Question 1

What does Leviticus 27:21 mean?

Accepted Answer

Leviticus 27:21 says that if a field someone dedicated to God is not redeemed and the Year of Jubilee arrives, the field becomes holy to the LORD and is given to the priests as their property. The field is treated as something specially set apart for God, no longer belonging to the original owner. In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, giving instructions to the Israelites about what happens to land that has been devoted to God through a vow. The context is the system of vows and dedications in ancient Israel, especially how property is handled if not bought back before the Jubilee year. The verse highlights the seriousness of dedicating something to God and the special status such property receives.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 27:21

Accepted Answer

The word for "field" is שָׂדֶה (sadeh), meaning a piece of cultivated land. This word grounds the instruction in real, everyday property. "Jubile" is יוֹבֵל (yovel), referring to the special fiftieth year when property returns to its original family owners, except in cases like this where it has been devoted to God. "Holy" is קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh), meaning set apart or sacred for God. This marks the field as no longer ordinary property but belonging to God in a special way. "Devoted" is חֵרֶם (cherem), which often means something set apart for destruction or for God alone, never to return to common use. Here it stresses that the field is permanently removed from private hands.

Question 3

Why Leviticus 27:21 matters

Accepted Answer

This verse clarifies that dedicating property to God is a serious, lasting decision; once the Jubilee comes, the dedication cannot be reversed. It shows how the priesthood was provided for in ancient Israel, receiving property that was fully given to God. The verse fits into a larger section on vows, showing the practical and spiritual consequences of making promises to God about possessions.

Leviticus 27:21 (KJV)