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Friday, September 12th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Read the Bible

Geneva Bible

1 Peter 1:16

Because it is written, Be yee holie, for I am holie.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Commandments;   God Continued...;   Holiness;   Quotations and Allusions;   Scofield Reference Index - Sanctification;   Thompson Chain Reference - Holiness;   The Topic Concordance - Favoritism;   God;   Holiness;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Conduct, Christian;   Example of Christ, the;   Holiness;   Holiness of God, the;   Scriptures, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Child;   Ethics;   Fear;   Holiness;   Inspiration;   Obedience;   Time;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christians, Names of;   Consecrate;   Holy, Holiness;   Law;   Marriage;   Moses;   Sanctification;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Holiness of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Leviticus;   Peter, the Epistles of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - God;   Sanctification;   1 Peter;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Peter, First Epistle of;   Peter, Second Epistle of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Holiness Purity;   Old Testament;   Peter Epistles of;   Sanctify, Sanctification;   Scripture;   Worship;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Sanctification;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Inspiration;   Peter, Simon;   Regeneration;  

Devotionals:

- Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life - Devotion for October 29;   Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for October 13;   Every Day Light - Devotion for April 23;   My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for September 1;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
King James Version (1611)
Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy.
King James Version
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
English Standard Version
since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
New American Standard Bible
because it is written: "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
New Century Version
It is written in the Scriptures: "You must be holy, because I am holy."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."
Berean Standard Bible
for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
Contemporary English Version
That's why the Scriptures say, "I am the holy God, and you must be holy too."
Complete Jewish Bible
since the Tanakh says, "You are to be holy because I am holy."
Darby Translation
because it is written, Be ye holy, for *I* am holy.
Easy-to-Read Version
In the Scriptures God says, "Be holy, because I am holy."
George Lamsa Translation
Because it is written, Be you holy, even as I am holy.
Good News Translation
The scripture says, "Be holy because I am holy."
Lexham English Bible
for it is written, "You will be holy, because I am holy."
Literal Translation
because it has been written, "Be holy," "because I am holy." Lev. 19:2
Amplified Bible
because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY (set apart), FOR I AM HOLY."
American Standard Version
because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.
Bible in Basic English
Because it has been said in the Writings, You are to be holy, for I am holy.
Hebrew Names Version
because it is written, "You shall be holy; for I am holy."
International Standard Version
For it is written, "You must be holy, because I am holy."Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 19:2">[fn]Leviticus 11:44; 19:2; 20:7;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
because it is written, Be ye holy, as I also am holy.
Murdock Translation
Because it is written: Be ye holy, even as I am holy.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Because it is written, be ye holy, for I am holy.
English Revised Version
because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.
World English Bible
because it is written, "You shall be holy; for I am holy."
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Weymouth's New Testament
Because it stands written, "You are to be holy, because I am holy."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
for it is writun, Ye schulen be hooli, for Y am hooli.
Update Bible Version
because it is written, You shall be holy; for I am holy.
Webster's Bible Translation
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
New English Translation
for it is written, " You shall be holy , because I am holy ."
New King James Version
because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." Leviticus 11:44, 45; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7">[fn]
New Living Translation
For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy."
New Life Bible
The Holy Writings say, "You must be holy, for I am holy."
New Revised Standard
for it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Inasmuch as it is written - Holy shall ye be, because, I, am holy.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Because it is written: You shall be holy, for I am holy.
Revised Standard Version
since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
because it is written. Be ye holy for I am holy.
Young's Literal Translation
because it hath been written, `Become ye holy, because I am holy;'
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
for it it wrytte: Be ye holy, for I am holy.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for it is written, "be ye holy, because I am holy."
Simplified Cowboy Version
Don't forget what the Good Book says, "Be holy because I am holy."

