Many of God's names pair Yahweh, translated as the LORD, with another word that highlights one of His attributes, like M’kaddesh. But what does Yahweh M’kaddesh signify?

Yahweh M’kaddesh, also known by the names Yahweh Mekadesh or Yahweh Mekoddishkem, is frequently translated as “The LORD who sanctifies.”

The title Yahweh M’kaddesh appears twice in the Old Testament, specifically in Exodus 31:13 and Leviticus 20:8, yet its essence is woven throughout the New Testament as well.

Sometimes, Yahweh M’kaddesh is rendered as “The LORD who makes you holy.” Although holiness and sanctification are intricately linked, this is a suitable alternative translation for Yahweh M’kaddesh.

• “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: “Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you” ’ (Exodus 31:12-14).
• “Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Leviticus 20:7, 8).

In these passages, Yahweh Mekoddishkem depicts God as the one who sanctified His people Israel, making them holy and designating them as His own. This applies to us today as well. As God’s followers, we are called to lead lives of holiness.

This might seem overwhelming. We are often aware of how frequently we fall short of living as sanctified, holy individuals. However, pay close attention to what God declares in these verses. He says, “I am the Lord who sanctifies you [Yahweh Mekoddishkem].” It is God who undertakes the sanctification and the act of making holy, not us.

Generally speaking, to be sanctified means to be placed in the right context to perform the task it was designed for.

Consider a guitar string: it is sanctified when it is attached to a guitar and tuned correctly to produce music. Similarly, astronauts are sanctified when they are adequately trained and launched on a space mission.

It may seem odd to think of sanctification in such a secular manner, but it helps us grasp the concept more clearly.

In a Biblical context, sanctification means being set apart.

The term holy also signifies being set apart for a specific purpose. In the Old Testament, God sanctified the nation of Israel, setting them apart as His chosen people.

He guided them to the promised, or holy, land, which He had set apart for them to dwell in.

In the New Testament, God forms a new people for Himself from all nations, known as Christians. God sanctifies them, setting them apart as His chosen people to serve and worship Him.

Does this imply we have no responsibility? That our lifestyle is irrelevant? Certainly not! Notice that God also commands in these verses, “Consecrate yourselves.” “Follow My statutes [commandments], and obey them” (Leviticus 20:7, 8). We cannot achieve holiness on our own. God [Yahweh Mekoddishkem] is “the Lord Who Sanctifies.”

However, when He sets us apart as His own, He initiates a transformation in our lives, molding us to reflect His character more and more. This transformation will be visible. Old sinful behaviors will fade away. New patterns of thought and behavior will emerge. We will increasingly resemble our Lord.

Sanctification, or being made holy, is an ongoing process. It doesn’t mean we become sinless; it means we are set apart to follow God and live for Him—making mistakes, but continually progressing, increasingly reflecting His image. Yahweh Mekoddishkem is the One who sanctifies.

In Galatians 5, the apostle Paul describes the process of “walking in the Spirit.” In this chapter, he contrasts the “works of the flesh” with the “fruit of the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit aids us in our journey toward sanctification, helping us become more like Jesus.

Four key aspects of sanctification:

1. Sanctification is God’s work, not ours. The transformation in our lives that makes us more like Jesus is the work of the Holy Spirit. As Philippians 2:12-13 states, “It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” Similarly, Romans 15:16 affirms that we are “sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” Without Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, our attempts at righteousness would be futile (John 15:5; Hebrews 10:10). Yahweh Mekoddishkem is “the Lord Who Sanctifies.”
2. Sanctification requires our cooperation. While God works within us through the Holy Spirit, encouraging us to desire and act in ways that reflect Jesus, He does not compel us to do good. In Galatians 5, Paul emphasizes the importance of actively choosing to “walk in the Spirit” (verse 16), “live in the Spirit” (verse 25), and be “led by the Spirit” (verse 18). The Holy Spirit guides us away from sin, but we must actively participate in becoming more like Jesus. As Hebrews 12:14 exhorts, “Pursue holiness.”
3. Sanctification is an ongoing process. The aim of sanctification is to become more like Jesus, a goal that is not achieved overnight but over a lifetime. When we seek forgiveness for our sins from Jesus, He grants it instantly. However, sanctification is a continuous journey toward our ultimate goal. Even Paul acknowledged, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on... forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14). We will fully reflect Jesus only when we see Him face to face upon His return. As the apostle John writes, “It has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).
4. God uses the Bible to sanctify us. While on Earth, Jesus prayed for His followers, asking God to “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). God communicates with us through the Scriptures, as clearly as if we could hear His voice. “All Scripture is profitable... for instruction in righteousness” so that we “may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).