Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Leviticus 27:20 mean?
A: Leviticus 27:20 discusses the laws of redeeming a field that was consecrated to the Temple (hekdesh). If the original owner does not redeem it before the Jubilee year, or if it was sold to someone else, it can no longer be redeemed and becomes the permanent property of the Temple (Rashi, Rambam Hilchot Arachin 4:25).
Q: Why is this verse about redeeming fields important?
A: This verse teaches the sanctity of property dedicated to holy purposes. Once consecrated to the Temple, a field has special status and cannot always be reclaimed—emphasizing that vows to Hashem must be taken seriously (Talmud Arachin 29a, Sefer HaChinuch 360).
Q: How does Leviticus 27:20 apply today?
A: While we currently lack the Temple, the principle remains relevant: when we dedicate something to a mitzvah or holy cause (e.g., tzedakah, synagogue donations), we should treat those commitments with gravity and not revoke them lightly (Shulchan Aruch YD 258:12, Mishneh Torah Hilchot Matnot Aniyim 8:8).
Q: What happens if someone sells a consecrated field to another person?
A: According to this verse and Talmudic law (Arachin 28b), if a consecrated field is sold to a third party instead of being redeemed by the original owner, it loses its redeemable status entirely and becomes Temple property permanently after the Jubilee year.
Q: What lesson can we learn from this verse?
A: The verse teaches about the finality of certain spiritual commitments. Just as the field's status becomes irreversible, our words and vows—especially regarding holiness—carry lasting consequences, requiring careful thought before dedication (Midrash Torat Kohanim 27:14, Proverbs 20:25).
Context in Vayikra (Leviticus)
This verse (Vayikra 25:28) appears in the section discussing the laws of shemittah (the Sabbatical year) and yovel (the Jubilee year). It addresses the scenario where a person sells a field but does not redeem it before the Jubilee year, or sells it to another buyer. The Torah states that in such cases, the field may no longer be redeemed and must return to its original owner during the Jubilee.
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi (Vayikra 25:28) clarifies that this verse refers to two distinct cases:
Rambam's Legal Perspective
In Hilchot Shemittah V’Yovel (11:15), the Rambam codifies this law, emphasizing that once the field is sold to a second buyer, the original owner cannot reclaim it through redemption. The field’s return is exclusively tied to the arrival of the Jubilee year.
Midrashic Insight
The Torat Kohanim (Sifra, Behar 5:4) links this law to the broader theme of divine ownership of the land. Since Eretz Yisrael belongs to Hashem, human sales are temporary, and the land must revert to its original tribal allotment during the Jubilee. This reinforces the idea that land in Israel is an inheritance, not absolute property.
Halachic Implications
The Chazon Ish (Shevi’it 24:5) discusses the practical ramifications, noting that this law underscores the sanctity of ancestral land in Israel. Even if a field changes hands multiple times, its ultimate return to the original family reflects the Torah’s commitment to preserving tribal and familial continuity in the Land.