Leviticus 27:6

6 If the person is from one month to five years old, your valuation for a male is five silver shekels,^[a] and for a female your valuation is three shekels of silver.

Leviticus 27:6 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 27:6

And if [it be] from a month old even unto five years old
That is, if a man devotes his child to the Lord within such an age, and says, the estimation of this my son or my daughter be upon me, then he was to pay the value, as next directed; for one under a month old no estimation was to be made: the Jews say,

``one less than a mouth old may be vowed, but not estimated ^F15:''

then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver;
somewhat more than ten shillings:

and for the female thy estimation [shall be] three shekels of silver;
about seven shillings, which is the least value put on any; and though the lives of male or female at this age are equally uncertain, and the service of either of little worth when near the full time fixed; yet the preference is given to the male, as being of the more perfect kind, and its life generally most desirable.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 Misn. Eracin, c. 1. sect. 1.

Leviticus 27:6 In-Context

4 If the person is a female, your valuation is 30 shekels.

5 If the person is from five to 20 years old, your valuation for a male is 20 shekels and for a female 10 shekels.

6 If the person is from one month to five years old, your valuation for a male is five silver shekels, and for a female your valuation is three shekels of silver.

7 If the person is 60 years or more, your valuation is 15 shekels for a male and 10 shekels for a female.

8 But if one is too poor to pay the valuation, he must present the person before the priest and the priest will set a value for him. The priest will set a value for him according to what the one making the vow can afford.

Footnotes

• [a]. Nm 3:46-47; 18:15-16