The Meaning of Exodus 19:22 Explained

Exodus 19:22

KJV: And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.

YLT: and also the priests who are coming nigh unto Jehovah do sanctify themselves, lest Jehovah break forth on them.'

Darby: And the priests also, who come near to Jehovah, shall hallow themselves, lest Jehovah break forth on them.

ASV: And let the priests also, that come near to Jehovah, sanctify themselves, lest Jehovah break forth upon them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And let the priests  also, which come near  to the LORD,  sanctify  themselves, lest the LORD  break forth  upon them. 

What does Exodus 19:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Exodus 19:16-25 - The People Warned Not To Approach The Mount
The holiness of God was taught in object lessons. The people must wash their garments, the mount must be fenced in, not a beast might graze upon the slopes, not a hand might touch the holy soil. Moses must twice descend to warn the people, Exodus 19:14; Exodus 19:21; Exodus 19:25. Only he and Aaron might ascend. All was done to convince the people of the vast distance that intervened between themselves and God. It was the awe engendered by such provisions, and which pervaded the ancient dispensation, that led Peter to cry, when the divine glory of Jesus smote upon him: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."
Dare to believe that beneath every cloud of soul-anguish, bereavement, and trial, you will find the burning love of God. Clouds and darkness may be round about Him, but faithfulness and truth, judgment and mercy are at the foundation of His throne. Listen to the voice that bids you enter the pavilion, and remember Hebrews 12:18, etc. [source]

Chapter Summary: Exodus 19

1  The people arrive at Sinai
3  God's message by Moses unto the people out of the mount
8  The people are prepared against the third day, for the giving of the law
12  The mountain must not be touched
16  The fearful presence of God upon the mount

What do the individual words in Exodus 19:22 mean?

And the priests who come near unto Yahweh let consecrate themselves lest break out against them Yahweh
וְגַ֧ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים הַנִּגָּשִׁ֥ים אֶל־ יְהוָ֖ה יִתְקַדָּ֑שׁוּ פֶּן־ יִפְרֹ֥ץ בָּהֶ֖ם יְהוָֽה

הַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים  the  priests 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
הַנִּגָּשִׁ֥ים  who  come  near 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: נָגַשׁ  
Sense: to draw near, approach.
אֶל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יִתְקַדָּ֑שׁוּ  let  consecrate  themselves 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָדַשׁ  
Sense: to consecrate, sanctify, prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.
פֶּן־  lest 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: פֶּן  
Sense: lest, not, beware lest adv.
יִפְרֹ֥ץ  break  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּרַץ  
Sense: to break through or down or over, burst, breach.
בָּהֶ֖ם  against  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.