Leviticus 27:29

No person set apart for destruction may be ransomed; he must surely be put to death.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The passage functions as a statutory rule within the covenant law delivered to Israel concerning vows and sacred dedications.

The words — חֵרֶם (ḥērem) denotes a person or thing dedicated to destruction, and יִפָּדֶה (yippādeh) means he will be ransomed.

The thread — The principle of irrevocable devotion to destruction recurs in 1 Samuel 15:18 and Numbers 21:2.

Why it lands — The text states that those marked for total destruction cannot be exchanged for payment and must be executed. This requires the reader to recognize that certain covenant judgments admit no negotiation or substitution.

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

כָּל־kol-every חֵ֗רֶםChe.remdedicated person אֲשֶׁ֧ר'a.Sherwho יָחֳרַ֛םyo.cho.Ramhe will be dedicated to destruction מִן־min-from הָאָדָ֖םha./'a.Dam<the>/ humankind לֹ֣אlo'not יִפָּדֶ֑הyi.pa.Dehhe will be redeemed מ֖וֹתMotcertainly <to die>יוּמָֽת׃yu.Mathe will be put to death

King James Version

None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death.

Cross-references

1 Samuel 15:18 and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’
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.”