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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]').

Translation Consistency

primary "holy" 155 occurrences

'Holy' is the most natural, versatile English headword for qôdesh. It captures the state of being set apart or sacred and easily combines with nouns (holy place, holy day, holy thing) while also allowing straightforward inflection to the abstract noun 'holiness' where needed. This choice best fits the typical usage across persons, places, objects, and times in the SILEX range.

Alternatives (312 occurrences):
"holiness" (271x) "sanctuary" (25x) "sacred things" (10x) "sacredness" (2x) "most-holy things" (1x) "most set-apart" (1x) "sacred portion" (1x) "sacred-place" (1x)

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

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Root Family

קדש (q-d-sh) — to be holy, to set apart, to consecrate

Root קדש 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 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6944-25 קֹ֖דֶשׁ qodesh HNcmsa holy set-apartness holiness 147
H6944-07 הַ/קֹּ֔דֶשׁ haqodesh HTd/Ncmsa of the sanctuary the holiness the holiness 111
H6944-06 הַ/קֳּדָשִֽׁים haqodashim HTd/Ncmpa of holies the holy things the holy things 32
H6944-23 קָדְשׁ֔/וֹ qadesho HNcmsc/Sp3ms his holy his holiness his holiness 29
H6944-22 קָדְשִֽׁ/י qadeshi HNcmsc/Sp1cs my holy my sacredness my holiness 28
H6944-16 קָֽדָשִׁ֔ים qadashim HNcmpa of holies sacred things holy things 25
H6944-17 קָדְשֶֽׁ/ךָ qadeshekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms your holy your holiness your holiness 20
H6944-02 בַּ/קֹּ֑דֶשׁ baqodesh HRd/Ncmsa in the sanctuary in the holiness in the holiness 17
H6944-19 קָדְשֵׁ֖י qadeshey HNcmpc most holy sacred things of holy things of 10
H6944-13 מִ/קֹּ֥דֶשׁ miqodesh HR/Ncmsc from the holy from sacredness from holiness 4

Occurrences in Scripture

467 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6944-25 Exodus 3:5 קֹ֖דֶשׁ qodesh HNcmsa holiness set-apartness holiness
H6944-25 Exodus 12:16 קֹ֔דֶשׁ qodesh HNcmsa holy set-apartness holiness
H6944-25 Exodus 12:16 קֹ֖דֶשׁ qodesh-2 HNcmsa holy set-apartness holiness
H6944-02 Exodus 15:11 בַּ/קֹּ֑דֶשׁ baqodesh HRd/Ncmsa in holiness in the holiness in the holiness
H6944-17 Exodus 15:13 קָדְשֶֽׁ/ךָ qadeshekha HNcmsc/Sp2ms of your holiness your holiness your holiness
H6944-25 Exodus 16:23 קֹ֛דֶשׁ qodesh HNcmsa holy set-apartness holiness
H6944-25 Exodus 22:30 קֹ֖דֶשׁ qodesh HNcmsa holy set-apartness holiness
H6944-07 Exodus 26:33 הַ/קֹּ֔דֶשׁ haqodesh HTd/Ncmsa the holy place the holiness the holy place
H6944-25 Exodus 26:33 קֹ֥דֶשׁ qodesh HNcmsc holy set-apartness the holiness
H6944-06 Exodus 26:33 הַ/קֳּדָשִֽׁים haqodashim HTd/Ncmpa of holies the holy things the holy things
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