Exodus 19 22

Exodus 19:22 kjv

And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

Exodus 19:22 nkjv

Also let the priests who come near the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them."

Exodus 19:22 niv

Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them."

Exodus 19:22 esv

Also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them."

Exodus 19:22 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."

Exodus 19 verses

Exodus 19 22 Meaning

Exodus 19:22 commands that even the select individuals serving as "priests" among the Israelites must consecrate themselves before drawing near to Mount Sinai, where God is revealing Himself. This strict requirement underscores God's absolute holiness and the perilous nature of approaching Him without proper preparation and purification. Failure to do so would result in severe, destructive judgment from the LORD breaking forth upon them.

Exodus 19 22 Context

Exodus chapter 19 describes the arrival of the Israelites at Mount Sinai, where God is about to reveal His covenant and Law to them. This pivotal moment marks Israel's transformation into a chosen people in a direct covenant relationship with God. The immediate context of verse 22 is God's instructions to Moses on setting boundaries around the mountain, prohibiting anyone—human or animal—from touching it, lest they die. This verse extends the command of sanctification (initiated in Exod 19:10-11 for the whole people) specifically to a group referred to as "priests." These individuals predate the formal establishment of the Aaronic priesthood (which occurs later, in Exod chapters 28-29). They were likely select leading men or perhaps the firstborns, who held a prominent spiritual role in tribal societies before the specialized Levitical system. The overwhelming display of God's presence at Sinai (thunder, lightning, thick cloud, trumpet blast, smoke, trembling mountain) emphasizes His immense holiness, majesty, and unapproachability for the unprepared or defiled, creating an atmosphere of awesome reverence and trepidation.

Exodus 19 22 Word analysis

• And let the priests also (וְהַכֹּהֲנִים גַּם הֵם - vehakōhanîm gam hem):

  • "priests" (כֹּהֲנִים - kōhanîm): Refers to individuals serving a sacred function. At this pre-Sinaitic, pre-Aaronic stage, this term likely designates specific leaders, elders, or the firstborns (who held priestly rights) within the community who were granted special proximity for spiritual duties. It's not yet the formally consecrated lineage of Aaron. This highlights that certain individuals had special access to God, even before the formal priesthood.
  • "also" (גַּם - gam): Implies that if even the common people require sanctification (Exod 19:10-11), these more privileged individuals (the priests) all the more so need to sanctify themselves due to their proximity. Their greater access also comes with greater responsibility and greater danger.

• which come near to the LORD (הַנִּגָּשִׁים אֶל־יְהוָה - hannigāshîm ’el-YHWH):

  • "come near" (הַנִּגָּשִׁים - hannigāshîm): A participle from the verb נגש (nagash), meaning "to draw near, approach." In a sacred context, it denotes privileged access and service in God's presence. This emphasizes their distinct function, setting them apart from the general populace.
  • "to the LORD" (אֶל־יְהוָה - ’el-YHWH): Explicitly states the direct object of their proximity. YHWH (Yahweh) is the covenant name of God, highlighting the unique nature of Israel's relationship with Him, yet also the severe consequences of violating His holiness.

• sanctify themselves (יִתְקַדָּשׁוּ - yitqaddāshū):

  • From the verb קדש (qadash), meaning "to be holy, set apart, consecrated." The Hithpael (reflexive) form emphasizes that it is an action they themselves must undertake. It involves both outward ceremonial purity (washing garments, abstaining) and an inner disposition of reverence and preparation. It's a required, deliberate act to become ceremonially and ritually acceptable before God. This action demonstrates submission to God's standards.

• lest (פֶּן - pen):

  • A conjunctive particle expressing caution, indicating a negative consequence or undesirable outcome if the preceding command is not obeyed. It serves as a stern warning.

• the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH):

  • Reiterates the divine subject who will enact the consequence. It reminds the audience that the judgment comes directly from the all-powerful and holy covenant God.

