This verse underscores the gravity of vows to God and the fairness of His redemptive system.
When “Or if the one who consecrates the field should ever wish to redeem it, then he shall add one-fifth of your valuation price to it, so that it may pass to him” (v.19) appears in Leviticus 27:19, it illustrates the principle that when someone dedicates property to the LORD, they assume sacred responsibility for that vow. The Book of Leviticus was given to Moses, who lived between roughly 1526-1406 BC, when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness following their departure from Egypt but before they entered the Promised Land. In this context, consecrating a field was an act of worship and obedience, signifying that the people recognized God’s ultimate ownership of all lands and resources. Yet, if an individual decided he wanted to retain that field physically, he was required to compensate for that choice by adding one-fifth to the established valuation.
By saying “he shall add one-fifth of your valuation price to it” (v.19), the text shows that God’s laws maintain both sacredness and practicality. The field, once dedicated, no longer fully belonged to the individual but to the divine service. The added cost functioned as a tangible consequence for changing one’s mind, reminding worshipers that their promises to God were not to be taken lightly Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). Although this Old Testament law predated the coming of Christ by many centuries, it points forward to the New Testament teaching on redemption, where believers are exhorted to count the cost of their commitments (Luke 14:28).
When “it may pass to him” (v.19) finalizes the requirement, it emphasizes that God’s system of worship was equitable—people were free to redeem what they had vowed, but the process included an added evaluation fee to underscore the seriousness of consecration. This transaction model fostered a deep sense of responsibility and genuine worship among the Israelites, who learned that all resources ultimately belonged to the Lord and that human stewardship warranted careful, deliberate choices. In a broader sense, this foreshadows how the redemption found in Jesus Christ, though freely offered, was costly and deliberate in the divine plan (1 Peter 1:18-19).
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Leviticus 27:19 meaning
When “Or if the one who consecrates the field should ever wish to redeem it, then he shall add one-fifth of your valuation price to it, so that it may pass to him” (v.19) appears in Leviticus 27:19, it illustrates the principle that when someone dedicates property to the LORD, they assume sacred responsibility for that vow. The Book of Leviticus was given to Moses, who lived between roughly 1526-1406 BC, when the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness following their departure from Egypt but before they entered the Promised Land. In this context, consecrating a field was an act of worship and obedience, signifying that the people recognized God’s ultimate ownership of all lands and resources. Yet, if an individual decided he wanted to retain that field physically, he was required to compensate for that choice by adding one-fifth to the established valuation.
By saying “he shall add one-fifth of your valuation price to it” (v.19), the text shows that God’s laws maintain both sacredness and practicality. The field, once dedicated, no longer fully belonged to the individual but to the divine service. The added cost functioned as a tangible consequence for changing one’s mind, reminding worshipers that their promises to God were not to be taken lightly Ecclesiastes 5:4-5). Although this Old Testament law predated the coming of Christ by many centuries, it points forward to the New Testament teaching on redemption, where believers are exhorted to count the cost of their commitments (Luke 14:28).
When “it may pass to him” (v.19) finalizes the requirement, it emphasizes that God’s system of worship was equitable—people were free to redeem what they had vowed, but the process included an added evaluation fee to underscore the seriousness of consecration. This transaction model fostered a deep sense of responsibility and genuine worship among the Israelites, who learned that all resources ultimately belonged to the Lord and that human stewardship warranted careful, deliberate choices. In a broader sense, this foreshadows how the redemption found in Jesus Christ, though freely offered, was costly and deliberate in the divine plan (1 Peter 1:18-19).