Hebrew · Strong's H6944
קֹדֶשׁ
(KOH-desh)
noun, masculine
The Hebrew word קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh) refers to that which is set apart or consecrated for divine purposes.
The Hebrew term קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh) conveys the idea of holiness, separation, or sacredness. It describes something or someone set apart from the common or profane for a special relationship with God or for His service. Its semantic range includes objective holiness (things that are holy) and, less frequently, abstract holiness (the quality of being holy). This concept is foundational to Israelite worship and their understanding of God, as God Himself is intrinsically holy and thus requires holiness in all that approaches Him. The ritual purity laws in the Pentateuch, for example, heavily rely on this distinction between the holy and the common, outlining how individuals, objects, and places can become holy or defiled. The holiness of God is frequently emphasized in the Old Testament, making it a critical attribute that defines His character and His interactions with His people. As such, things designated as קֹדֶשׁ often demand a particular reverence and adherence to specific regulations. The idea extends to the people of Israel as a whole, who are called to be a holy nation set apart for God.
Common English renderings
- holiness
- holy
- sanctuary
- consecrated things
- hallowed things
- dedicated things
Key verses
"The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith Jehovah."
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"the soul that toucheth any such shall be unclean until the even, and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he bathe his flesh in water."
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"And they shall not come near unto me, to execute the office of priest unto me, nor to come near to any of my holy things, unto the things that are most holy; but they shall bear their shame, and their abominations which they have committed."
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"And he said unto me, Son of man, this is the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, and by the dead bodies of their kings in their high places;"
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"Oh worship Jehovah in holy array: Tremble before him, all the earth."
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"And in the most holy house he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold."
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