King James Bible
"And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them."
The priests held a unique mediatory role, permitted to approach God's presence more closely than ordinary Israelites at Sinai. This privileged access came with heightened responsibility, as proximity to the holy demanded greater preparation. Sanctification involved ritual purification—washing, abstaining from certain activities, and spiritual preparation to encounter God's holiness. This requirement emphasized that even religious leaders could not presume upon their office without proper consecration. The warning reveals God's holiness as a consuming force that cannot tolerate impurity or presumption. This sobering consequence underscored that approaching God carelessly, even for priests, could result in divine judgment or death.