Bible Strands
Deuteronomy 28:9
The LORD will establish you as His holy people, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses Israel on the plains of Moab, at the close of the blessing section of the covenant, immediately after material blessings (v. 8) and immediately before the nations' response (v. 10).
The words — qadosh (קָד֔וֹשׁ) carries the sense of "set apart," a separation that is relational rather than merely moral; yeqîmêkha (יְקִימְ/ךָ) means "he will establish you," implying a firm, enduring standing rather than a temporary designation.
The thread — The same formula—obedience producing the status of holy people—appears in Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 7:6, and Deuteronomy 26:18, where "treasured possession" and "holy" are paired as covenant outcomes.
Why it lands — The verse makes holiness a conferred standing, not an innate trait, and ties it to the concrete act of keeping commandments and walking in His ways; the reader is asked to see that "holy" here names a relationship sustained by fidelity, not a moral category achieved in isolation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.
Cross-references
- Exodus 19:5 Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine.
- Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.
- Deuteronomy 26:18 And today the LORD has proclaimed that you are His people and treasured possession as He promised, that you are to keep all His commandments,
- Deuteronomy 13:17 Nothing devoted to destruction shall cling to your hands, so that the LORD will turn from His fierce anger, grant you mercy, show you compassion, and multiply you as He swore to your fathers,
- Titus 2:14 He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
- 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Isaiah 62:12 And they will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of The LORD; and you will be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.
- 1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.
- Deuteronomy 29:12 so that you may enter into the covenant of the LORD your God, which He is making with you today, and into His oath,
- Psalms 87:5 And it will be said of Zion: “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.”