קֹ֫דֶשׁ (qo.desh)
qo.desh
holiness
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 306 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew word qodesh denotes a state of being set apart or distinct from the ordinary. Its core meaning is not moral perfection in itself, but rather a specific separation for a sacred purpose. This concept applies to people, places, and objects that have been designated as holy by God.
In Scripture, qodesh frequently appears in compound phrases to describe specific sacred items or locations. For instance, it modifies "garments" in Exodus 28:2 to indicate the special vestments worn by priests, and it describes the "mountain" in Psalm 2:6 as God’s holy place. The term also extends to abstract concepts, such as the "holy name" or "holy spirit," emphasizing their unique relationship with the divine.
The word originates from a root meaning to cut or separate, highlighting that holiness is defined by its difference from the common. This distinction is central to the biblical worldview, where the sacred is carefully distinguished from the profane to maintain the integrity of worship and divine presence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word qodesh points to something set apart for a specific purpose. It is not about moral perfection in itself, but rather a distinct separation from the ordinary. When God calls something holy, He designates it for His presence and use. This concept helps us understand that holiness is defined by its difference from the common world around us.
In Exodus 3:5, Moses is told to remove his sandals because the ground is holy. This moment shows that God’s presence transforms ordinary places into sacred spaces. We do not need to travel far to find such moments; God can make any part of our lives a place where He meets us. His holiness invites us into a closer relationship with Him.
This separation also applies to people and objects. In Exodus 28:2, Aaron is given holy garments for glory and beauty. These clothes marked him as someone set apart to serve God. Similarly, we are called to live lives that reflect God’s character. Our daily actions can become a form of worship when we offer them to Him with a heart dedicated to His purposes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 306 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ holy place58×
- holiness51×
- <the>/ holiness26×
- a holy thing24×
- holiness/ his21×
- the/ holy things17×
- holiness/ my16×
- holiness/ your15×
- in the/ holy place12×
- holy things11×
- the/ holy places9×
- [the] holy things of7×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/קֹּ֑דֶשׁ30×
- קֹ֖דֶשׁ22×
- קֹ֥דֶשׁ18×
- קֹ֑דֶשׁ18×
- הַ/קֹּֽדֶשׁ\׃16×
- קֹ֣דֶשׁ15×
- הַ/קֹּ֔דֶשׁ15×
- הַ/קֹּ֖דֶשׁ12×
- קֹֽדֶשׁ\׃11×
- הַ/קֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙11×
- קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙9×
- קֹ֔דֶשׁ7×
Key Verses
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Exodus 3:5
He said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.”
This verse establishes that holiness is tied to God's immediate presence, requiring reverence and preparation from those who encounter it.
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Exodus 28:2
You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
Here, holiness is applied to physical garments, showing that ordinary items can be consecrated for sacred service through God's design.
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Exodus 26:33
You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the covenant in there within the veil. The veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you.
The veil separating the holy place from the most holy illustrates the careful distinction between the sacred and the common in worship.
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Exodus 30:25
You shall make it into a holy anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy anointing oil.
The command to make holy anointing oil demonstrates that even substances can be set apart for specific divine purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does qodesh mean in the Bible?
How is holiness different from righteousness?
Why are certain places called holy in Scripture?
Every Occurrence (306 verses across 25 books)
Exodus 52 verses
He said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.”
Exodus 12:16In the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no kind of work…
Exodus 15:11Who is like you, Yahweh, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Exodus 15:13“You, in your loving kindness, have led the people that you have redeemed. You have guided them in your strength to…
Exodus 16:23He said to them, “This is that which Yahweh has spoken, ‘Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to Yahweh. Bake that…
Exodus 26:33You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring the ark of the covenant in there within the veil. The veil…
Exodus 26:34You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant in the most holy place.
Exodus 28:2You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty.
Exodus 28:4These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a fitted tunic, a turban, and a sash.…
Exodus 28:29Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he goes in to…
Exodus 28:35It shall be on Aaron to minister: and its sound shall be heard when he goes in to the holy place before Yahweh, and…
Exodus 28:36“You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘HOLY TO YAHWEH.’
Exodus 28:38It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel…
Exodus 28:43They shall be on Aaron and on his sons, when they go in to the Tent of Meeting, or when they come near to the altar to…
Exodus 29:6You shall set the turban on his head, and put the holy crown on the turban.
Exodus 29:29“The holy garments of Aaron shall be for his sons after him, to be anointed in them, and to be consecrated in them.
Exodus 29:30Seven days shall the son who is priest in his place put them on, when he comes into the Tent of Meeting to minister in…
Exodus 29:33They shall eat those things with which atonement was made, to consecrate and sanctify them; but a stranger shall not…
Exodus 29:34If anything of the meat of the consecration, or of the bread, remains to the morning, then you shall burn the remainder…
Exodus 29:37Seven days you shall make atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches…
Exodus 30:10Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once in the year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once in the…
Exodus 30:13They shall give this, everyone who passes over to those who are counted, half a shekel according to the shekel of the…
Exodus 30:24and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary; and a hin of olive oil.
Exodus 30:25You shall make it into a holy anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer: it shall be a holy…
Exodus 30:29You shall sanctify them, that they may be most holy. Whatever touches them shall be holy.
Exodus 30:31You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to me throughout your…
Exodus 30:32It shall not be poured on man’s flesh, and do not make any like it, according to its composition. It is holy. It shall…
Exodus 30:35You shall make incense of it, a perfume after the art of the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and holy.
Exodus 30:36You shall beat some of it very small, and put some of it before the covenant in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet…
Exodus 30:37You shall not make this incense, according to its composition, for yourselves: it shall be to you holy for Yahweh.
Exodus 31:10the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s…
Exodus 31:11the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they…
Exodus 31:14You shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for…
Exodus 31:15Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to Yahweh. Whoever does any work…
Exodus 35:2‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to…
Exodus 35:19the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments…
Exodus 35:21They came, everyone whose heart stirred him up, and everyone whom his spirit made willing, and brought Yahweh’s…
Exodus 36:1“Bezalel and Oholiab shall work with every wise-hearted man, in whom Yahweh has put wisdom and understanding to know…
Exodus 36:3They received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of the…
Exodus 36:4All the wise men, who performed all the work of the sanctuary, each came from his work which he did.
Exodus 36:6Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman…
Exodus 37:29He made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense of sweet spices, after the art of the perfumer.
Exodus 38:24All the gold that was used for the work in all the work of the sanctuary, even the gold of the offering, was…
Exodus 38:25The silver of those who were counted of the congregation was one hundred talents and one thousand seven hundred…
Exodus 38:26a beka a head, that is, half a shekel, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, for everyone who passed over to those…
Exodus 38:27The one hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary and the sockets of the veil: one…
Exodus 39:1Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy…
Exodus 39:30They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engravings of a signet:…
Exodus 39:41the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments…
Exodus 40:9“You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its…
Exodus 40:10You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and sanctify the altar, and the altar will be most…
Exodus 40:13You shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the…