Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Let the priests also, who come near to Yahweh, sanctify themselves, lest Yahweh break out on them.”
- KJV And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
- NKJV Also let the priests who come near the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.”
- NASB Also have the priests who approach the Lord consecrate themselves, or else the Lord will break out against them.”
- NLT Even the priests who regularly come near to the Lord must purify themselves so that the Lord does not break out and destroy them.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Even the priests who draw near must consecrate themselves, lest God break out against them. Nearness to God requires holiness, even for leaders.
Overview
No one, not even those with priestly access, may approach God carelessly. The repeated emphasis on consecration teaches that proximity to God is a privilege guarded by holiness. This points to our need for a perfect High Priest, Christ, whose holiness qualifies Him to bring us safely near.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Exod 24:5Then he sent out some young men of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD.
- 2 Chr 30:3since they had been unable to observe it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem.
- Acts 5:10At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
- 1 Chr 15:13It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”
- 2 Sam 6:6–8When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled.
- 2 Chr 30:15And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.
- 2 Chr 30:18–19A large number of the people—many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun—had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah interceded for them, saying, “May the LORD, who is good, provide atonement for everyone
- 1 Cor 11:30–32That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
- 1 Chr 13:9–11When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled.
- Acts 5:5On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened.
- Lev 10:1–3Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command.
- Exod 19:14–15When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.
- Isa 52:11Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.
- Exod 19:5Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The Passover lamb whose blood turns away death, the exodus through the sea, the manna, the rock, and the tabernacle where God dwells with his people all foreshadow Jesus — our Passover, our redemption, the bread from heaven, and God-with-us in the flesh.
How Exodus 19:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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