Exodus 19:6

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

and you will be a kingdom of cohanim for me, a nation set apart.'These are the words you are to speak to the people of Isra'el."

Berean Standard Bible:

And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”

American Standard Version:

and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And ye shall be unto me a kingdom^{H4467} of priests^{H3548}, and an holy^{H6918} nation^{H1471}. These are the words^{H1697} which thou shalt speak^{H1696} unto the children^{H1121} of Israel^{H3478}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Exodus 19:6

Exodus 19:6 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of the Israelites, as it encapsulates God's intentions for His chosen people following their exodus from Egypt. The verse is part of the broader account where the Israelites, led by Moses, have arrived at Mount Sinai. This moment marks a significant transition in their journey from slavery to nationhood.

In this verse, God is speaking to Moses, instructing him to convey a powerful message to the Israelites. The phrase "a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation" denotes a unique collective identity and purpose for the Israelites. God is designating them as a people set apart, with a special role as mediators between Himself and the rest of humanity. The notion of a "kingdom of priests" suggests that every member of the community has a sacred role, blurring the lines between clergy and laity, and emphasizing communal responsibility in religious matters. The idea of being "holy" implies a state of being set apart or consecrated, which requires adherence to a higher moral and ritual standard as outlined in the covenant God is about to establish with them through the giving of the Law, including the Ten Commandments.

Historically, this verse reflects the establishment of the Mosaic Covenant, which is foundational to Jewish identity and religious practice. It underscores the conditional nature of God's favor, contingent upon the Israelites' obedience to His commandments. The concept of a holy nation also prefigures the Christian idea of the "priesthood of all believers," which is a theme that is later expounded upon in the New Testament (1 Peter 2:9).

In summary, Exodus 19:6 is a declaration of divine calling and purpose for the Israelites, setting them apart as God's chosen people with a unique mission to represent Him to the world, and it serves as a cornerstone for the development of both Jewish and Christian theology regarding the role and responsibility of the faithful.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H4467
   There are 113 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַמְלָכָה
   Transliteration: mamlâkâh
   Pronunciation: mam-law-kaw'
   Description: from מָלַךְ; dominion, i.e. (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm); kingdom, king's, reign, royal.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3548
   There are 653 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כֹּהֵן
   Transliteration: kôhên
   Pronunciation: ko-hane'
   Description: active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6918
   There are 106 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָדוֹשׁ
   Transliteration: qâdôwsh
   Pronunciation: kaw-doshe'
   Description: or קָדֹשׁ; from קָדַשׁ; sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary; holy (One), saint.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1471
   There are 511 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גּוֹי
   Transliteration: gôwy
   Pronunciation: go'-ee
   Description: rarely (shortened) גֹּי; apparently from the same root as גֵּוָה (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts; Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1697
   There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבָר
   Transliteration: dâbâr
   Pronunciation: daw-baw'
   Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.
   
6. Strong's Number: H1696
   There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָבַר
   Transliteration: dâbar
   Pronunciation: daw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work.
   
7. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3478
   There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.