Leviticus 20 7

Leviticus 20:7 kjv

Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 20:7 nkjv

Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 20:7 niv

"?'Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 20:7 esv

Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 20:7 nlt

So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the LORD your God.

Leviticus 20 verses

Leviticus 20 7 Meaning

Leviticus 20:7 is a foundational divine command instructing the people of Israel to actively set themselves apart for God and to maintain a state of moral and ritual purity. This imperative is grounded in the absolute holiness of God Himself and His unique covenant relationship as their Lord and God. It calls for intentional separation from all defiling practices condemned in the surrounding chapters, emphasizing that the very nature of their God demands a holy and dedicated lifestyle from His chosen people.

Leviticus 20 7 Context

Leviticus 20 initiates a specific catalog of various moral transgressions, primarily related to sexual impropriety and abhorrent pagan practices, that were to be severely punished, often by death or expulsion from the community. Verse 7, "Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God," serves as the overarching theological framework and divine motivation for the prohibitions that follow. It emphasizes that Israel's very identity and relationship with God necessitate a radical separation from the defiling sins of the surrounding nations. The chapter's immediate context includes laws against offering children to Molech, consulting mediums and spiritists, and various forms of incest, adultery, and bestiality—all practices common in the pagan cultures (like Canaanite worship) from which Israel was to be distinctly different. The command to be holy, therefore, acts as a crucial ethical principle, clarifying the "why" behind these strict moral codes, as these actions were fundamentally opposed to the holy nature of their covenant God.

Leviticus 20 7 Word analysis

• Consecrate yourselves (וְהִתְקַדִּשְׁתֶּם, wəhitqaddištɛm):

  • This is from the Hebrew root q-d-š (קדש), meaning "to be holy, set apart, sacred."
  • The Hithpael verbal stem signifies a reflexive action, "to make oneself holy" or "to set oneself apart." It denotes a deliberate, conscious act of separation from what is common, profane, or impure, and a dedication of oneself specifically to God.
  • This requires internal purification and intentional choices by the individual, moving beyond mere external ritual.
  • It speaks to the active role Israel must take in pursuing their dedicated status.

• and be holy (וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים, wihyitem qədošim):

  • Again from the root q-d-š (קדש). The phrase uses the verb "to be" (hayah) in the Qal imperfect/jussive sense, coupled with the adjective qədošim (plural for holy ones).
  • This phrase indicates the desired state or condition that results from the act of consecration. It's not just an action, but a transformed being.
  • It means reflecting God's unique moral purity, distinction, and separation from sin.
  • It highlights that God desires His people to become intrinsically holy, not just perform holy acts.

• for (כִּי, ki):

  • This conjunction serves as a causal or explanatory connector. It introduces the foundational reason or motivation for the preceding commands.
  • It underlines that Israel's required holiness is not arbitrary, but deeply rooted in divine reality.

• I am the LORD (אֲנִי יְהוָה, ’ani YHVH):

  • A profound divine self-declaration. "I am" (ani) emphasizes God's unique identity and existence.
  • "the LORD" (YHVH, often vocalized as Yahweh) is the sacred, personal covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent, faithful, and omnipotent nature. It signifies His unchanging character and His authority over creation and humanity.
  • This declaration establishes God as the supreme authority and the source of all holiness.

• your God (אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, ’Eloheikhem):

  • This emphasizes the exclusive covenant relationship between YHVH and Israel.
  • The suffix "-your" personalizes the relationship, implying both God's claim on them as His possession and His faithful commitment to them.
  • This unique relationship inherently obligates Israel to live in a manner consistent with their holy God.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Consecrate yourselves... and be holy": This paired command conveys the active pursuit (consecrate) and the achieved state (be holy). It is a call to a deliberate, internal separation leading to a transformed character that reflects God's holiness in every aspect of life. It implies both ceremonial and moral purification, leading to spiritual dedication.
  • "for I am the LORD your God": This powerful phrase provides the non-negotiable theological basis for Israel's ethical and moral responsibilities. God's character and His covenant relationship are the ultimate warrant for the demand for holiness. It declares His supreme sovereignty and intimate involvement with His people, demanding a response of consecrated living.

Leviticus 20 7 Bonus section

The Hebrew concept of holiness (qadosh) is richer than mere moral purity; it primarily signifies "separateness" or "otherness." God is holy because He is utterly separate from His creation in His majesty and separate from all sin and imperfection in His character. When His people are called to be holy, it means they are to be set apart for His exclusive use and to reflect His distinct moral character in their lives, thus differentiating themselves sharply from the surrounding pagan cultures. This principle establishes a powerful polemic against syncretism—the blending of worship of God with the idolatrous practices of other nations. The meticulous laws in Leviticus served as a living boundary, visibly manifesting Israel's call to be uniquely God's own, not merely culturally similar to their neighbors. This Old Testament truth is foundational for the New Testament believer's sanctification, which is a continuous process of being conformed to the image of Christ and set apart for God's purposes through the work of the Holy Spirit. Without this foundational understanding of God's holiness as the source and standard, the rigorous demands of Leviticus lose their profound theological meaning and appear merely as arbitrary rules.

Leviticus 20 7 Commentary

Leviticus 20:7 serves as a concise, yet profound, summation of the holiness code embedded throughout the book of Leviticus and indeed the entire Law. The dual command to "consecrate yourselves" and "be holy" illustrates that holiness is both an active choice and a continuous state of being. It's not merely about external conformity but an internal disposition of the heart that leads to a separation from all that is common, defiling, or profane, dedicating oneself wholly to God. This call to actively make oneself holy necessitates purification from all the morally reprehensible and pagan practices outlined immediately before and after this verse (e.g., child sacrifice, incest, divination), which fundamentally desecrated the community and the land.

The ultimate and compelling reason for this stringent demand is encapsulated in the concluding phrase: "for I am the LORD your God." This declaration identifies the basis for holiness as the very nature and character of the One who commands it. YHVH, the covenant God of Israel, is intrinsically and supremely holy, set apart from all sin and defilement. Therefore, for His people to bear His name and be in covenant with Him, they must reflect His holiness. Their ethical conduct, their ritual purity, and their moral choices are all a direct reflection of who their God is. This principle extends beyond ancient Israel to all who call upon God's name, demanding a life set apart and transformed in conformity to His righteous nature, by His grace and Spirit.

• Example for Practical Usage:
  • Consider dedicating your time or resources previously used for selfish pursuits to ministry or service, consciously choosing to "consecrate yourself."
  • Strive to live with integrity in private moments, remembering that even unseen actions affect your "holiness" before God.
  • Consciously separate from worldly entertainment or conversations that dishonor God, thereby "being holy" in your interactions and choices.