Bible Strands
Exodus 19:22
Even the priests who approach the LORD must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God speaks through Moses to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, following a warning that unauthorized approach to the mountain will cause death. The command extends even to the priests, who must consecrate themselves before drawing near.
The words — The Hebrew yit.ka.Da.shu (they will make themselves holy) and yif.Rotz (he should break out) frame the verse’s warning. The priests who draw near (ha./ni.ga.Shim) must actively consecrate themselves to prevent divine judgment.
The thread — This boundary requirement echoes in Exodus 19:14, where Moses consecrates the people and washes their clothes, and in Exodus 24:5, where selected young men offer sacrifices after being set apart. The same principle of mediated access appears in Exodus 19:5 and Exodus 19:21.
Why it lands — The text commands priests to consecrate themselves before approaching Yahweh, warning that failure to do so will provoke God to break out against them. It requires readers to recognize that divine presence demands prescribed preparation rather than casual assumption.
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
And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them.
Cross-references
- Exodus 24:5 Then he sent out some young men of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD.
- 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.
- Exodus 19:14 When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.
- Leviticus 10:1 Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command.
- 2 Samuel 6:6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled.
- 1 Chronicles 13:9 When they came to the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark, because the oxen had stumbled.
- 1 Chronicles 15:13 It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.”
- 2 Chronicles 30:3 since they had been unable to keep it at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves and the people had not been gathered in Jerusalem.
- 2 Chronicles 30:15 And on the fourteenth day of the second month they slaughtered the Passover lamb. The priests and Levites were ashamed, and they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 30:18 A large number of the people—many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun—had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah interceded for them, saying, “May the LORD, who is good, provide atonement for everyone