Exodus 19:5
ESV
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
NIV
Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine,
NASB
Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;
CSB
Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine,
NLT
Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me.
KJV
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
NKJV
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.
What does Exodus 19:5 mean?
God had one basic requirement for Israel's side of the Mosaic covenant: obedience. He will go on to establish a series of rules and laws, starting with the famous Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–21). Israel's cooperation with these would result in all the blessings associated with being His chosen people (Deuteronomy 14:2). Starting with chapter 20, the rest of the book of Exodus will primarily be concerned with details of this covenant. Explicit warnings about obedience versus disobedience will follow later in the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 30:15–18).As the Creator of everything (Genesis 1:1), the Lord has absolute authority over the universe. He has the power to fulfill His promises. Any choices He makes are His own—they are not forced by anyone or anything. That includes Israel's role as His "chosen people." In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses will remind the people that they didn't earn that status for their own merits (Deuteronomy 7:7–8; 8:17; 9:4).
The Israelites are noted as God's "treasured possession" several times in the ESV translation of the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; Malachi 3:17).
