Exodus 19:6
in Exodus 19And 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.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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
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.
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This verse in Exodus 19
Commentary
12 notes on this verseHow indeed but in his body did Christ expiate the sins of the people? In what did he suffer, save in his body—even as we said: "Christ having suffered in the flesh"? In what is he a priest, save in that which he took unto himself the vocation of a priestly nation?
This site's exposition
a kingdom of priests and a holy nation
The phrases a kingdom of priests and a holy nation occur here first in Scripture. They are said of the whole people at a time when Israel has no priesthood at all.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
A commentator
Ambrose of MilanExposition of the Christian Faith 3.11.86 · Written before 397.
proposed
How indeed but in his body did Christ expiate the sins of the people? In what did he suffer, save in his body—even as we said: "Christ having suffered in the flesh"? In what is he a priest, save in that which he took unto himself the vocation of a priestly nation?
The Medieval Church1 voice
The apostle Peter now rightly gives to the Gentiles this attestation of praise which formerly was given by Moses to the ancient people of God, because they believed in Christ, who like a cornerstone brought the Gentiles into that salvation which Israel had had for …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
When they were first made a free people it was that they might sacrifice to the Lord their God, as priests; they were under God's immediate government, and the tendency of the laws given them was to distinguish them from others, and engage them for God as a holy nation. Thus all believers are, through Christ, made to our God kings and priests ( Rev. i.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests,....
He does not specify any one particular favour, as giving them the land of Canaan, or the like, but expresses it in that which was inclusive of all happiness, that he would be to them a God in covenant, and they should be to him a people. [1.] God here asserts his sovereignty over, and propriety in, the whole visible creation: All the earth is mine.
5 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
In thus negotiating between God and His people, the highest post of duty which any mortal man was ever called to occupy, Moses was still but a servant. The only Mediator is Jesus Christ [1Ti 2:5;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-brackets
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests--As the priestly order was set apart from the common mass, so the Israelites, compared with other people, were to sustain the same near relation to God; a community of spiritual sovreigns. an holy nation--set apart to preserve the knowledge and worship of God.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
And a holy nation - They should be a nation, one people; firmly united among themselves, living under their own laws; and powerful, because united, and acting under the direction and blessing of God. They should be a holy nation, saved from their sins, righteous in their conduct, holy in their hearts; every external rite being not only a significant ceremony, but also a means of conveying light and life, grace and peace, to every person who conscientiously used it.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
A kingdom of priests - Israel collectively is a royal and priestly race: a dynasty of priests, each true member uniting in himself the attributes of a king and priest. Compare 1Pe 2:5; Rev 1:6. An holy nation - The holiness of Israel consisted in its special consecration to God: it was a sacred nation, sacred by adoption, by covenant, and by participation in all means of grace. Compare Deu 7:6; Deu 26:19; Deu 28:9; 1Co 3:17; 1Th 5:27.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
A kingdom of priests - Israel collectively is a royal and priestly race: a dynasty of priests, each true member uniting in himself the attributes of a king and priest. Compare 1Pe 2:5; Rev 1:6. An holy nation - The holiness of Israel consisted in its special consecration to God: it was a sacred nation, sacred by adoption, by covenant, and by participation in all means of grace. Compare Deu 7:6; Deu 26:19; Deu 28:9; 1Co 3:17; 1Th 5:27.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאַתֶּ֧ם | veatem | and you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| תִּהְיוּ־ | tihyu- | you will be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| לִ֛י | li | for <the> me | ||
| מַמְלֶ֥כֶת | mamlekhet | a kingdom of | H4467 → | |
| כֹּהֲנִ֖ים | kohanim | priests | H3548 → | 750 times |
| וְג֣וֹי | vegoy | and a nation | H1471 → | 561 times |
| קָד֑וֹשׁ | kadoosh | holy | H6918 → | |
| אֵ֚לֶּה | ʾeleh | these | H428 → | 746 times |
| הַדְּבָרִ֔ים | hadevarim | [are] the words | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֥ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| תְּדַבֵּ֖ר | tedaber | you will speak | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | to | H413 → | 5510 times |
| בְּנֵ֥י | benei | [the] people of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
וְאַתֶּ֧םand you
veatemH859 →1094 times
תִּהְיוּ־you will be
tihyu-H1961 →3559 times
לִ֛יfor <the> me
li
מַמְלֶ֥כֶתa kingdom of
mamlekhetH4467 →
כֹּהֲנִ֖יםpriests
kohanimH3548 →750 times
וְג֣וֹיand a nation
vegoyH1471 →561 times
קָד֑וֹשׁholy
kadooshH6918 →
אֵ֚לֶּהthese
ʾelehH428 →746 times
הַדְּבָרִ֔ים[are] the words
hadevarimH1697 →1440 times
אֲשֶׁ֥רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
תְּדַבֵּ֖רyou will speak
tedaberH1696 →1141 times
אֶל־to
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
בְּנֵ֥י[the] people of
beneiH1121 →4930 times
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Israel
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 2:9But 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.
it leads to
- Exodus 19:5–6
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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 5:10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 1:6
who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 61:6
But you will be called the priests of the LORD; they will speak of you as ministers of our God; you will feed on the wealth of nations, and you will boast in their…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 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…
- Exodus 19:5–6
Through
1 Peter 2:5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
it leads to
- 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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 2:20–22
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
- 1 Peter 2:9
Through
Revelation 1:6who has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.
it leads to
- Revelation 20:6
Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 20:6
Where this verse is studied
By subject
Holiness35 verses
Kingdom of God35 verses
On this page
Studies16
On this chapter
About Exodus
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, Exposition of the Christian Faith 3.11.86; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles, 1 Peter 2:9; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on the Four Last Books of Moses Arranged in the Form of a Harmony; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.