Bible Strands
Leviticus 27:3
if the valuation concerns a male from twenty to sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Moses instructs the Israelites on the procedure for fulfilling vows that involve the monetary valuation of persons. The directive establishes a fixed price schedule for individuals dedicated to the sanctuary.
The words — עֶרְכְּךָ ('er.kha) means "your valuation" and הַזּכָר (ha.za.khar) translates to "the male." These terms specify the exact assessment required for a male vow-offering.
The thread — The sanctuary shekel standard appears in Exodus 30:13 and Leviticus 27:25 to define the weight and value of holy currency. Numbers 18:16 applies a similar valuation principle to the redemption price for infants.
Why it lands — The text requires a precise financial commitment based on age and gender for those making vows. It demands that the vow-taker calculate and pay the exact amount without deviation.
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
And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary.
Cross-references
- Exodus 30:13 Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD.
- Leviticus 27:25 Every valuation will be according to the sanctuary shekel, twenty gerahs to the shekel.
- Numbers 18:16 You are to pay the redemption price for a month-old male according to your valuation: five shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel, which is twenty gerahs.
- Leviticus 5:15 “If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering.
- Leviticus 6:6 Then he must bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock.
- Leviticus 27:14 Now if a man consecrates his house as holy to the LORD, then the priest shall value it either as good or bad. The price will stand just as the priest values it.
- Numbers 3:47 you are to collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel of twenty gerahs.
- 2 Kings 12:4 Then Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money brought as sacred gifts into the house of the LORD—the census money, the money from vows, and the money brought voluntarily into the house of the LORD.