📖 Biblical Definition
YHWH-Mekaddishkem (יְהוָה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם) — "the LORD that doth sanctify you" — is the covenant name God speaks of Himself in the Mosaic law: "And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you" (Leviticus 20:8; cf. 22:32; Exodus 31:13). The setting-apart of Israel as God’s holy nation is His own active work — not their achievement. He chose them; He covenanted with them; He sanctifies them. The doctrine carries into the New Covenant: "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all... For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:10, 14). Sanctification is YHWH’s name and YHWH’s work.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
The LORD Who Sanctifies — God's active setting-apart of His people.
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The compound covenant name God speaks of Himself repeatedly in Mosaic law (Exod 31:13; Lev 20:8; 21:8): "I am the LORD that doth sanctify you." Israel's set-apartness is YHWH's own active work, not their achievement. Anticipates the new covenant's clearer revelation that Christ sanctifies His people through His own offering.
📖 Key Scripture
Exodus 31:13 — "Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you."
Leviticus 20:8 — "And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you."
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 — "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly... Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Sanctification frequently mis-attributed to the saint as primary actor; YHWH-Mekaddishkem names the actual primary Sanctifier.
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Sermons regularly load sanctification onto the saint as primary work. The covenant name names the actual order: YHWH is Mekaddishkem — the Sanctifier — of you. The saint's part is response, cooperation, yielding; the primary verb is His.
Recover the order: He sanctifies; we are sanctified. The verb of the new covenant matches the verb of the old: "the very God of peace sanctify you wholly."
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Yahweh + qadash (sanctify) + 2nd person plural suffix.
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['Hebrew', 'H3068', 'Yahweh', 'the covenant name']
['Hebrew', 'H6942', 'qadash', 'to sanctify, set apart']
Usage
"He is the One who sanctifies; we are sanctified."
"Sanctification is His verb first."
"Read Lev 20:8 alongside 1 Thess 5:23."