Deuteronomy 7:6-7
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The phrase "a people for His treasured possession" isn't just about being valuable, but about being set apart like rare jewels or precious property, meant for God's exclusive use and delight. This unique ownership implies a deep intimacy and a sacred responsibility, setting Israel apart not just by status, but by a special relationship.
“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this verse, God instructs the Israelites to completely destroy the nations living in the land He's giving them, forbidding any alliances or intermarriage. This verse then explains why such decisive action is necessary: Israel is uniquely set apart as holy to God, chosen as His special possession above all others, a status that demands separation from the corrupting influences around them.
Ever felt like just another face in the crowd? God sees you differently. In Deuteronomy, He calls Israel His 'treasured possession.' What does that mean for us today?
God’s choice of Israel wasn't random; it was deliberate and deeply personal. The Hebrew word used here, 'segulah,' speaks of something highly valued, a special treasure, or private property. It's not just about ownership, but about immense value and affection.
A Love that Sets Apart
The Bible calls believers 'holy.' Does that mean you have to be perfect, or is there something more to it? Let's unpack what 'holy' really means in God's eyes.
The concept of being 'holy' for Israel, and by extension for us, is fundamentally about . It's not about inherent moral perfection from the start, but about being set apart from the world for God's exclusive use and service.
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What 'Holy' Entails:
Understand the original words
qādôš · Hebrew Adjective
Refers to being set apart, consecrated, or dedicated specifically to God for His purposes and service. It implies a state of moral purity and belonging exclusively to the LORD.
bāḥar · Hebrew Verb
The divine act of selecting or electing individuals or a people for a specific purpose or relationship. In scripture, this is rooted in God’s sovereign grace rather than the merit of the chosen party.
segullâ · Hebrew Noun
Refers to something uniquely valuable, a special treasure or property held in high regard by the owner. In this context, it describes Israel’s unique status as God's own special people.
ʾāhab · Hebrew Verb
The Hebrew word for love in this context often implies a covenantal, loyal, and volitional commitment, rather than mere emotional affection. It denotes a deliberate choice to set one's affection upon and commit to the well-being of another.
This passage directly quotes and expands on Deuteronomy 7:6, calling believers a 'chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God' to declare God's praises.
Exodus 19:5-6This earlier passage lays the groundwork for Israel's unique status, stating they will be God's 'treasured possession' and a 'kingdom of priests and a holy nation' if they obey Him, echoing the foundational identity given in Deuteronomy.
Malachi 3:17This verse uses similar language ('my special treasure') to describe those who fear the Lord, highlighting that God sets apart and values those who are devoted to Him, just as He did with Israel.
John 15:16Jesus tells His disciples, 'You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide,' which parallels the idea of God's sovereign choice and purpose for His people, as stated in Deuteronomy.
Titus 2:14This New Testament passage describes believers as those whom Christ 'gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own possession who are zealous to do good works,' reflecting the concept of being a special, purified people chosen by God.
clarkeDeuteronomy 7:6: "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth."
Thou art a holy people - And therefore should have no connection with the workers of iniquity. A special people - סגלה segullah, - Septuagint, λαον περιουσιον, - a peculiar people, a private property. The words as they stand in the Septuagint are quoted by the apostle, 1 Peter 2:9.
pooleDeuteronomy 7:6: "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth."
No text from Poole on this verse.
The phrase "a people for His treasured possession" isn't just about being valuable, but about being set apart like rare jewels or precious property, meant for God's exclusive use and delight. This unique ownership implies a deep intimacy and a sacred responsibility, setting Israel apart not just by status, but by a special relationship.
Just before this verse, God instructs the Israelites to completely destroy the nations living in the land He's giving them, forbidding any alliances or intermarriage. This verse then explains why such decisive action is necessary: Israel is uniquely set apart as holy to God, chosen as His special possession above all others, a status that demands separation from the corrupting influences around them.
Just before this verse, God instructs the Israelites to completely destroy the nations living in the land He's giving them, forbidding any alliances or intermarriage. This verse then explains why such decisive action is necessary: Israel is uniquely set apart as holy to God, chosen as His special possession above all others, a status that demands separation from the corrupting influences around them.
"“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any oth…" — The phrase "a people for His treasured possession" isn't just about being valuable, but about being set apart like rare jewels or precious property, meant for God's exclusive use and delight. This un…
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Last reviewed October 2026
