And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.
Parallel translations
- WEB Let the priests also, who come near to Yahweh, sanctify themselves, lest Yahweh break out on them.”
- BSB Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against 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 24:5And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD.
- 2 Chr 30:3For they could not keep it at that time, because the priests had not sanctified themselves sufficiently, neither had the people gathered themselves together to Jerusalem.
- Acts 5:10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
- 1 Chr 15:13For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.
- 2 Sam 6:6–8And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
- 2 Chr 30:15Then they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the second month: and the priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought in the burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.
- 2 Chr 30:18–19For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one
- 1 Cor 11:30–32For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
- 1 Chr 13:9–11And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
- Acts 5:5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
- Lev 10:1–3And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
- Exod 19:14–15And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
- Isa 52:11Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
- Exod 19:5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
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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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