Leviticus 22:2

““Speak to Aaron and to his sons, that they keep themselves apart from the holy things of the sons of Israel, which they consecrate to me, and do not profane my holy name. I am YHWH.”

Leviticus 22:2 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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With the Hebrew beneath

2

Leviticus 22:2, word by word

“Speakדַּבֵּרdaber

speak

To speak, say something; above all God to his people.

Where else “daber” appears
to Aaronאַהֲרֹןaharon

Aaron

Aaron, the older brother of Moses, his spokesman before Pharaoh and the first high priest of Israel.

Where else “aharon” appears
and to his sonsבָּנָיbanay

son

The male born of a father and mother; in the plural, also sons and daughters.

Where else “banay” appears
that they keep themselves apartיִנָּזְרוּyinazru

separate

To keep at a distance from something, above all from what is holy or what turns one from God.

Where else “yinazru” appears
from the holy thingsקָּדְשֵׁיkadshe

holy thing

Something set apart for God: a day, an offering.

Where else “kadshe” appears
of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael

Israel

Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.

Where else “yisrael” appears
consecrateמַקְדִּשִׁיםmakdishim

consecrate

To set apart people, things or a day for God.

Where else “makdishim” appears
profaneיְחַלְּלוּyechallu

profane

To treat what is holy as common.

Where else “yechallu” appears
nameשֵׁםshem

name of YHWH

YHWH's name: himself, as he makes himself known.

Where else “shem” appears
am YHWHיְהוָהyehva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yehva” appears

Translation note

“Keeping themselves apart” from the holy things means not touching them or eating them while they are unclean (22:3-7).

The context

1And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying,

2 · This verse (above)

3Say to them: Throughout your generations, any man from among all your offspring who approaches the holy things that the sons of Israel consecrate to YHWH while his uncleanness is on him, that person shall be cut off from before me. I am YHWH.

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