8:28 holy to the Lord. Holiness is an attribute of God (Lev. 19:2) and, by extension, of anyone or anything belonging to Him, especially priests (Lev. 21:6), Levites (Num. 3:11–13, where “consecrated” means dedicated to God), and temple articles (Ex. 30:22–29). Ezra’s strict command arises from the spiritual threat that contact with the profane represented for the holy.