Why Israel Bears the Holy Names of God

(Leviticus 19:2:) "YOU SHALL BE HOLY." Why? "FOR I AM HOLY" — because I have made you cling to My loins, as it is said (Jeremiah 13:11): "For as the girdle clings to the loins of a man, [so I caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me, says the LORD]." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: I am not like flesh and blood. With a king of flesh and blood, creatures have no permission to be called by his name. Know this for yourself, that when a person seeks to accuse his fellow, he calls him "Augusta so-and-so," and he has no life. But Israel are called by the name of the Holy One, blessed be He. He is called God, and He called Israel "God," as it is said (Psalms 82:6): "I said, you are gods." He is called wise, as it is said (Job 9:4): "Wise of heart and mighty in strength"; and He called Israel wise, as it is said (Deuteronomy 4:6): "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." He is called beloved, as it is said (Song of Songs 5:10): "My beloved is bright and ruddy"; and He called them beloved, as it is said (Song of Songs 5:1): "Eat, friends; drink and be drunk, beloved ones." He is called chosen, as it is said (Song of Songs 5:15): "Chosen as the cedars"; and He called them chosen, as it is said (Deuteronomy 7:6): "[For] in you [the LORD your God] has chosen." He is called pious, as it is said (Jeremiah 3:12): "For I am pious, says the LORD"; and He called them pious, as it is said (Psalms 50:5): "Gather to Me My pious ones." He is called holy, as it is said (Isaiah 6:3): "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts"; and He called Israel holy, [as it is said: "You shall be holy."] The Holy One, blessed be He, said: In this world you have been called holy, and in the world to come, "And it shall be that he who remains in Zion and he who is left in Jerusalem shall be called holy" (Isaiah 4:3).