And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.

LEVITICUS 20:26KJV
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Leviticus 20:26 (KJV)

What does Leviticus 20:26 mean?

Leviticus 20:26 says that the Israelites are to be holy and set apart for God because God Himself is holy, and He has separated them from other nations to belong to Him. The verse emphasizes that their distinct identity and way of life come from God’s own character and His choice to make them His people.

In this verse, God is speaking to the people of Israel through Moses, instructing them about their special relationship with Him. The context is a series of laws and commands that distinguish Israel from surrounding nations, especially in moral and ritual matters. The verse highlights that their holiness is not just about following rules, but about reflecting God’s own holiness and being uniquely His.

The Hebrew behind Leviticus 20:26

  • holy (קָדוֹשׁ, qadosh): This word means “set apart” or “sacred.” In this verse, it describes both God and the people, showing that Israel’s distinctness is meant to mirror God’s own nature.
  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of God, used here to stress the relationship between God and Israel. It reminds the reader that the commands come from a personal, covenant-keeping God.
  • severed (בָּדַל, badal): This word means “to separate” or “to divide.” God is saying He has actively separated Israel from other nations, which underlines that their identity is a result of His deliberate action.
  • people (עַם, am): This word refers to a group bound together, often by kinship or covenant. Here, it highlights that Israel is not just a random group, but a people chosen to belong to God.

Why Leviticus 20:26 matters

  • Leviticus 20:26 clears up the idea that Israel’s holiness is self-generated; the verse shows it is rooted in God’s own holiness and His choice to set them apart.
  • The verse emphasizes that being “holy” is not just about moral purity, but about being distinct and belonging to God in a special way.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage by explaining why the Israelites are called to live differently from other nations—it is because of their unique relationship with God, not just for the sake of being different.

Where else these words appear

“severed” Hebrew H914 · used in 40 verses

  • Genesis 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
  • Numbers 16:9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?
  • Ezra 8:24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,

“holy” Hebrew H6918 · used in 106 verses

  • Exodus 19:6 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.
  • 2 Chronicles 35:3 And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon the son of David king of Israel did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders: serve now the LORD your God, and his people Israel,
  • Isaiah 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.