Exodus 19:6 kjv
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Exodus 19:6 nkjv
And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel."
Exodus 19:6 niv
you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."
Exodus 19:6 esv
and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."
Exodus 19:6 nlt
And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.' This is the message you must give to the people of Israel."
Exodus 19 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 19:5 | "Now therefore, if you will obey My voice indeed... then you shall be..." | Shows the conditional nature of the covenant promises. |
| Lev 11:44 | "For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy..." | God's command for holiness directly flows from His own nature. |
| Lev 19:2 | "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy." | Reinforces the collective call to holiness for the entire nation. |
| Deut 7:6 | "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself..." | Reaffirms Israel's chosen status as a holy people set apart by God. |
| Deut 14:2 | "For thou art a holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee..." | Emphasizes God's choice and their consecrated status. |
| Deut 26:18-19 | "And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people... and to make thee high above all nations..." | Describes Israel as God's treasured possession, destined for glory among nations. |
| Isa 43:21 | "This people have I formed for Myself; they shall show forth My praise." | Articulates Israel's purpose: to display God's praise. |
| Isa 60:3 | "And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising." | Israel's light draws other nations, fulfilling their priestly role. |
| Isa 61:6 | "But you shall be named the priests of the LORD; people shall call you the ministers of our God..." | Prophesies a future re-establishment of Israel's priestly role. |
| Zech 8:20-23 | "Thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Many peoples and strong nations shall come... and twenty men shall grasp the cloak of a Jew..." | Depicts Gentiles seeking God through Israel, recognizing their unique standing. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices..." | Applies the concept of "holy priesthood" to New Covenant believers (the Church). |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people..." | Directly applies Ex 19:6 titles to the New Covenant Church, highlighting fulfillment. |
| Rev 1:6 | "and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father..." | Christ makes believers "kings and priests," fulfilling the Old Covenant ideal. |
| Rev 5:10 | "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." | Reiterates the redeemed as "kings and priests," extending their reign. |
| Rev 20:6 | "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ..." | Confirms the priestly status of believers in the eternal reign. |
| Rom 12:1-2 | "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God..." | Describes the spiritual sacrifices of believers as a priestly act. |
| Heb 13:15-16 | "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God... to do good and to share..." | Explains spiritual sacrifices as acts of praise and service for New Covenant believers. |
| Gen 12:3 | "and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." | The foundational promise that Israel's calling has a universal redemptive purpose. |
| Isa 49:6 | "I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." | Reiterates Israel's role as a light and source of salvation for all nations. |
| Jer 31:33 | "But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel... I will be their God, and they shall be My people." | The New Covenant deepens the relationship, enabling better fulfillment. |
| Hos 4:6 | "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me..." | A warning highlighting Israel's failure to maintain its priestly role due to unfaithfulness. |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth..." | Describes the instructional duty of priests, which the nation was corporately to fulfill. |
Exodus 19 verses
Exodus 19 6 Meaning
Exodus 19:6 defines Israel's unique corporate identity and divine mission within God's covenant. If they faithfully obey His voice and keep His covenant (v. 5), they shall be "a kingdom of priests" and "a holy nation." This signifies that the entire nation is set apart to represent God to the world, mediating His presence, truth, and blessings, while living distinctly in accordance with His holy character. Their purpose is not for their own sake alone but for God's glory among all nations.
Exodus 19 6 Context
Exodus 19:6 is set at the foot of Mount Sinai, approximately three months after the Israelites' miraculous exodus from Egypt. God has just demonstrated His power and faithfulness through their deliverance and provision. Moses has ascended the mountain, and God, through Moses, reminds the people of His great works (v. 4), establishing the basis for His covenant proposal. The preceding verse (19:5) clearly articulates the condition ("Now therefore, if you will obey My voice indeed and keep My covenant..."), making the promises of verse 6 entirely conditional upon Israel's obedience. This momentous declaration precedes the giving of the Ten Commandments and the Mosaic Law, defining Israel's identity and mission within God's global redemptive plan. It portrays Israel not as a self-serving nation, but as a consecrated people destined for unique service and witness to the world, distinct from the surrounding pagan cultures with their limited, often corrupt, religious systems. This verse sets the stage for the entire Mosaic covenant, explaining why God is giving them the Law: to empower them to live out this high calling.
Exodus 19 6 Word analysis
- you (אַתֶּם - attem): Plural pronoun. Emphasizes the collective nature of this declaration, signifying that this calling applies to the entire nation of Israel, not just a specific priestly class.
- shall be (תִּהְיוּ - tihyu): Future tense, conditional verb. This indicates a state they will enter and continue to be, dependent on their obedience as stated in the preceding verse.
- to Me (לִי - li): A possessive particle that highlights the unique dedication and belonging of Israel directly to God. They are for Him, under His authority and for His specific purposes.
