6922. qaddish
Lexical Summary
qaddish: Holy, sacred

Original Word: קַדִּישׁ
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: qaddiysh
Pronunciation: kad-DEESH
Phonetic Spelling: (kad-deesh')
KJV: holy (One), saint
NASB: saints, holy, holy one, holy ones
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H6918 (קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ - holy)]

1. sacred (ceremonially or morally)
2. (as noun) God
3. (by eminence) an angel, a saint, a sanctuary

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
holy One, saint

(Aramaic) corresponding to qadowsh. --holy (One), saint.

see HEBREW qadowsh

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to qadosh
Definition
holy
NASB Translation
holy (4), holy one (2), holy ones (1), saints (6).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
קַדִּישׁ adjective holy; — absolute ׳ק Daniel 4:10; Daniel 4:20; plural שִׁין- Daniel 4:5 +, construct שֵׁי- Daniel 7:18 +; — gods Daniel 4:5; Daniel 4:6; Daniel 4:15; Daniel 5:11; as substantive, of angels Daniel 4:10; Daniel 4:14; Daniel 4:20; of Israel (as holy ones, saints) Daniel 7:21,22, קַדִּישֵׁי עֶלְיוֺנִין saints of the Most High Daniel 7:18; Daniel 7:22; Daniel 7:25; Daniel 7:27.

Topical Lexicon
Range of meaning

קַדִּישׁ (qaddiysh) appears exclusively in the Aramaic sections of Daniel. The term denotes that which is set apart for God—whether celestial beings, human believers, or even divine attributes. In every occurrence it underscores separateness from the common and alignment with the purposes of the Most High.

Occurrences in Daniel

Thirteen appearances cluster in Daniel 4, 5, and 7: Daniel 4:8, 4:9, 4:13, 4:17, 4:18, 4:23; Daniel 5:11; Daniel 7:18, 7:21, 7:22 (twice), 7:25, 7:27. The distribution divides naturally into two themes—“holy gods/watchers” (chapters 4–5) and “saints of the Most High” (chapter 7).

The holy watchers (Daniel 4–5)

Nebuchadnezzar repeatedly describes Daniel as one “in whom is the spirit of the holy gods” (Daniel 4:8). The king, still speaking as a pagan, discerns genuine holiness even while expressing it in polytheistic language. The heavenly messenger of Daniel 4:13 is called both a “watcher” and a “holy one,” highlighting the moral purity of angels who execute God’s decrees: “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, the verdict by the command of the holy ones” (Daniel 4:17). For exiles in Babylon, these verses affirmed that God’s holy realm actively governed the affairs of emperors.

The saints of the Most High (Daniel 7)

In Daniel’s night visions the focus shifts from angelic holiness to the covenant people:
Daniel 7:18—“But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.”
Daniel 7:21-22—earthly powers “were waging war against the saints and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days arrived and a judgment was rendered in favor of the saints of the Most High.”
Daniel 7:27—“Then the kingdom…will be given to the people—the saints of the Most High.”

Here qaddiysh designates believers who persevere under oppression yet ultimately inherit dominion. Their holiness is derivative, granted by the Ancient of Days and vindicated in the final judgment. The repetition (five times in nine verses) intensifies the promise that holiness will triumph over political tyranny embodied in the little horn.

Theological themes

1. Holiness as God-centred: Whether angel or believer, holiness flows from relationship to “the Most High.”
2. Sovereign preservation: Holy ones may suffer (Daniel 7:21) but remain under God’s verdict of favor (Daniel 7:22).
3. Eschatological hope: The everlasting kingdom is entrusted to saints, prefiguring New Testament teaching that believers “will reign with Him” (compare 2 Timothy 2:12).

Historical context

The Aramaic portions of Daniel (Daniel 2:4b–7:28) address a Gentile milieu, yet the vocabulary of holiness remains consistent with Hebrew qādōsh. In the sixth-century exile, Israel encountered a culture saturated with idolatry, making the concept of separateness vital. By using the same root known from the Torah and Prophets, Daniel bridges pre-exilic revelation with his present context and with future expectation.

Links to New Testament usage

The Septuagint renders קַדִּישׁ with ἅγιος (hagios), the standard Greek term for saints. Thus Daniel’s vision prepares the way for Paul’s frequent address to churches as “saints” (for example, Ephesians 1:1), reinforcing canonical unity.

Ministry significance

• Identity: Believers today stand in the same lineage of “saints of the Most High,” called to reflect God’s character amid secular pressures.
• Perseverance: Opposition from the “little horn” type continues in various forms, yet Daniel assures ultimate vindication.
• Mission: The holiness of the watchers models angelic participation in God’s redemptive plan; likewise, the holiness of saints is missional, displaying divine sovereignty to the nations.

Summary

קַדִּישׁ threads through Daniel as a banner of hope: heaven’s holy ones oversee history, and earth’s holy ones will inherit it. The word therefore calls every generation to steadfast, set-apart living in view of a kingdom that “will never be destroyed” (Daniel 2:44).

