Leviticus 27:28

Nothing that a man sets apart to the LORD from all he owns—whether a man, an animal, or his inherited land—can be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses concludes the chapter’s regulations on vows and valuations by establishing an absolute boundary for items permanently consecrated to Yahweh. This directive addresses the Israelite community regarding the finality of specific dedications.

The words — חֵרֶם (ḥērem) denotes a "devoted thing" or "thing set apart to destruction," while יַחֲרִם (yaḥrîm) is the verb meaning "he will dedicate to destruction." These terms establish that such items are irrevocably removed from ordinary use and ownership.

The thread — The principle appears in Joshua 6:17 regarding the complete destruction of Jericho and in Exodus 22:20 concerning idolaters. Leviticus 27:29 immediately reinforces the rule by stating that persons devoted to destruction cannot be ransomed.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that certain dedications to God are irreversible and supersede human claims of ownership or redemption. It requires the reader to accept that some commitments to divine holiness admit no reversal or financial compensation.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the Lord of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the Lord.

Cross-references

Joshua 6:17 Now the city and everything in it must be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all those with her in her house will live, because she hid the spies we sent.
Exodus 22:20 If anyone sacrifices to any god other than the LORD alone, he must be set apart for destruction.
Leviticus 27:21 When the field is released in the Jubilee, it will become holy, like a field devoted to the LORD; it becomes the property of the priests.
Deuteronomy 20:16 However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes.
Deuteronomy 25:19 When the LORD your God gives you rest from the enemies around you in the land that He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
Numbers 18:14 Every devoted thing in Israel belongs to you.
Numbers 21:2 So Israel made a vow to the LORD: “If You will deliver this people into our hands, we will devote their cities to destruction.”
Deuteronomy 7:1 When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you—
Deuteronomy 13:15 you must surely put the inhabitants of that city to the sword. Devote to destruction all its people and livestock.
Joshua 6:26 At that time Joshua invoked this solemn oath: “Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho; at the cost of his firstborn he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.”