קָדַשׁ (qa.dash)
qa.dash
to consecrate: consecate
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 130 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb qadash means to set something or someone apart from ordinary use for a sacred purpose. It appears frequently in Leviticus and Exodus, where it describes the ritual preparation of priests, altars, and festivals. The core idea is separation: moving an object or person from the common sphere into the holy sphere.
This action often involves physical cleansing to mark the transition. For example, Exodus 19:14 records the people washing their clothes before meeting God at Sinai, a practical step that signified their spiritual separation. The word covers both the act of consecrating an object and the state of being holy itself.
Its root conveys a sense of distinctness rather than moral perfection alone. When God commands Israel to be qadash, He calls them to live as a community set apart from surrounding nations. This distinction defines their identity and their relationship with the divine, marking them as belonging exclusively to Him.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word qadash speaks of a deliberate shift from common to sacred. It is not merely about moral purity but about distinct purpose. When God calls something holy, He sets it apart for His specific use. This concept invites us to see our daily lives as potential spaces for divine encounter, rather than separating the spiritual from the ordinary.
In Exodus 19, the Israelites washed their clothes before meeting God at Sinai. This physical act marked a transition in their identity. They were no longer just a group of people; they were a community set apart to hear His voice. This pattern shows that preparation matters. We can approach this same call by intentionally setting aside time and attention for God, recognizing that He desires to meet us in the details of our lives.
Understanding this word helps us appreciate the seriousness of our relationship with the Creator. It is an invitation to live with intentionality. As we seek to honor Him, we participate in a tradition of being set apart, not for isolation, but for connection with the divine and service to others.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 130 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- consecrate9×
- and/ you will consecrate9×
- he will set apart as holy6×
- they had consecrated themselves5×
- consecrate yourselves5×
- and/ he consecrated5×
- and/ they consecrated themselves4×
- to/ consecrate3×
- he had consecrated3×
- he consecrated3×
- and/ he set apart as holy3×
- [who] sets apart as holy/ you3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מְקַדִּשְׁ/כֶֽם\׃4×
- וְ/קִדַּשְׁתָּ֥4×
- קַדְּשׁ֤וּ3×
- וַ/יִּֽתְקַדְּשׁ֔וּ3×
- וַ/יְקַדֵּ֤שׁ3×
- הִתְקַדְּשׁ֣וּ3×
- הִקְדַּ֣שְׁתִּי3×
- קַדְּשׁוּ\־2×
- קִדְּשׁ֔וּ/הוּ2×
- מְקַדְּשָֽׁ/ם\׃2×
- לְ/קַדְּשֽׁ/וֹ\׃2×
- יַקְדִּ֥ישׁ2×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 19:14
Moses went down from the mountain to the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
This verse links the physical act of washing clothes with the spiritual state of being set apart, showing how external preparation reflects internal readiness for God's presence.
-
Exodus 29:44
I will sanctify the Tent of Meeting and the altar. I will also sanctify Aaron and his sons to minister to me in the priest’s office.
Here the word encompasses both the consecration of the tabernacle and the priests, demonstrating that entire spaces and people can be designated for sacred service.
-
Exodus 31:13
“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Most certainly you shall keep my Sabbaths; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.
God identifies Himself as the one who sanctifies His people, emphasizing that holiness is a gift of relationship rather than merely a human achievement.