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Deuteronomy 33:2-4
And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right handwent a fiery law for them…

Isaiah 61:6
But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD:men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,which is your reasonable service.

and an

Leviticus 11:44,45
For Iam the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for Iam holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth…

Leviticus 19:2
Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your Godam holy.

Leviticus 20:24,26
But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: Iam the LORD your God, which have separated you fromother people…

and a holy nation.
The term "holy" means set apart for a special purpose. Israel was to be distinct from other nations in their worship, ethics, and community life. This holiness was not just ritualistic but encompassed moral and ethical behavior, as outlined in the laws given at Sinai. The idea of a "holy nation" is echoed in the New Testament, where the church is called to be holy (Ephesians 1:4). Geographically, the land of Canaan, promised to Israel, was strategically located at the crossroads of ancient civilizations, providing a platform for Israel to influence other nations through their distinct way of life.

These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
This directive to Moses emphasizes the importance of communication and leadership. Moses, as the mediator of the covenant, is tasked with conveying God's message accurately to the people. This reflects the prophetic role Moses held, foreshadowing the ultimate Prophet, Jesus Christ, who would perfectly reveal God's will to humanity (Deuteronomy 18:15-19). The historical context here is crucial; the Israelites had just been delivered from Egypt and were forming a new identity as God's covenant people. This message was foundational for their understanding of their relationship with God and their mission in the world.

This opening phrase centers everything on the LORD Himself. The covenant is not first about land, law, or blessing, but about belonging.

•Exodus 6:7 says, “I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God.” The same divine claim echoes here.

•Deuteronomy 7:6 affirms, “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be His treasured possession.”

• Relationship precedes responsibility. Because the Israelites are His, every following command carries the weight of personal devotion rather than mere duty.

God speaks a future-shaping promise that rests on His authority.

•Exodus 19:5 just one verse earlier lays the condition: “If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant…” The “shall be” flows out of covenant obedience, not human ambition.

•Genesis 17:7 shows this same pattern with Abraham: God establishes a covenant and then declares what Abraham “shall be.”

• The statement assures Israel of a divinely guaranteed identity; obedience is the means of experiencing what God has already declared.

Priests stand between God and people, offering worship and mediating blessing. God now intends that role for the whole nation, not merely the tribe of Levi.

•1 Peter 2:9 mirrors the language: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood…”—showing the promise’s ongoing relevance for believers in Christ.

•Revelation 1:6 says Jesus “has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father,” confirming the priest-king concept runs from Sinai to eternity.

Key implications:

– Constant access to God’s presence for every Israelite.

– A mission to display God’s character to surrounding nations (Isaiah 61:6).

– Service marked by sacrifice, intercession, and praise.

Holiness means set apart for God’s exclusive use.

•Leviticus 11:44: “Be holy, for I am holy.” The nation’s lifestyle must mirror God’s character.

•Deuteronomy 14:2 ties holiness to identity: “You have been set apart as holy to the LORD your God.”

•Ephesians 1:4 applies the same standard to the church: chosen “to be holy and blameless before Him.”

Practical outworking:

– Distinct ethics and worship practices (Leviticus 19).

– Visible separation from idolatry, injustice, and immorality (Joshua 24:23).

– Attractional witness so that “all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God” (1 Kings 8:60).

God instructs Moses to relay the message exactly, underscoring its authority and urgency.

•Exodus 19:3 shows Moses ascending the mountain to receive these very words.

•Exodus 24:3 records the people’s immediate response: “All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do.”

Takeaways:

– Divine revelation is precise; God’s servants do not edit or soften it.

– The message is communal. Every Israelite must hear and own the call.

– Obedience to the spoken word is the hinge between promise and fulfillment.

Exodus 19:6 unfolds a sweeping identity for God’s people: His personal possession, promised to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The verse links belonging (“unto Me”) with becoming (“you shall be”), showing that intimacy with God propels a life of priestly service and distinct holiness. Spoken through Moses, the call invites wholehearted obedience so that Israel—and all who share in this covenant promise through Christ—may reflect God’s glory to the world.

An holy nation.--It is not the duty of personal, but the privilege of official, holiness that is here intended. Each Israelite was to be as near to God, as fully entitled to approach Him, as the priests of other nations either were or thought themselves. Personal holiness was the natural and fitting outcome from this official holiness; but it is not here spoken of. God has, however, previously required it of Israel by the words "If ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant" (Exodus 19:5).