- a kingdom (מַמְלָכָה - mamlakha): Transliteration: mamlekhet. Meaning: "kingdom," "royalty," "dominion." It denotes not merely a territory ruled by a king, but a people or domain where God's kingship is directly manifest and supreme. Israel is envisioned as God's personal realm, functioning under His direct sovereign rule and representing His reign on earth.
- of priests (כֹּהֲנִים - kohanim): Transliteration: kohanim. Meaning: "priests," "mediators," "those who draw near." In the Ancient Near East, priests typically mediated between humans and deities, performing rituals, offering sacrifices, and conveying divine will. Here, the extraordinary declaration is that the entire nation is to embody this mediatorial function. Their collective role is to bring humanity (the other nations) to God and to represent God to humanity, demonstrating His character and truth to the world, rather than exclusively a limited Aaronic priesthood for internal rituals.
- and a holy (וְגוֹי קָדוֹשׁ - ve'goy qadosh):
- nation (גּוֹי - goy): Transliteration: goy. Meaning: "nation," "people." While goyim (plural) often refers to non-Israelite nations (Gentiles), here it's used to positively define Israel's unique identity among all the other peoples of the earth. They are a distinct people chosen for a divine purpose.
- holy (קָדוֹשׁ - qadosh): Transliteration: qadosh. Meaning: "set apart," "consecrated," "sacred," "distinct," "pure." It implies separation from common or profane things and dedication solely to God. This holiness is both a gift (God declares them holy by choosing them) and a demand (they must live in a way that reflects God's character and separate themselves from pagan practices). This holiness would be a stark contrast (a polemic) to the defilement and idolatry of surrounding nations.
Words-group analysis:
- "a kingdom of priests": This is a powerful paradox and a profound redefinition of "priesthood." It means that the entire nation is God's direct governmental sphere (a "kingdom" directly under God's kingship) and simultaneously charged with the responsibility of being spiritual mediators for the world. They are to manifest God's rule and offer access to Him for other nations. This transcends mere cultic rituals; it speaks to their very corporate existence as a channel of divine truth and grace.
- "and a holy nation": This phrase underscores their unique, consecrated identity. They are to be morally and spiritually distinct from all other peoples, living according to God's standards. This separation is not for isolation but for witness; their distinctive character (their "holiness") is meant to draw the attention of the world to the One True God. This holistic holiness applies to all aspects of life, not just religious ceremonies.
Exodus 19 6 Bonus section
- The covenant described in Exodus 19, particularly verse 6, established a theological framework for Israel's entire national existence. The subsequent giving of the Law (Torah) was intended as the blueprint for how Israel could actually live out this calling as a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The laws pertaining to clean/unclean, Sabbath, feasts, and justice all served to distinguish them and enable their role.
- This concept serves as a clear polemic against the existing Ancient Near Eastern priestly systems. While other nations had specialized priesthoods often intertwined with polytheistic rituals and royal power, Israel's call was for the entire nation to embody this corporate priesthood under the sole, direct kingship of Yahweh. It elevated the people as a whole to a level of intimate relationship and responsibility with God not seen elsewhere.
- The conditional nature, "if you obey My voice indeed," highlighted in Exodus 19:5, is paramount. Israel's status and the realization of this high calling were dependent upon their covenant faithfulness. Their later history, marked by disobedience and exile, illustrates their failure to fully embody this ideal under the Old Covenant, paving the way for the need for a New Covenant and a deeper, more profound enabling grace.
- The priestly role for Israel wasn't limited to specific ritual functions; it included bearing witness to God's justice, truth, and love to surrounding nations through their very existence as a consecrated people living under God's righteous rule.
Exodus 19 6 Commentary
Exodus 19:6 encapsulates the ambitious and weighty mandate God bestows upon Israel at Sinai. It goes beyond merely being saved from slavery; they are called to a high and purposeful existence. "A kingdom of priests" implies a regal responsibility to manifest God's direct rule (He is their King) and a mediatorial duty to stand between God and humanity. They are not to be a nation served by priests, but a nation that is priestly in its entirety. This meant representing God to the world through their obedience, laws, and very way of life, and in turn, bringing the world before God in worship and intercession. The second phrase, "a holy nation," emphasizes their collective spiritual and moral distinctiveness. This separation (holiness) was to be reflected in their conduct, rituals, and justice, marking them as consecrated solely to God's purposes. Their lives were to serve as a beacon, illustrating God's character and truth in a world rife with idolatry and immorality. While ancient Israel often fell short of this ideal, failing to consistently embody their priestly and holy calling, this divine vision remained their foundational purpose. Ultimately, this magnificent calling finds its true fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest and King, and in the New Covenant Church, who are called a "royal priesthood" and a "holy nation" (1 Pet 2:9), extending the same mission of representing God to the world and drawing all people to Him through their lives and witness.