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(
$
, 6944), “holy thing.” This noun which occurs about 470 times in
biblical Hebrew, also appears in Ugaritic. Appearing in all periods of biblical Hebrew, it
reflects several of the verbal meanings just presented. First,
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is used of things or
people belonging to God. All Israel is holy (Exod. 30:31), separated to God’s service, and
therefore should keep itself separated to that service by observing the distinction between
things holy (allowed by God) and things unclean (Lev. 10:10).
The word also describes things set aside for exclusive use by God’s people (Isa.
35:8). It is used of a more narrow sense of “sacred,” or something set aside for me in the
temple (cultic use). So the word describes the priestly (sacred) garments (Exod. 28:2). It
can be used of sacred things given to the Lord (to be used in the sanctuary and/or by the
priests and Levites; Exod. 28:38) and sacred things to be used only by the priests and/or
Levites (Exod. 29:32-33). In some cases such dedicated (sacred) gifts may be given to
others—at the Lord’s direction (Deut. 26:13). In a similar sense
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describes sacred
things appointed for sacrifice and ritualistic-cultic worship (Exod. 30:25; Lev. 27:10).
Israel is to set aside certain sacred days (Sabbaths) exclusively for divine service—for
rest from labor (Exod. 20:10), rest in the Lord (Deut. 5:14), and holy convocation (Exod.
12:16).
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can also be used of what God makes a person, place, or thing to be. He
designates a place to be His (Exod. 3:5—the first biblical appearance of the word), that is,
separate and unique. Even more, God designates His sanctuary a holy place (Exod. 36:1).
The outer part of the sanctuary is
holy place, the inner part the holy of holies (Exod.
26:33), and the altar a most holy place. This means that to varying degrees these places
are identified with the holy God (2 Sam. 6:10-11), the God who is separate from and
hates all that is death and/or associated with death and idolatry (Ezek. 39:25). This word
is also used (infrequently) to describe God’s majestic holiness, in that He is without equal
and without imperfection (Exod. 15:11). In at least one place the emphasis is on God’s
holiness as power (Jer. 23:9).
The noun
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, which occurs in biblical Hebrew about 74 times, appears in
Aramaic and post-biblical Hebrew. The word represents a “sacred place” or “sanctuary,”
a place set aside by men upon God’s direction and acceptance as the place where He
meets them and they worship Him (Exod. 15:17—the first biblical occurrence of the
word).
The noun
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, which occurs about 11 times in biblical Hebrew, indicates a “cult
prostitute,” whether female (Gen. 38:21—the first biblical appearance) or male. Male
cultic prostitutes were homosexuals (1 Kings 22:46). This noun appears in the
Pentateuch, all periods of historical writings, and Hosea and Job.
C. Adjective.
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(
$
, 6918), “holy.” The adjective
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occurs about 116 times in
biblical Hebrew and in all periods. This adjective is more focused in emphasis than the
noun
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can refer (infrequently) to cultic holiness, or ritualistic
ceremonial holiness (Num. 5:17). Its most frequent use, however, represents God’s
majestic (1 Sam. 2:2), moral (Lev. 11:44), and dynamistic holiness (holiness as power; 1
Sam. 6:20). The word is also used of what God claims for Himself, what is consecrated to