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מִקְדָּשׁ

𐤌𐤒𐤃𐤔

miqdâsh

H4720 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A sacred or holy place set apart for divine presence or religious activities; specifically, a sanctuary designated for the worship of a deity. In Israelite contexts, typically refers to the central place of worship—whether the tabernacle, the First Temple in Jerusalem, or envisioned future sanctuaries. The term can also be used more generally for sanctuaries of other peoples or deities, and in some late passages refers to smaller sacred sites or shrines.

Semantic Range

consecrated place, sanctuary, place set apart for divine presence, central temple (tabernacle or Jerusalem temple), sacred site, shrine, sanctuary of other deities

Root / Etymology

The noun מִקְדָּשׁ derives from the root ק-ד-שׁ (קדש), which has the core sense 'to be set apart, consecrated, holy.' The noun is a miqtal-style nominal formation, indicating a place or thing characterized by the root idea. Thus, מִקְדָּשׁ is 'a place sanctified' or 'location set apart' for a special (religious) purpose. While the root means 'to be holy' or 'consecrated,' the noun specifically designates the locus where consecration is realized in space.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, מִקְדָּשׁ most often refers to the definitive central place of worship authorized by Yhwh for the Israelites, namely, the tabernacle during the wilderness period and later the Temple in Jerusalem during the monarchy. In exilic and post-exilic texts, it is used for the Second Temple and anticipated eschatological sanctuaries. The term can, however, be used for sanctuaries of other deities (e.g., Ezek 28:18), making its core sense 'a place sacred to a deity' rather than exclusively an Israelite temple. Distinct from מִשְׁכָּן (mishkan, 'dwelling'), which emphasizes God's indwelling, מִקְדָּשׁ highlights the status of a location as consecrated or set apart. In later Jewish literature, מִקְדָּשׁ came to be used almost exclusively for the Jerusalem Temple, influencing later usage of the English 'sanctuary.' In English Bible translations, 'sanctuary' or 'holy place' is standard, but these may not capture the full scope of the term's flexibility in various contexts and periods.

Translation Consistency

primary "sanctuary" 45 occurrences

‘Sanctuary’ is the most natural, single-word English equivalent that covers the full Hebrew range (tabernacle, Jerusalem temple, shrine, or any consecrated/holy place). It is the most frequent P2 rendering and reads naturally in English while remaining broad enough to include smaller sacred sites as well as the central temple. Alternatives like ‘temple’ are too specific and multi-word options like ‘holy place’ conflict with the requirement for a single base word.

Alternatives (5 occurrences):
"sanctuaries" (2x) "set-apart sanctuaries" (2x) "sanctuaries of" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or מִקְּדָשׁ; (Exodus 15:17), from קָדַשׁ; a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of Jehovah or of idols) or asylum; chapel, hallowed part, holy place, sanctuary.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

קדשׁ (Qadesh) — to be holy, to consecrate, to set apart

Root קדשׁ to be holy, to consecrate, to set apart
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6945 קָדֵשׁ male cult devotees
H6946 קָדֵשׁ in Kadesh
H6947 קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ Qadesh-Barnea

Word Forms

26 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H4720-04 הַ/מִּקְדָּשׁ֙ hamiqedash HTd/Ncmsa the sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary 16
H4720-16 מִקְדָּשִׁ֣/י miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary 13
H4720-09 מִקְדַּשׁ֙ miqedash HNcmsc sanctuary set-apart sanctuary set-apart sanctuary 9
H4720-18 מִקְדָּשֽׁ/וֹ miqedasho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his sanctuary his consecrated place his sanctuary 4
H4720-05 לַ/מִּקְדָּ֖שׁ lamiqedash HRd/Ncmsa for the sanctuary to the consecrated place for the sanctuary 3
H4720-13 מִקְדָּשְׁ/ךָ֖ miqedashekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your sanctuary your set-apart sanctuary your set-apart sanctuary 3
H4720-01 בְּ/מִקְדַּ֥שׁ bemiqedash HR/Ncmsc by the sanctuary in a consecrated place in a sanctuary 2
H4720-02 בְּ/מִקְדָּשִׁ֖/י bemiqedashi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in my sanctuary in my consecrated sanctuary in my sanctuary 2
H4720-06 לְ/מִקְדָּ֣שׁ lemiqedash HR/Ncmsa for-a-sanctuary to a set-apart sanctuary for a sanctuary 2
H4720-19 מִקְדְּשֵׁ֖י miqedeshey HNcmpc sanctuary sanctuaries of sanctuaries of 2

Occurrences in Scripture

74 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H4720-09 Exodus 15:17 מִקְּדָ֕שׁ miqedash HNcmsa the sanctuary set-apart sanctuary set-apart sanctuary
H4720-09 Exodus 25:8 מִקְדָּ֑שׁ miqedash HNcmsa a sanctuary set-apart sanctuary set-apart sanctuary
H4720-04 Leviticus 12:4 הַ/מִּקְדָּשׁ֙ hamiqedash HTd/Ncmsa the-sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary
H4720-09 Leviticus 16:33 מִקְדַּ֣שׁ miqedash HNcmsc the sanctuary set-apart sanctuary set-apart sanctuary
H4720-24 Leviticus 19:30 וּ/מִקְדָּשִׁ֖/י umiqedashi HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs and My sanctuary and my set-apart sanctuary and my sanctuary
H4720-16 Leviticus 20:3 מִקְדָּשִׁ֔/י miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary
H4720-04 Leviticus 21:12 הַ/מִּקְדָּשׁ֙ hamiqedash HTd/Ncmsa the sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary
H4720-09 Leviticus 21:12 מִקְדַּ֣שׁ miqedash HNcmsc sanctuary set-apart sanctuary set-apart sanctuary
H4720-12 Leviticus 21:23 מִקְדָּשַׁ֔/י miqedashay HNcmpc/Sp1cs my sanctuaries my set-apart sanctuaries my sanctuaries
H4720-24 Leviticus 26:2 וּ/מִקְדָּשִׁ֖/י umiqedashi HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs and my sanctuary and my set-apart sanctuary and my sanctuary
H4720-20 Leviticus 26:31 מִקְדְּשֵׁי/כֶ֑ם miqedesheykhem HNcmpc/Sp2mp your sanctuaries your set-apart sanctuaries your set-apart sanctuaries
H4720-04 Numbers 3:38 הַ/מִּקְדָּ֔שׁ hamiqedash HTd/Ncmsa of-the-sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary
H4720-04 Numbers 10:21 הַ/מִּקְדָּ֑שׁ hamiqedash HTd/Ncmsa the sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary
H4720-04 Numbers 18:1 הַ/מִּקְדָּ֑שׁ hamiqedash HTd/Ncmsa of the sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary
H4720-21 Numbers 18:29 מִקְדְּשׁ֖/וֹ miqedesho HNcmsc/Sp3ms its holy part his set-apart sanctuary its sanctuary
H4720-09 Numbers 19:20 מִקְדַּ֨שׁ miqedash HNcmsc sanctuary set-apart sanctuary set-apart sanctuary
H4720-01 Joshua 24:26 בְּ/מִקְדַּ֥שׁ bemiqedash HR/Ncmsc by the sanctuary in a consecrated place in a sanctuary
H4720-06 Isaiah 8:14 לְ/מִקְדָּ֑שׁ lemiqedash HR/Ncmsa for-a-sanctuary to a set-apart sanctuary for a sanctuary
H4720-18 Isaiah 16:12 מִקְדָּשׁ֛/וֹ miqedasho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his sanctuary his consecrated place his sanctuary
H4720-16 Isaiah 60:13 מִקְדָּשִׁ֔/י miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs of my sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary
H4720-13 Isaiah 63:18 מִקְדָּשֶֽׁ/ךָ miqedashekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your sanctuary your set-apart sanctuary your set-apart sanctuary
H4720-14 Jeremiah 17:12 מִקְדָּשֵֽׁ/נוּ miqedashenu HNcmsc/Sp1cp of our sanctuary our set-apart sanctuary our set-apart sanctuary
H4720-19 Jeremiah 51:51 מִקְדְּשֵׁ֖י miqedeshey HNcmpc the holy places of sanctuaries of sanctuaries of
H4720-16 Ezekiel 5:11 מִקְדָּשִׁ֣/י miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary
H4720-16 Ezekiel 8:6 מִקְדָּשִׁ֔/י miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary
H4720-22 Ezekiel 9:6 וּ/מִ/מִּקְדָּשִׁ֖/י umimiqedashi HC/R/Ncmsc/Sp1cs and from my sanctuary and from my consecrated-place and from my sanctuary
H4720-06 Ezekiel 11:16 לְ/מִקְדָּ֣שׁ lemiqedash HR/Ncmsa for-a-sanctuary to a set-apart sanctuary for a sanctuary
H4720-17 Ezekiel 21:7 מִקְדָּשִׁ֑ים miqedashim HNcmpa the sanctuaries set-apart sanctuaries set-apart sanctuaries
H4720-16 Ezekiel 23:38 מִקְדָּשִׁ/י֙ miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary
H4720-16 Ezekiel 23:39 מִקְדָּשִׁ֛/י miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs My sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary
H4720-16 Ezekiel 24:21 מִקְדָּשִׁ/י֙ miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary
H4720-16 Ezekiel 25:3 מִקְדָּשִׁ֣/י miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my-sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary
H4720-15 Ezekiel 28:18 מִקְדָּשֶׁ֑י/ךָ miqedasheykha HNcmpc/Sp2ms your sanctuaries your set-apart sanctuaries your sanctuaries
H4720-16 Ezekiel 37:26 מִקְדָּשִׁ֛/י miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my-sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary
H4720-16 Ezekiel 37:28 מִקְדָּשִׁ֛/י miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary
H4720-05 Ezekiel 43:21 לַ/מִּקְדָּֽשׁ lamiqedash HRd/Ncmsa the-sanctuary to the consecrated place to the sanctuary
H4720-04 Ezekiel 44:1 הַ/מִּקְדָּשׁ֙ hamiqedash HTd/Ncmsa of the sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary
H4720-04 Ezekiel 44:5 הַ/מִּקְדָּֽשׁ hamiqedash HTd/Ncmsa of the sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary
H4720-02 Ezekiel 44:7 בְּ/מִקְדָּשִׁ֖/י bemiqedashi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in my sanctuary in my consecrated sanctuary in my sanctuary
H4720-02 Ezekiel 44:8 בְּ/מִקְדָּשִׁ֖/י bemiqedashi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in my sanctuary in my consecrated sanctuary in my sanctuary
H4720-16 Ezekiel 44:9 מִקְדָּשִׁ֑/י miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary
H4720-26 Ezekiel 44:11 בְ/מִקְדָּשִׁ/י֙ vemiqedashi HR/Ncmsc/Sp1cs in my sanctuary in my set-apart sanctuary in my sanctuary
H4720-16 Ezekiel 44:15 מִקְדָּשִׁ/י֙ miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs of-my-sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary
H4720-16 Ezekiel 44:16 מִקְדָּשִׁ֗/י miqedashi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary my set-apart sanctuary
H4720-04 Ezekiel 45:3 הַ/מִּקְדָּ֖שׁ hamiqedash HTd/Ncmsa the sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary
H4720-04 Ezekiel 45:4 הַ/מִּקְדָּשׁ֙ hamiqedash HTd/Ncmsa the sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary
H4720-23 Ezekiel 45:4 וּ/מִקְדָּ֖שׁ umiqedash HC/Ncmsa and a sanctuary and a consecrated place and a sanctuary
H4720-05 Ezekiel 45:4 לַ/מִּקְדָּֽשׁ lamiqedash HRd/Ncmsa for the sanctuary to the consecrated place for the sanctuary
H4720-04 Ezekiel 45:18 הַ/מִּקְדָּֽשׁ hamiqedash HTd/Ncmsa the-sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary
H4720-04 Ezekiel 47:12 הַ/מִּקְדָּ֖שׁ hamiqedash HTd/Ncmsa the sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary the set-apart sanctuary
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