Exodus 19:6 - Printer Friendly

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."

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."

NASB: and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.'

CSB: and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites."

NLT: And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.'

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.

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.”

God is relaying a message for Israel through Moses (Exodus 19:3). The Lord's incredible miracles (Exodus 3:19–20; 14:21–28; 16:14–16) prove His love for the people (Exodus 19:4). Based on that love, God intends to establish a unique covenant with the nation of Israel. Their part of the covenant is obedience, and in return God will treat them with special care (Exodus 19:5). Most of the rest of the book of Exodus contains details about what God wants Israel to do. Moses will provide stark warnings about obedience versus disobedience later (Deuteronomy 30:15–18).

Obedience to God's law would set Israel apart from other nations. That is the basic definition of "holiness:" a unique separation or difference. Israel's status as God's chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2) will also make the entire nation "priests." In typical definitions, "priests" have special access to a deity. Israel will be an entire nation of people with a unique closeness to the Lord. Of course, Israel will still have literal priests (Exodus 28:1; Numbers 8:15). Here, the idea is meant to highlight the closeness which God offers to His people. In the New Testament, this idea will be applied to Christian believers since they have the ultimate personal contact with the Lord (1 Peter 2:9).

Exodus 19:1–15 records God's instructions to Israel at the base of Mount Sinai, also referred to as "the mountain of God" or Horeb. The Lord tells Israel He is going to make them a special nation; this means establishing a covenant with the people. God will meet with Moses only. No man, woman, or animal may otherwise touch the mountain where God comes down.

God instructs the Israelites to prepare for His arrival on Mount Sinai in Horeb. They are to be clean and careful not to come onto the mountain itself. When God appears, He arrives amidst smoke, fire, lightning, earthquakes, and noise. Moses travels to the mountaintop and back, relaying messages about God's will. The first and most important of these are the fundamental principles of Old Testament law: the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–21).

Prior chapters in the book of Exodus described Israel's history after Jacob and his family settled there (Genesis 46:27; 47:10). God used Moses to deliver divine messages and as a conduit for miraculous power. Once Israel was freed (Exodus 12:40–41), the Lord continued to care for them (Exodus 15:22–25; 16:13–15; 17:6, 8–13). In this chapter, Israel prepares to receive God's Law at Mount Sinai. Almost the entire rest of the book (Exodus 20—40) are details about these commands.

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.