Leviticus 27:17 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 27:17 mean?

Leviticus 27:17 says that if someone dedicates a field as holy to God in the year of jubilee, the value of that field will be set according to the official estimation and will not change. The verse is about how to determine the value of land that someone offers to God, specifically if this happens during the special jubilee year.

In the context of Leviticus, God is giving Moses instructions for the Israelites about making vows and dedicating property to God. The "year of jubilee" was a unique time every fifty years when land returned to its original family owners and debts were forgiven. This verse explains that if someone sets apart (sanctifies) a field during this year, the set value stands firm, because the jubilee resets land ownership and value.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 27:17

• "sanctify" (קָדַשׁ, qadash): This word means to set apart as holy or dedicate for a special purpose. Here, it refers to someone officially declaring their field as belonging to God.
• "field" (שָׂדֶה, sadeh): This is the ordinary word for a piece of farmland, showing that the law applies to regular agricultural land.
• "year" (שָׁנָה, shanah) and "jubile" (יֹבֵל, yovel): The "year of jubilee" was a major event in Israel’s calendar, affecting land ownership and value. Mentioning it here clarifies that the rules for valuing a field are different if the dedication happens in this special year.
• "estimation" (עֶרְכָּה, erkah): This means the official value set by the priests, not a market price. It emphasizes that the value is determined by law, not by negotiation.
• "stand" (קוּם, qum): This word means to remain or be established. In this verse, it stresses that the set value is fixed and cannot be changed later.

Why Leviticus 27:17 matters

• This verse clarifies that the timing of a vow—specifically, making it in the year of jubilee—affects how the value of the land is determined and prevents later disputes about its worth.
• It highlights the importance of the jubilee year in Israel’s laws, showing how it reset economic and social relationships, including those involving vows to God.
• Leviticus 27:17 connects to the larger passage about dedicating property, helping readers understand the practical details of how such dedications worked in ancient Israel.