Forms and Transliterations
וְקַדִּ֔ישׁ וְקַדִּ֣ישׁ וּלְקַדִּישֵׁ֥י ולקדישי וקדיש לְקַדִּישֵׁ֖י לקדישי קַדִּישִֽׁין׃ קַדִּישִׁ֑ין קַדִּישִׁ֖ין קַדִּישִׁין֙ קַדִּישִׁין֮ קַדִּישֵׁ֖י קַדִּישֵׁ֣י קדישי קדישין קדישין׃ kaddiShei kaddiShin lə·qad·dî·šê lekaddiShei ləqaddîšê qad·dî·šê qad·dî·šîn qaddîšê qaddîšîn ū·lə·qad·dî·šê ulekaddiShei ūləqaddîšê vekadDish wə·qad·dîš wəqaddîš
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Daniel 4:8
HEB: רֽוּחַ־ אֱלָהִ֥ין קַדִּישִׁ֖ין בֵּ֑הּ וְחֶלְמָ֖א
NAS: is a spirit of the holy gods;
KJV: and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods:
INT: spirit gods of the holy the dream before

Daniel 4:9
HEB: ר֣וּחַ אֱלָהִ֤ין קַדִּישִׁין֙ בָּ֔ךְ וְכָל־
NAS: that a spirit of the holy gods
KJV: that the spirit of the holy gods
INT: A spirit gods of the holy all mystery

Daniel 4:13
HEB: וַאֲלוּ֙ עִ֣יר וְקַדִּ֔ישׁ מִן־ שְׁמַיָּ֖א
NAS: an [angelic] watcher, a holy one, descended
KJV: a watcher and an holy one came down
INT: and behold an watcher A holy from heaven

Daniel 4:17
HEB: פִּתְגָמָ֔א וּמֵאמַ֥ר קַדִּישִׁ֖ין שְׁאֵֽלְתָ֑א עַד־
NAS: is a command of the holy ones, In order
KJV: by the word of the holy ones: to
INT: sentence command of the holy and the decision to

Daniel 4:18
HEB: רֽוּחַ־ אֱלָהִ֥ין קַדִּישִׁ֖ין בָּֽךְ׃
NAS: for a spirit of the holy gods
KJV: for the spirit of the holy gods
INT: A spirit gods of the holy

Daniel 4:23
HEB: מַלְכָּ֡א עִ֣יר וְקַדִּ֣ישׁ נָחִ֣ת ׀ מִן־
NAS: an [angelic] watcher, a holy one, descending
KJV: a watcher and an holy one coming down
INT: the king an watcher A holy descending from

Daniel 5:11
HEB: ר֣וּחַ אֱלָהִ֣ין קַדִּישִׁין֮ בֵּהּ֒ וּבְיוֹמֵ֣י
NAS: is a spirit of the holy gods;
KJV: in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods;
INT: spirit gods of the holy the days of your father

Daniel 7:18
HEB: וִֽיקַבְּלוּן֙ מַלְכוּתָ֔א קַדִּישֵׁ֖י עֶלְיוֹנִ֑ין וְיַחְסְנ֤וּן
NAS: But the saints of the Highest One
KJV: But the saints of the most High
INT: will receive the kingdom the saints of the Highest and possess

Daniel 7:21
HEB: קְרָ֖ב עִם־ קַדִּישִׁ֑ין וְיָכְלָ֖ה לְהֽוֹן׃
NAS: war with the saints and overpowering
KJV: with the saints, and prevailed
INT: war with the saints and overpowering

Daniel 7:22
HEB: וְדִינָ֣א יְהִ֔ב לְקַדִּישֵׁ֖י עֶלְיוֹנִ֑ין וְזִמְנָ֣א
NAS: was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One,
KJV: was given to the saints of the most High;
INT: and judgment was passed of the saints of the Highest and the time

Daniel 7:22
HEB: וּמַלְכוּתָ֖א הֶחֱסִ֥נוּ קַדִּישִֽׁין׃
NAS: arrived when the saints took possession
KJV: came that the saints possessed
INT: of the kingdom took the saints

Daniel 7:25
HEB: ק) יְמַלִּ֔ל וּלְקַדִּישֵׁ֥י עֶלְיוֹנִ֖ין יְבַלֵּ֑א
NAS: and wear down the saints of the Highest One,
KJV: and shall wear out the saints of the most High,
INT: high will speak the saints of the Highest and wear

Daniel 7:27
HEB: יְהִיבַ֕ת לְעַ֖ם קַדִּישֵׁ֣י עֶלְיוֹנִ֑ין מַלְכוּתֵהּ֙
NAS: to the people of the saints of the Highest One;
KJV: to the people of the saints of the most High,
INT: will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest his kingdom

13 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6922
13 Occurrences


qad·dî·šê — 2 Occ.
qad·dî·šîn — 7 Occ.
lə·qad·dî·šê — 1 Occ.
ū·lə·qad·dî·šê — 1 Occ.
wə·qad·dîš — 2 Occ.

6921
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