Page "Book of Leviticus" Paragraph 66

The consistent theme of chapters 17 – 26 is the repeated phrase, " Be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

" Holiness in ancient Israel was not the same thing it is to us: it might be regarded as the " god-ness " of God, an invisible but physical and potentially dangerous force.

Specific objects or even days can be holy, but they derive holiness from being connected with God — the seventh day, the tabernacle, and the priests all derive their holiness from God.

As a result, Israel had to maintain its own holiness in order to live safely alongside God.