Leviticus 20:26 - Understanding Being Set Apart by God

In Leviticus 20:26, the Lord declares, "Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine." This verse succinctly encapsulates the profound theological foundation for Israel's call to holiness. The Hebrew term for "holy" (qādôš) carries the connotation of being "set apart," indicating a distinct separation from that which is common or profane. The divine imperative for Israel to reflect the holiness of Yahweh is central to the covenant relationship established at Sinai.

This verse is part of the broader Levitical code, which is concerned with purity, morality, and the sacredness of life. The command to be holy is not merely an ethical exhortation but an ontological demand; Israel's identity is intricately bound to the very nature of God. The phrase "I have set you apart" employs the Hebrew term badal, which connotes God's deliberate and intentional act of separation. This divine act is not merely for Israel's benefit but for the manifestation of Yahweh's holiness to the nations (cf. Exod 19:5-6; Deut 7:6).

 The call to holiness, as reflected in this verse, echoes through the New Testament as well. The apostle Peter draws directly from Leviticus when he exhorts the believers, "But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Pet 1:15-16). Here, the Greek term for holy, hagios, resonates with the Hebrew qādôš, reinforcing the enduring continuity of God's demand for sanctity among His people. 

Moreover, the distinctiveness of Israel as a holy people is a recurring theme throughout the Torah. Deuteronomy 14:2 reiterates this: "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth." The notion of being am segullah, or a treasured possession, is inherently linked to Israel's status as a holy nation set apart for divine purposes.

Leviticus 20:26 also foreshadows the New Covenant established in Christ. In the New Testament, the church is not just called to embody this same holiness, but is expected to do so, as evidenced by Paul's exhortation in 2 Corinthians 6:17, "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," a direct reference to the Levitical call for separation from pagan practices. The ecclesiological identity of the church is thus deeply rooted in the holiness of God, as the people of God are called to reflect His nature in every aspect of life, underscoring the weight of this responsibility.

In essence, Leviticus 20:26 serves as a theological linchpin, emphasizing the intrinsic link between the holiness of God and the holiness required of His people. It is a call that transcends the bounds of the Old Covenant and finds fulfillment in the New Covenant, where the church is called to be holy, just as God is holy.