This final passage of Leviticus discusses the matter of redeeming people, animals or possessions that have been dedicated to the Lord. Out of a vow freely given, someone may have dedicated someone or something to the Lord. A person may later want to redeem whoever or whatever they dedicated. The Lord allowed for them to redeem their offering by paying the value of the dedication.

If a person could not afford the price to redeem a dedicated person, the priest would set a price they could afford. An animal, a home, farm land, or a tithe could be redeemed at its value plus a fifth of its value. Substitutions were allowed in some cases. The money was added to the tabernacle's treasury for its services.

Certain things devoted to the Lord or to destruction could not be redeemed. Devoted here means they were given to the Lord and meant to be destroyed, (1 Sa 15) They were most holy to the Lord. Anyone who did not destroy the devoted object would be cursed. Verse 34 concludes that these are the commands of the Lord. We must keep our vows to the Lord as if following his words, or we lose his blessings. We should not make vows to the Lord lightly. He hears our vows, he sees whether we keep it, and he will hold us accountable one way or another, even if we forget.


Application: Father, help me to keep my vows to you.
One Word: Keep your vows to the Lord