· Translation: KJV

Leviticus 27:16"'If a man dedicates to Yahweh part of the field of his possession, then your valuation shall be according to the seed for it: the sowing of a homer of barley shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver.

The setting

Mount Sinai, ~1450 BC. Moses records God's detailed instructions for voluntary land dedications in the wilderness camp before entering Canaan. Modern-day Egypt/Sinai Peninsula.

The emotion here: methodical precision mixed with divine generosity

The original word

ḥōmer (חֹמֶר) — about 220 liters of barley seed, roughly 10 acres worth

Why it matters

Fifty silver shekels was about 20 ounces of silver — equivalent to several years' wages

Read with care

What most readers miss in Leviticus 27:16

This was VOLUNTARY dedication — not required tithing but generous gifts beyond obligation

Common misconceptionPeople think this is about tithing requirements, but these were voluntary dedications above and beyond normal offerings — showing how serious generosity works.

Bible Genome reading

Leviticus 27:16 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerGod
Eraexodus
Primary emotiondeciding
Literary typelaw
MarkCommand

Emotional genome

Comfort power20%
Quotability20%
Memorability30%
Crisis relevance30%
Standalone30%
Themes:dedicationagricultural value

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Leviticus 27

Leviticus 27:16 comes from the book of Leviticus, written during the exodus period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the law genre of biblical literature. Key themes include dedication, agricultural value. Notable phrases: dedicates field; according to seed. This verse contains a command.

Your reflection

What does Leviticus 27:16 mean to you, today?

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