Leviticus 27:1-8

Leviticus 27:1-8

[1] And the LORD  spake  unto Moses,  saying,  [2] Speak  unto the children  of Israel,  and say  unto them, When a man  shall make a singular  vow,  the persons  shall be for the LORD  by thy estimation.  [3] 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.  [4] And if it be a female,  then thy estimation  shall be thirty  shekels.  [5] And if it be from five  years  old  even unto twenty  years  old,  then thy estimation  shall be of the male  twenty  shekels,  and for the female  ten  shekels.  [6] And if it be from a month  old  even unto five  years  old,  then thy estimation  shall be of the male  five  shekels  of silver,  and for the female  thy estimation  shall be three  shekels  of silver.  [7] And if it be from sixty  years  old  and above;  if it be a male,  then thy estimation  shall be fifteen  shekels,  and for the female  ten  shekels.  [8] But if he be poorer  than thy estimation,  then he shall present  himself before  the priest,  shall value  him; according to  his ability  that vowed  shall the priest  value  him.

What does Leviticus 27:1-8 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The amount of money that a person had to pay at the end of a vow in which he pledged a person depended on the age and sex of the individual. Some people were worth more in this respect than others.
"These figures are very large. The average wage of a worker in biblical times was about one shekel per month. [1] It is little wonder that few could afford the valuations set out here ( Leviticus 27:8)." [2]