Leviticus 27:21 - Priests inherit jubilee fields

Verse Context (Vayikra 27:21)

This verse appears in the context of the laws of hekdesh (dedication to the Temple) and the jubilee year (yovel). It discusses the status of a field that was consecrated to Hashem but not redeemed before the jubilee year.

Key Terms and Their Meanings

• "בְּצֵאתוֹ בַיֹּבֵל" (when it goes out in the jubilee): Rashi explains that this refers to the field's release from its sanctified status at the onset of the jubilee year. The field does not return to its original owner but becomes the permanent property of the kohanim (priests).
• "קֹדֶשׁ לַיהוָה" (holy to the Lord): The field retains its sanctity even after the jubilee, as it is now designated for the service of the Temple (Rambam, Hilchot Arachin 4:20).
• "כִּשְׂדֵה הַחֵרֶם" (as a field devoted): The Sifra (Torat Kohanim) compares this to the laws of cherem (a permanent dedication), meaning the field cannot be redeemed and becomes an eternal possession of the kohanim.

Halachic Implications

According to the Rambam (Hilchot Arachin 4:20), if a person consecrates a field and does not redeem it before the jubilee, it becomes the property of the kohanim in that year. Unlike other consecrated properties that can be redeemed, this field is treated like cherem and remains with the priesthood permanently.

Midrashic Insight

The Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 27:11) connects this law to the broader theme of divine ownership: just as the jubilee year reminds us that the land ultimately belongs to Hashem, the consecration of the field to the kohanim reinforces the idea that the service of the Temple is central to the sanctity of the land.

Practical Ramifications

• The field's produce is used to support the kohanim and their service in the Beit HaMikdash.
• This law underscores the importance of timely redemption of consecrated property—failure to do so results in permanent transfer to the priesthood.