The Hebrew word for holiness is “qodesh” (קֹדֶשׁ) which means “set apart”, “sacred”, or “holy”. In the Hebrew Bible, the word qodesh is used to describe things and people that are set apart for divine purpose. Understanding the meaning and significance of qodesh is key to understanding the biblical concept of holiness.
The Root Meaning of Qodesh
The root meaning of qodesh relates to the idea of separation, consecration, or devotion to divine service. In Hebrew, the root qof-dalet-shin (ק־ד־שׁ) has the basic meaning of “to cut” or “to set apart”. The adjective form qodesh literally means “set apart, sacred, holy” and the noun form qodesh translates as “holiness, sacredness.”
So at its core, qodesh indicates something or someone that has been “set apart” from common or profane use to be consecrated to the service of God. A qodesh item or person belongs exclusively to the divine realm.
Qodesh in Context
Looking at how qodesh is used in the Hebrew Bible gives us insight into its meaning:
Holy Objects
Qodesh describes physical objects that are set apart for use in Israel’s worship system – the tabernacle/temple, priests’ garments, temple furnishings, sacrificial offerings, anointing oil, incense, etc. These items were holy by virtue of being designated for divine service.
For example:
– The tabernacle and temple are called “the holy place” (Exodus 28:29; 1 Kings 8:10)
– The altar of burnt offering is called “the holy altar” (Exodus 29:37)
– The anointing oil is “holy anointing oil” (Exodus 30:25)
Holy People
Qodesh also describes people consecrated to serve God – the priests, Levites, prophets, and at times the entire nation of Israel. Their holiness stemmed from being set apart by God to be in relationship with Him and mediate His presence to others.
For example:
– The priests are described as “holy to the Lord” (Exodus 28:36; Leviticus 21:6)
– God calls Israel “a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6)
– The prophets are sent as “holy men of God” (2 Peter 1:21)
Holy Deity
In a special sense, qodesh refers to the uniqueness and otherness of God Himself. As the only deity in Israel’s worldview, Yahweh is beyond compare and completely holy.
Passages like Isaiah 6:3 describe God as qadosh – “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty”. His holiness denotes His majestic perfection.
Holy Actions
Finally, qodesh can refer to righteousness in one’s conduct before God. When someone lives according to God’s laws, their actions reflect His holy nature.
For example, Leviticus 19:2 says “Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” The verses that follow detail what that holy living looks like in practice.
Qodesh as Separateness and Wholeness
To summarize, qodesh expresses the ideas of separateness, distinctiveness, and special status before God. But it also conveys the ideas of completeness, perfection, integrity, and wholeness.
Something that is holy is set apart from the ordinary, consecrated to divine purpose, and reflects God’s transcendent perfection. This captures the meaning of qodesh in a nutshell.
Separateness
– Set apart from common/profane use
– Dedicated to divine service
– Distinct realm of the sacred
Wholeness
– State of completeness
– Moral perfection, integrity
– Pristine, unspoiled condition
Together, these nuances of meaning enrich our understanding of what it means to be holy.
The Holiness Spectrum
Qodesh has a flexible range of meaning depending on what it describes. Scholars see a kind of spectrum of holiness in the Hebrew Bible:
| Most Holy | Very Holy | Holy | Less Holy |
| God’s essence | Realm of the divine | Consecrated priests | Holy nation of Israel |
At the furthest extreme is God’s own holiness – the absolute, unmatched holiness of His essence and character. Next is the realm of the divine – the holy sanctuary which mediates God’s presence.
Then comes the holiness ascribed to consecrated priests who serve in God’s sanctuary. Finally, Israel as a whole nation is called holy, though to a lesser degree than the priests.
So while the priests are holy, God is most holy. Israel is holy, but God is holier still. Degrees of holiness exist.
Holiness and Morality
Qodesh intersects with concepts of purity, righteousness, and justice. That which is holy reflects God’s moral perfection.
Holiness requires separation from sin and contamination. As Leviticus 20:26 states, Israel must be holy “because I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples that you should be mine.”
Likewise, Leviticus 19:2 connects holiness to obeying God’s commandments – “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”
So qodesh intertwines the ideas of consecration and ethical behavior. Holiness is not just ritualistic but demands moral wholeness.
Qodesh Vocabulary
Qodesh appears over 850 times in the Hebrew Bible associated with various words:
| Hebrew Term | English Translation | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| qodesh | holiness | 468 |
| qadosh | holy, sacred | 116 |
| miqdash | sanctuary | 74 |
| qiddesh | temple prostitute | 24 |
| qadash | consecrate, sanctify, dedicate | 172 |
This shows how broad the connections are between holiness terminology and the sacred sphere.
Holiness as Distinctiveness
The concept of holiness rests on the distinction between the realm of the holy and the realm of the profane – between that which is set apart for divine use and that which is for everyday use.
In her landmark work “Purity and Danger”, anthropologist Mary Douglas defined holiness as “separateness, distinction, and exclusion from the common condition.”
The holy is separate from the mundane activities of ordinary life. The two realms must remain distinct to maintain the unique otherworldly nature of the divine.
For example, the Hebrew Bible prescribes strict boundaries and rituals for maintaining the sanctity of the holy sanctuary, priesthood, and offerings. Violating those boundaries carried grave consequences (Leviticus 10:1-3).
So biblical holiness requires vigilance to preserve the clear demarcation between the sacred and profane realms. Confusing the two destroys the uniqueness of the holy.
Holiness as Wholeness
Holiness also conveys the idea of completeness, perfection, integrity – a sense of wholeness.
God’s holiness denotes His absolute moral perfection and wholeness of being. Created things have derivative holiness to the degree they fully conform to God’s will and character.
Wholeness is fractured by sin and impurity. So biblical rules governing purity (as seen in Leviticus) aim to preserve the wholeness of people and things associated with God’s holiness.
Wholeness was fractured at the Fall but finds full restoration through Christ. As Hebrews 10:10 says, “we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Through Christ, believers enter the new covenant in which they are wholly consecrated to God and share in His holiness (Hebrews 10:14-16).
Conclusion
At its core, the Hebrew word qodesh conveys the idea of separation and devotion to the divine. But it also signals completeness, perfection, integrity.
God’s holiness is utter uniqueness and flawless moral purity wholly separate from creation. Yet God desires His people to reflect His holiness in their exclusive devotion to Him and by living lives of wholeness, justice, and righteousness.
Through Christ, believers enter the holy community of faith – consecrated to God, set apart from sin, empowered for moral wholeness, and united to the source of all holiness.
