for people and animals.

"...shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary...": This means that the standard unit of currency to be used was the "shekel of the sanctuary." This was a standardized weight of silver used for religious purposes, ensuring fairness and consistency in all transactions related to the sanctuary.

"...twenty gerahs to the shekel.": This clarifies the relationship between the shekel and a smaller unit of weight called the gerah. There were exactly 20 gerahs in one shekel. This defines the shekel's value relative to a smaller unit.

In essence, the verse establishes a uniform standard for valuing dedications and vows using the "shekel of the sanctuary," which was a specific weight of silver composed of twenty smaller units called gerahs.

Why was this important?

Standardization: It prevented people from using varying weights or debased coinage, ensuring fair and accurate valuations in all matters concerning the sanctuary.
Fairness: It protected both the offerer and the sanctuary from unfair dealings.
Holiness: It maintained the sanctity of religious offerings by ensuring that the currency used was standardized and reliable.

In summary, this verse lays down the legal requirement for consistent and accurate monetary values within the religious context, using the sanctuary shekel as the reference point to which all monetary calculations must adhere.

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