Claim 27

Whose holiness is this?

The Exodus hymn praises the LORD's holiness; Luke and Acts call Jesus holy.

The Old Testament text

Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You — majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?

Translation note:

The claimed New Testament fulfilment

Luke calls Jesus the Holy One, and Acts calls him God's holy servant. Christians connect those descriptions with the LORD's holiness in Exodus.

Lk 1:35 · BSB

The angel replied, “ The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

Acts 4:27 · BSB

In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.

Why Christians see a prophecy

Luke calls the child to be born the Holy One, and Acts calls Jesus God’s holy servant. A Christian advocate argues that the Savior must exhibit divine holiness; Christians may see Jesus as embodying the LORD’s holy saving character.

Why it is less convincing

Exodus asks who among the gods is like the LORD after his rescue at the sea. It names no coming Messiah. Neither Luke nor Acts presents this line as a fulfilled oracle, and Acts calls Jesus the addressed God’s servant.

Our assessment

Thematic parallel only

Holy character, not a forecast

Jesus's holiness can be seen as embodying God's saving character. Exodus 15:11 itself praises God's holiness, but does not forecast a future Messiah's character.

Sources and further reading

Robert Clifton Robinson, 27: Exodus 15:11. Robert Clifton Robinson, The Prophecies of the Messiah; Application paragraphs on Luke 1:35, Acts 4:27–28 and Romans 1:4.
S. R. Driver, Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges: Exodus 15. Cambridge University Press; Bible Hub edition; Song introduction, especially verses 11–12.
BSB Publishing, Berean Standard Bible v5.9. BSB Publishing; Exodus 15:1, 11; Luke 1:35; Acts 4:27.

Biblical quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain.