קֹדֶשׁ
𐤒𐤃𐤔
qôdesh
H6944 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state of being set apart or belonging to the divine realm; sacredness, holiness. Refers to that which is consecrated, dedicated to a deity or for cultic use, or marked by ritual purity and separation from common or profane things. In varying contexts, can denote places (such as a sanctuary or sacred precinct), times (sacred days), objects, persons, or the abstract concept of holiness.
Semantic Range
holiness, sacredness, what is set apart for deity, a sacred place (sanctuary), sacred object, sacred time, sanctity, ritual purity, abstract holiness
Root / Etymology
From the root קדש (q-d-sh), meaning 'to be holy, set apart.' The noun qôdesh is formed directly on this root and denotes the state or quality of being holy, or something that is holy by designation or ritual.
Historical & Contextual Notes
קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh) appears throughout the Hebrew Bible to designate sanctified places (such as the inner area of the Tabernacle or Temple), persons (priests, Nazirites), times (holidays, Sabbath), and objects (utensils, offerings). The term emphasizes a distinction between what is ritually pure and set apart for deity and what is ordinary or common. In the Priestly literature (especially Leviticus), qôdesh often stands in contrast to חֹל (ḥol), 'common' or 'profane.' While English translations often use 'holiness' or 'holy,' these do not always reflect the full range of concrete and abstract uses in Hebrew. Abstract senses of qôdesh (i.e., the quality of holiness itself) are less frequent, as the term is typically attached to something designated as sacred. In later Jewish tradition and in Greek translation (LXX), both abstract and concrete senses are found, and terms like ἅγιος (hagios) are used to render it, later developing into the English term 'holy.' Care should be taken not to conflate the Israelite understanding of holiness—pertaining primarily to divine designation and ritual separation—with later theological concepts. Related terms include מִקְדָּשׁ (miqdāsh, 'sanctuary') and קָדוֹשׁ (qādôsh, 'holy [one]').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from קָדַשׁ; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity; consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
קדש (q-d-sh) — to be holy, to set apart, to consecrate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6918 | קָדוֹשׁ | in a set-apart one |
| H6922 | קַדִּישׁ | to holy ones of |
| H6942 | קָדַשׁ | I will consecrate |
| H6943 | קֶדֶשׁ | from Qedesh |
| H6948 | קְדֵשָׁה | the consecrated woman |
Word Forms
34 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6944-25 |
קֹ֖דֶשׁ | qodesh | HNcmsa |
holy | set-apartness | 147 |
H6944-07 |
הַ/קֹּ֔דֶשׁ | haqodesh | HTd/Ncmsa |
of the sanctuary | the holiness | 111 |
H6944-06 |
הַ/קֳּדָשִֽׁים | haqodashim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of holies | the holy things | 32 |
H6944-23 |
קָדְשׁ֔/וֹ | qadesho | HNcmsc/Sp3ms |
his holy | his holiness | 29 |
H6944-22 |
קָדְשִֽׁ/י | qadeshi | HNcmsc/Sp1cs |
my holy | my sacredness | 28 |
H6944-16 |
קָֽדָשִׁ֔ים | qadashim | HNcmpa |
of holies | sacred things | 25 |
H6944-17 |
קָדְשֶֽׁ/ךָ | qadeshekha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
your holy | your holiness | 20 |
H6944-02 |
בַּ/קֹּ֑דֶשׁ | baqodesh | HRd/Ncmsa |
in the sanctuary | in the holiness | 17 |
H6944-19 |
קָדְשֵׁ֖י | qadeshey | HNcmpc |
most holy | sacred things of | 10 |
H6944-13 |
מִ/קֹּ֥דֶשׁ | miqodesh | HR/Ncmsc |
from the holy | from sacredness | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
467 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6944-25 |
Exodus 3:5 | קֹ֖דֶשׁ | qodesh | HNcmsa |
holiness | set-apartness |
H6944-25 |
Exodus 12:16 | קֹ֔דֶשׁ | qodesh | HNcmsa |
holy | set-apartness |
H6944-25 |
Exodus 12:16 | קֹ֖דֶשׁ | qodesh-2 | HNcmsa |
holy | set-apartness |
H6944-02 |
Exodus 15:11 | בַּ/קֹּ֑דֶשׁ | baqodesh | HRd/Ncmsa |
in holiness | in the holiness |
H6944-17 |
Exodus 15:13 | קָדְשֶֽׁ/ךָ | qadeshekha | HNcmsc/Sp2ms |
of your holiness | your holiness |
H6944-25 |
Exodus 16:23 | קֹ֛דֶשׁ | qodesh | HNcmsa |
holy | set-apartness |
H6944-25 |
Exodus 22:30 | קֹ֖דֶשׁ | qodesh | HNcmsa |
holy | set-apartness |
H6944-07 |
Exodus 26:33 | הַ/קֹּ֔דֶשׁ | haqodesh | HTd/Ncmsa |
the holy place | the holiness |
H6944-25 |
Exodus 26:33 | קֹ֥דֶשׁ | qodesh | HNcmsc |
holy | set-apartness |
H6944-06 |
Exodus 26:33 | הַ/קֳּדָשִֽׁים | haqodashim | HTd/Ncmpa |
of holies | the holy things |