• break forth upon them (יִפְרָץ־בָּם - yiphrots-bām):

  • "break forth" (יִפְרָץ - yiphrots): From the verb פרץ (parats), meaning "to burst out, break through, burst forth, make a breach." This powerful verb suggests a violent, sudden, and destructive intervention or outpouring of divine wrath. It is used elsewhere for destructive acts of God (e.g., Uzzah's death in 2 Sam 6:8, "breach of Uzzah"). It conveys a sense of uncontrollable divine fury against those who profane His holiness.
  • "upon them" (בָּם - bām): Specifies the direct recipients of this divine outbreak, emphasizing the direct personal accountability and the immediate, deadly consequences.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves": This phrase underlines that proximity to God requires greater, not lesser, holiness. Their designated role necessitates meticulous self-preparation, illustrating that privilege entails magnified responsibility. This principle establishes a standard for all future priestly ministry.
  • "lest the LORD break forth upon them": This clause reveals the severe, potentially deadly, stakes involved in approaching a holy God. It teaches God's absolute intolerance for irreverence and demonstrates His zeal for His own sanctity. The imagery of "breaking forth" conveys immediate, overwhelming, and potentially chaotic destruction from God, acting as a profound deterrent against any presumption.

Exodus 19 22 Bonus section

The specific identity of "the priests" mentioned in Exod 19:22 is a topic of discussion among biblical scholars. Before the formal institution of the Levitical priesthood with Aaron and his sons (Exod 28-29; Lev 8-10), priestly functions in early Israelite society often resided with the heads of families or the firstborn males (see Num 3:12-13, where God explicitly takes the Levites instead of the firstborns). Alternatively, it could refer to a selected group of elders or prominent individuals whom Moses designated for this particular solemn occasion at Sinai, given that they are explicitly commanded to "come near to the LORD." This suggests a provisional priestly group, chosen for specific roles during the crucial covenant inauguration. Regardless of their exact identity, their special command for sanctification underlines that even initial access to the divine, let alone continued service, required profound preparation and reverence. This principle would be foundational for the formal priesthood established later, reinforcing the absolute necessity of holiness in God's service.

Exodus 19 22 Commentary

Exodus 19:22 serves as a profound testament to the unapproachable holiness of God and the strict requirements for anyone drawing near to Him. While the preceding verses mandate the entire Israelite community's sanctification for the theophany at Sinai, this verse specifically addresses a privileged group of "priests." These were not the formal Aaronic priesthood established later, but rather selected individuals—likely elders or firstborns—who possessed some spiritual or ceremonial standing enabling closer access to God. The very existence of this special command for them, "lest the LORD break forth upon them," intensifies the warning, emphasizing that proximity to God does not lessen, but rather increases, the demand for purity and reverence.

The term "sanctify themselves" (קָדְשׁוּ - qāḏšû) implies both ritual purification (e.g., washing, abstaining) and an internal state of reverent preparation. This self-sanctification acknowledges their responsibility to conform to God's sacred standards before encountering His manifest presence. The alternative is catastrophic: "the LORD break forth upon them." The Hebrew "parats" (break forth) evokes a sudden, destructive, and overwhelming act of divine judgment, similar to God "breaking through" against Uzzah for his irreverence (2 Sam 6:8).

This verse foreshadows the stringent holiness requirements for the Aaronic priesthood (e.g., Lev 10:3, Nadab and Abihu's death), establishing a timeless principle: God is absolutely holy and demands to be sanctified (treated as holy) by those who approach Him, particularly those in positions of spiritual leadership or privilege. It illustrates the danger of presumption in the presence of divine glory and teaches that true worship involves both adoration and holy fear, emphasizing God's sovereign power over life and death in maintaining His purity. In the New Testament, while Christ's sacrifice allows us to "draw near with confidence" (Heb 4:16, 10:19-22), the underlying principle of reverence and a holy lifestyle (Heb 12:14; 1 Pet 1:16) remains vital for those who now approach God through the High Priest, Jesus Christ.