Contextual Overview

13 Wherefore, girde vp the Ioynes of your minde: bee sober, and trust perfectly on that grace that is brought vnto you, in the reuelation of Iesus Christ, 14 As obedient children, not fashioning your selues vnto the former lustes of your ignorance: 15 But as hee which hath called you, is holie, so be yee holie in all maner of conuersation; 16 Because it is written, Be yee holie, for I am holie. 17 And if ye call him Father, which without respect of person iudgeth according to euery mans woorke, passe the time of your dwelling here in feare, 18 Knowing that yee were not redeemed with corruptible things, as siluer and golde, from your vaine conuersation, receiued by the traditions of the fathers, 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lambe vndefiled, and without spot. 20 Which was ordeined before the foundation of the world, but was declared in the last times for your sakes, 21 Which by his meanes doe beleeue in God that raised him from the dead, and gaue him glorie, that your faith and hope might bee in God, 22 Hauing purified your soules in obeying the trueth through the spirite, to loue brotherly without faining, loue one another with a pure heart feruently,

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Leviticus 11:44, Leviticus 19:2, Leviticus 20:7, Amos 3:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 15:11 - glorious Exodus 19:6 - and an Exodus 20:26 - thy nakedness Exodus 22:31 - holy Exodus 28:36 - HOLINESS Leviticus 6:18 - every one Leviticus 20:26 - the Lord Numbers 15:40 - be holy Deuteronomy 10:12 - to walk Deuteronomy 14:21 - an holy 1 Samuel 2:2 - none holy Psalms 99:9 - for the Isaiah 5:16 - sanctified Habakkuk 1:13 - of Matthew 5:48 - ye Luke 6:36 - General Romans 3:10 - As it is 1 Corinthians 1:2 - called Ephesians 5:1 - followers 1 Thessalonians 2:12 - walk 2 Timothy 1:9 - called Hebrews 12:10 - partakers Hebrews 12:14 - and holiness 1 John 3:7 - even Revelation 15:4 - thou only

Cross-References

Genesis 1:7
Then God made the firmament, and separated the waters, which were vnder the firmament, from the waters which were aboue the firmament. and it was so.
Genesis 1:8
And God called the firmament Heauen. So the Euening and the morning were the seconde day.
Genesis 1:9
God saide againe, Let the waters vnder the heauen be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appeare. and it was so.
Genesis 1:12
And the earth brought foorth the bud of the herbe, that seedeth seede according to his kind, also the tree that beareth fruite, which hath his seede in it selfe according to his kinde: and God sawe that it was good.
Genesis 1:14
And God said, Let there be lightes in the firmament of the heauen, to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signes, and for seasons, and for dayes and yeeres.
Deuteronomy 4:19
And lest thou lift vp thine eyes vnto heauen, and when thou seest the sunne & the moone and the starres with all the host of heauen, shouldest bee driuen to worship them and serue them, which the Lord thy God hath distributed to all people vnder the whole heauen.
Job 31:26
If I did behold the sunne, when it shined, or the moone, walking in her brightnes,
Job 38:7
When the starres of the morning praysed me together, and all the children of God reioyced:
Psalms 8:3
When I beholde thine heauens, euen the workes of thy fingers, the moone and the starres which thou hast ordeined,
Psalms 19:6
His going out is from the ende of the heauen, and his compasse is vnto the endes of ye same, and none is hid from the heate thereof.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Because it is written,.... In Leviticus 11:44

be ye holy, for I am holy: an argument the apostle knew must have weight with these persons, who were chiefly Jews, scattered abroad among the Gentiles, and had a value for the Scriptures of truth; and therefore, as the argument for holiness of life, from the nature and perfections of God, is strong, it must receive additional strength from this being the declared will of God, even their sanctification on this account; and though holiness, equal to God, is never to be attained to by a creature, yet so far as it is capable of it, it is desirable, because agreeable both to the nature and will of God, by all such who are truly his children, who love his name, adore his perfections, give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness, fear his goodness, and obey his will.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy - Leviticus 11:44. This command was addressed at first to the Israelites, but it is with equal propriety addressed to Christians, as the professed people of God. The foundation of the command is, that they professed to be his people, and that as his people they ought to be like their God. Compare Micah 4:5. It is a great truth, that people everywhere will imitate the God whom they worship. They will form their character in accordance with his. They will regard what he does as right. They will attempt to rise no higher in virtue than the God whom they adore, and they will practice freely what he is supposed to do or approve. Hence, by knowing what are the characteristics of the gods which are worshipped by any people, we may form a correct estimate of the character of the people themselves; and, hence, as the God who is the object of the Christian’s worship is perfectly holy, the character of His worshipers should also be holy. And hence, also, we may see that the tendency of true religion is to make people pure. As the worship of the impure gods of the pagan moulds the character of the worshippers into their image, so the worship of Yahweh moulds the character of His professed friends into His image, and they become like him.


 
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