God expects careful obedience to His commands so His people avoid sin and honor His name.
They shall therefore keep My charge, so that they will not bear sin because of it and die thereby because they profane it; I am the LORD who sanctifies them. (v.9)
In Leviticus 22:9, the LORD addresses the priests who minister to Him in the tabernacle, emphasizing the need to carefully follow His commandments so that they do not become guilty of any offense and risk both physical and spiritual consequences. Since these priests perform sacred duties on behalf of the people, God requires a higher level of accountability, as indicated elsewhere in Scripture: “When it came to keeping God’s commandments, the Law of Moses held judges (Exodus 18:21) and priests (Leviticus 10:3; 22:9) to a higher standard”. To “profane” these holy works would undermine the reverence for God’s dwelling place, and the result could be severe judgment.
Here, the LORD highlights that He alone possesses the authority and ability to sanctify His people. He states, I am the LORD who sanctifies them (v.9). At the historical moment this command was given—around the time of Israel’s wilderness journey (circa 15th century BC)—the newly-formed Hebrew nation was learning to worship and to serve a holy God. By obeying these instructions, especially those given to the priests, Israel would experience God’s blessing rather than fall under sin’s penalty. The added responsibility for priests reflected their role as bridges between God and the people.
God’s charge to the priests in this verse can also remind believers today of our invitation to be spiritually set apart, or sanctified, through obedience (1 Peter 1:15). The holiness of God calls for sincere devotion, and a failure to uphold that dedication can bring harmful consequences not only to ourselves but to others who look to us as spiritual guides. To walk faithfully with the LORD is to acknowledge that He, and He alone, is the source of our righteousness and the one who cleanses us from all impurity.
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Leviticus 22:9 meaning
They shall therefore keep My charge, so that they will not bear sin because of it and die thereby because they profane it; I am the LORD who sanctifies them. (v.9)
In Leviticus 22:9, the LORD addresses the priests who minister to Him in the tabernacle, emphasizing the need to carefully follow His commandments so that they do not become guilty of any offense and risk both physical and spiritual consequences. Since these priests perform sacred duties on behalf of the people, God requires a higher level of accountability, as indicated elsewhere in Scripture: “When it came to keeping God’s commandments, the Law of Moses held judges (Exodus 18:21) and priests (Leviticus 10:3; 22:9) to a higher standard”. To “profane” these holy works would undermine the reverence for God’s dwelling place, and the result could be severe judgment.
Here, the LORD highlights that He alone possesses the authority and ability to sanctify His people. He states, I am the LORD who sanctifies them (v.9). At the historical moment this command was given—around the time of Israel’s wilderness journey (circa 15th century BC)—the newly-formed Hebrew nation was learning to worship and to serve a holy God. By obeying these instructions, especially those given to the priests, Israel would experience God’s blessing rather than fall under sin’s penalty. The added responsibility for priests reflected their role as bridges between God and the people.
God’s charge to the priests in this verse can also remind believers today of our invitation to be spiritually set apart, or sanctified, through obedience (1 Peter 1:15). The holiness of God calls for sincere devotion, and a failure to uphold that dedication can bring harmful consequences not only to ourselves but to others who look to us as spiritual guides. To walk faithfully with the LORD is to acknowledge that He, and He alone, is the source of our righteousness and the one who cleanses us from all impurity.