Leviticus 27:6 - If the person is from a month old even to five years old, then your valuation shall be for a male five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver.

Generated Verse: Leviticus 27:6

What does "Leviticus 27:6" mean?


Leviticus 27 deals with vows made to the Lord. It outlines how a person could dedicate themselves, property, or even other people (figuratively speaking - by assigning a monetary value) to the service of the sanctuary. Instead of physically dedicating the person, a payment could be made based on a standardized assessment.

Verse 6 (Leviticus 27:6) specifically addresses the valuation for children between one month and five years old. Here's a breakdown:

"If the person is from a month old even to five years old...": This establishes the age range in question.

"...then your valuation shall be for a male five shekels of silver...": If a male child within this age range was the subject of a vow, the monetary equivalent was set at five shekels of silver.

"...and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver.": For a female child in the same age bracket, the corresponding valuation was three shekels of silver.

Key Interpretations and Significance:

Redemption of Vows: The purpose of these valuations was to provide a way to "redeem" a vow. If someone vowed to dedicate a person (or their equivalent value) to the Lord, they could pay the set amount instead of the person being physically dedicated to service.

Monetary Equivalent, Not Human Worth: It's crucial to understand that this passage is not assigning an inherent worth to males versus females. It is setting a standardized monetary value for the purpose of fulfilling a vow. The lower valuation for females within this age range likely reflects societal roles and economic contributions at the time.

Potential Interpretations of the Difference: Some scholars suggest that the difference in valuation may be due to the potential for male children to contribute to the community economically and militarily in the future, or to perform physically demanding roles. Others argue that the valuation reflected the perceived societal contribution of males and females at the time, even at a young age.

Not a Valuation of Life: This is not a price to be paid for a child's life. It is a specific valuation for the purpose of redeeming a vow made to dedicate someone to the service of the sanctuary.

In summary, Leviticus 27:6 outlines the monetary value (five shekels for males, three shekels for females) assigned to children aged one month to five years old for the purpose of redeeming vows made to the Lord. It's important to interpret this verse within the broader context of vow redemption in Leviticus and not as a statement about the inherent worth of individuals. The difference in valuation between males and females likely reflects societal roles and perceived economic contributions during that period.

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