Leviticus 27:6

6 and if from a month old up to five years old, then your valuation for a male shall be five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be 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 it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels;

5 and if from five years old up to twenty years old, then your valuation for a male shall be twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels;

6 and if from a month old up to five years old, then your valuation for a male shall be five shekels of silver, and for a female your valuation shall be three shekels of silver;

7 and if from sixty years old and above, if it is a male, then your valuation shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels.

8 But if he is too poor to pay your valuation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall set a value for him; according to the ability of him who vowed, the priest shall value him.