Jehovah Mekoddishkem - The Lord Who Sanctifies You.

Spelling: (yeh-ho-vaw' M-qadash) The Lord Who Sanctifies You, The Lord Who Makes Holy
Use in the Bible:

In the Old Testament Jehovah Mekoddishkem occurs 2 times. Jehovah Mekoddishkem is first used in Exodus 31:13.

Jehovah Mekoddishkem in the Septuagint: kurios ho hagiazôn humas…the Lord that sanctifies you

Meaning and Derivation: Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known"…this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Mekoddishkem derives from the Hebrew word qâdash meaning "sanctify," "holy," or "dedicate." Sanctification is the separation of an object or person to the dedication of the Holy. When the two words are combined…Jehovah Mekoddishkem…it can be translated as "The Lord who sets you apart."

Further references of the name Jehovah Mekoddishkem in the Old Testament: Exodus 31:13; Leviticus 20:8.

Commentary:
The nature, meaning, and intention, of the Sabbath, by the declaration of which God puts an honour upon it, and teaches us to value it. Divers things are here said of the Sabbath.

It is a sign between me and you (Exodus 31:13), and again, Exodus 31:17. The institution of the Sabbath was a great instance of God's favour to them, and a sign that he had distinguished them from all other people and their religious observance of the Sabbath was a great instance of their duty and obedience to him. God, by sanctifying this day among them, let them know that he sanctified them, and set them apart for himself and his service otherwise he would not have revealed to them his holy Sabbaths, to be the support of religion among them. Or it may refer to the law concerning the Sabbath, Keep my Sabbaths, that you may know that I the Lord do sanctify you. Note, If God by his grace incline our hearts to keep the law of the fourth commandment, it will be an evidence of a good work wrought in us by his Spirit. If we sanctify God's day, it is a sign between him and us that he has sanctified our hearts: hence it is the character of the blessed man that he keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, Isaiah 56:2. The Jews, by observing one day in seven, after six days' labour, testified and declared that they worshipped the God who made the world in six days, and rested the seventh and so distinguished themselves from other nations, who, having first lost the Sabbath, which was instituted to be a memorial of the creation, by degrees lost the knowledge of the Creator, and gave that honour to the creature which was due to him alone.

It is holy unto you (Exodus 31:14), that is, "It is designed for your benefit as well as for God's honour " the Sabbath was made for man. Or, "It shall be accounted holy by you, and shall so be observed, and you shall look upon it a sacrilege to profane it."

It is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord, Exodus 31:15. It is separated from common use, and designed for the honour and service of God, and by the observance of it we are taught to rest from worldly pursuits and the service of the flesh, and to devote ourselves, and all we are, have, and can do, to God's glory.

It was to be observed throughout their generations, in every age, for a perpetual covenant. Exodus 31:16. This was to be one of the most lasting tokens of that covenant which was between God and Israel. - Matthew Henry