Leviticus 27:13
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If, however, the owner decides to redeem the animal, he must add a fifth to its value.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
But if the person vowing wanted to redeem it, he was to add a fifth above the valuation price, as a kind of compensation for taking back the animal he had vowed (cf. Lev 5:16).
Open source ↗The last verse of the foregoing chapter seemed to close up the statute-book; yet this chapter is added as an appendix. Having given laws concerning instituted services, here he directs concerning vows and voluntary services, the free-will offerings of their mouth. Perhaps some devout serious people among them might be so affected with what Moses had delivered to them in the foregoing chapter as in a pang of zeal to consecrate themselves, or their children, or estates to him: this, because honestly meant, God would accept; but, because men are apt to repent of such vows, he leaves room for the redemption of what had been so consecrated, at a certain rate. Here is, I. The law concerning what was sanctified to God, persons (Lev 27:2-8), cattle, clean or unclean (Lev 27:9-13), houses and lands (Lev 27:15-25), with an exception of firstlings, (Lev 27:26, Lev 27:27). II. Concerning what was devoted (Lev 27:28, Lev 27:29). III. Concerning tithes (Lev 27:30, etc.).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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But if he who consecrated his house redeems it, he must add a fifth to the assessed value, and it will belong to him.
And if the one who consecrated the field decides to redeem it, he must add a fifth to the assessed value, and it shall belong to him.
If anyone eats a sacred offering in error, he must add a fifth to its value and give the sacred offering to the priest.
Regarding any holy thing he has harmed, he must make restitution by adding a fifth of its value to it and giving it to the priest, who will make atonement on his behalf with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven.
He must not replace it or exchange it, either good for bad or bad for good. But if he does substitute one animal for another, both that animal and its substitute will be holy.