What is the meaning of Leviticus 20:26?

You are to be holy to Me

- The call is personal: God says “to Me,” reminding Israel that holiness is first and foremost a matter of relationship, not ritual.

- Holiness means “set-apart-ness,” living distinctly in obedience to God’s revealed will (see Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15-16).

- Because Scripture is fully trustworthy, this command still stands for every believer who has been grafted into God’s people through Christ (Romans 11:17-24).

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because I, the LORD, am holy

- The standard is God Himself; His character defines holiness (1 Samuel 2:2; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).

- We imitate, we do not invent, holiness. The verse roots morality in the unchanging nature of the LORD, guaranteeing that the command is neither arbitrary nor negotiable.

- Knowing God’s holiness produces both awe and confidence: awe, because He is utterly pure; confidence, because His holiness secures the absolute justice and goodness of His commands.

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and I have set you apart from the nations

- Separation is God’s initiative. He rescued Israel from Egypt (Exodus 19:4-6) and declared them “a people holy to the LORD” (Deuteronomy 7:6-8).

- The phrase underscores mission, not superiority. Israel was to display God’s glory before the watching nations (Isaiah 42:6).

- For Christians, this truth is echoed in 2 Corinthians 6:17—“Come out from among them and be separate”—calling us to distinct living in every sphere: values, speech, ethics, relationships.

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to be My own

- “My own” speaks of covenant possession. God binds Himself to His people as Owner, Protector, and Provider (Jeremiah 31:33).

- The New Testament applies the same language to the church: Christ “gave Himself…to purify for Himself a people who are His very own” (Titus 2:14; see also 1 Peter 2:9).

- Belonging to God grants identity and purpose: we live for His pleasure, trusting His faithful care.

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summary

Leviticus 20:26 joins identity, command, and relationship. Because the LORD is holy, He calls His people to reflect His character. He Himself has separated and claimed them, empowering them to walk in distinct, obedient lives that showcase His glory before the world.