“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.”
My Notes
What Does Exodus 19:6 Mean?
"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." Before giving the law at Sinai, God declares Israel's identity: a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. This isn't a command to obey — it's a declaration of who they are. Every Israelite, not just the Levites, is a priest. The entire nation, not just the temple, is holy. This democratizes access to God in a way that was revolutionary in the ancient world.
Peter applies this directly to the church (1 Peter 2:9: "a royal priesthood, an holy nation"), extending the priesthood of all believers beyond Israel to all who follow Christ. The vision is of a people whose entire existence — not just their worship — mediates God's presence to the world.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does it mean practically for your daily life that you're a priest — not just a believer?
- 2.How does the 'priesthood of all believers' challenge the idea that only religious professionals have direct access to God?
- 3.What are you mediating to the people around you — God's presence, or something else?
- 4.How would your view of your ordinary work change if you saw it as priestly service?
Devotional
A kingdom of priests. Not a kingdom with priests. A kingdom that IS priests. Every person. Every tribe. Every family. The whole nation functioning as mediators between God and the world.
This is God's vision for his people, and it was radical in every direction. In Egypt, priests were an elite class. In Canaan, priests controlled access to the gods. But God says: you're all priests. Every last one of you. The shepherd and the seamstress and the farmer and the mother — all priests. All holy. All with direct access to me.
The implications are staggering. If you're a priest, you don't need someone else to approach God on your behalf. You can go yourself. If you're a holy nation, holiness isn't reserved for religious professionals. It's the calling of the entire community. The waitress and the CEO, the student and the retiree — all priests. All holy. All mediating God's presence to the world through their ordinary, daily lives.
Peter picks this up and applies it to the church: you are a royal priesthood, a holy nation. Not will be. Are. Right now, in your current job, your current season, your current mess — you are a priest. You carry God's presence. You mediate his reality. Not through religious ritual, but through how you live, love, and serve.
Your life is your priesthood. What are you mediating?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests,.... Instead of being in a state of servitude and bondage, as they had been…
A kingdom of priests - Israel collectively is a royal and priestly race: a dynasty of priests, each true member uniting…
And a holy nation - They should be a nation, one people; firmly united among themselves, living under their own laws;…
Here is, I. The date of that great charter by which Israel was incorporated. 1. The time when it bears date (Exo 19:1) -…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture