6944. qodesh
Lexical Summary
qodesh: Holiness, sacredness, sanctuary

Original Word: קֹדֶשׁ
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: qodesh
Pronunciation: KO-desh
Phonetic Spelling: (ko'-desh)
KJV: consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (X most) holy (X day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary
NASB: holy, sanctuary, most holy, holy things, holiness, holies
Word Origin: [from H6942 (קָדַשׁ - consecrate)]

1. a sacred place or thing
2. (abstract, rarely) sanctity

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
consecrated thing, dedicated thing, hallowed thing, holiness, most holy day, portion, thing, saint,

From qadash; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity -- consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (X most) holy (X day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.

see HEBREW qadash

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
apartness, sacredness
NASB Translation
consecrated (2), consecrated thing (1), consecrated things (2), dedicated (1), dedicated gifts (2), dedicated things (5), holiness (9), Holy (6), holy (263), holies (6), holy ones (1), holy portion (3), holy thing (2), holy things (12), most holy (25), most holy place (6), most holy things (6), sacred (2), sacred gifts (2), sacred things (3), sacrifices (1), sacrificial (1), sanctuary (65), set apart (1), thing most holy (2), things that are most holy (1), things dedicated (1).

Topical Lexicon
Nature of Holiness (qodesh)

קֹדֶשׁ designates all that is set apart to God’s unique sphere of purity, otherness, and moral perfection. Whether the word modifies the LORD Himself or something brought near to Him, it signals separation from common use and consecration to divine purpose. The idea pervades the entire Old Testament, appearing in every major literary corpus roughly 464 times, so that holiness becomes a unifying thread in redemptive history.

The Holiness of God

Holiness is first and foremost God’s own essential attribute. “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11). His transcendence is so absolute that even seraphim veil their faces while crying, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts” (Isaiah 6:3). Because His name itself is Holy (Isaiah 57:15), every other use of qodesh derives from and reflects His character.

Holiness in Space

God’s presence sanctifies locations. When Moses approached the bush, he was told, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3:5). The tabernacle introduced graded zones: the “Holy Place” and the “Most Holy Place” behind the veil (Exodus 26:33). Solomon’s temple retained the same structure (1 Kings 6:16), while Ezekiel’s visionary temple expands it to fill the land (Ezekiel 43:12). The geography of holiness anticipates the prophets’ promise that “Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts, the Holy Mountain” (Zechariah 8:3).

Holiness in Time

God set apart the seventh day: “God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it” (Genesis 2:3). The Sabbath command upholds that consecration for Israel’s weekly rhythm (Exodus 20:8). Annual festivals—Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Day of Atonement, Tabernacles—are repeatedly called “holy convocations” (Leviticus 23:2-37), weaving a calendar of sanctified remembrance that points forward to final rest (Hebrews 4:9-10).

Holiness in Objects and Offerings

Furnishings, garments, incense, oil, and animal sacrifices become “most holy” when dedicated by blood or anointing (Exodus 30:29; Leviticus 6:17, 29). The high priest’s gold plate reads, “Holy to the LORD” (Exodus 28:36), proclaiming that even representation before God must bear the stamp of holiness. Failure to treat sacred things as such—whether by Nadab and Abihu’s unauthorized fire (Leviticus 10:1-3) or Uzzah’s touch upon the ark (2 Samuel 6:6-7)—invites immediate judgment.

Holiness in People

At Sinai the nation heard, “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). The holiness code (Leviticus 17-26) applies qodesh to every sphere of life, insisting, “Be holy, because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). Priests receive additional requirements (Leviticus 21:6-8). Nazirites temporarily embrace heightened separation (Numbers 6:8). Ultimately the prophets foresee universal participation: “Everyone who is left will be called holy” (Isaiah 4:3).

Holiness Violated and Restored

To profane holiness is to blur the line between the sacred and the common. “Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the common” (Ezekiel 22:26). Defilement led to exile, yet hope remained: “Seventy weeks are decreed… to anoint the Most Holy” (Daniel 9:24). Restoration visions climax with holiness engraved on even the bells of horses (Zechariah 14:20-21), signaling complete reversal of earlier profanation.

Eschatological Holiness

Holiness expands until it embraces the whole cosmos. Joel promises, “Judah will be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation… the LORD dwells in Zion” (Joel 3:20-21). Habakkuk anticipates, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). Such prophecies find their consummation in the New Jerusalem where nothing unclean enters (Revelation 21:27).

Christological Fulfillment

Though qodesh is an Old Testament term, its reality culminates in Jesus Christ. His incarnation embodies the presence that once dwelt behind the veil (John 1:14). His self-offering sanctifies “through His own blood” (Hebrews 13:12). He is the Holy One foreseen by Psalmists and Prophets (Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 55:4-5). Because He has entered the Most Holy Place once for all (Hebrews 9:12), believers now have “confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19).

Ministry Implications

1. Worship must be God-centered, reverent, and Scripture-regulated, echoing the call to “worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness” (Psalm 29:2).
2. Preaching should “proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9), stressing the ongoing call to holiness.
3. Personal and corporate ethics flow from consecration: “As He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15-16).
4. Mission extends holiness outward; by the Gospel the unclean are sanctified (Romans 15:16), anticipating the day when “Holiness to the LORD” is inscribed upon every aspect of creation.

Thus קֹדֶשׁ traces a comprehensive narrative: the holy God creates, redeems, and will glorify a holy people in a holy place for all eternity.

Forms and Transliterations
בְּקָדְשׁ֑וֹ בְּקָדְשׁ֔וֹ בְּקָדְשׁ֗וֹ בְּקֹ֖דֶשׁ בְּקֹ֥דֶשׁ בְקָדְשִׁ֑י בַּקֳּדָשִׁים֙ בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ בַּקֹּ֖דֶשׁ בַּקֹּ֗דֶשׁ בַּקֹּ֣דֶשׁ בַּקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ בַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ בַקֹּ֗דֶשׁ בַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ בקדש בקדש׃ בקדשו בקדשי בקדשים הַקְּדָשִׁ֑ים הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֑ים הַקֳּדָשִׁ֔ים הַקֳּדָשִׁ֖ים הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים הַקֳּדָשִׁ֜ים הַקֳּדָשִׁ֡ים הַקֳּדָשִׁים֙ הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ הַקֹּ֗דֶשׁ הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ הַקֹּ֛דֶשׁ הַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ הַקֹּ֣דֶשׁ הַקֹּ֤דֶשׁ הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ הַקֹּדֶשׁ֮ הקדש הקדש׃ הקדשים הקדשים׃ וְהַקֳּדָשִׁ֖ים וְהַקֳּדָשִׁ֣ים וְהַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ וְלַקֳּדָשִׁים֙ וְלַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ וְקָדְשֵׁ֖י וְקֹ֥דֶשׁ והקדש והקדשים ולקדש׃ ולקדשים וקדש וקדשי לְקָדְשׁ֑וֹ לְקֹ֖דֶשׁ לְקֹ֣דֶשׁ לַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ לקדש לקדשו מִקָּדְשֵׁ֖י מִקָּדְשֵׁ֣י מִקֹּ֑דֶשׁ מִקֹּ֣דֶשׁ מִקֹּ֥דֶשׁ מֵהַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ מהקדש מקדש מקדשי ק֖וֹדֶשׁ קֳדָשָׁ֔יו קֳדָשָׁ֖יו קָ֝דְשְׁךָ֗ קָ֣דָשַׁ֔י קָֽדָשִֽׁים׃ קָֽדָשִׁ֑ים קָֽדָשִׁ֔ים קָֽדָשִׁ֖ים קָֽדָשִׁ֗ים קָֽדָשִׁ֤ים קָֽדָשִׁ֥ים קָֽדָשִׁ֨ים קָֽדָשִׁים֙ קָֽדָשֶׁ֛יךָ קָדְשְׁךָ֖ קָדְשְׁךָ֜ קָדְשְׁךָ֡ קָדְשִֽׁי׃ קָדְשִׁ֑י קָדְשִׁ֔י קָדְשִׁ֖י קָדְשִׁ֗י קָדְשִׁ֛י קָדְשִׁ֜י קָדְשִׁ֞י קָדְשִׁ֣י קָדְשִׁי֙ קָדְשֵׁ֖י קָדְשֵׁ֣י קָדְשֵׁ֣י ׀ קָדְשֵׁ֣נוּ קָדְשֵׁ֥י קָדְשֵׁ֧י קָדְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם קָדְשֵׁיכֶֽם׃ קָדְשֶֽׁךָ׃ קָדְשֶׁ֑ךָ קָדְשֶׁ֔ךָ קָדְשֶׁ֗ךָ קָדְשֽׁוֹ׃ קָדְשׁ֑וֹ קָדְשׁ֔וֹ קָדְשׁ֖וֹ קָדְשׁ֗וֹ קָדְשׁ֣וֹ קָדְשׁוֹ֙ קָדָשִֽׁים׃ קָדָשִׁ֑ים קָדָשִׁ֔ים קָדָשַׁ֖י קָדָשַׁי֒ קָדָשָׁ֑י קֹ֑דֶשׁ קֹ֔דֶשׁ קֹ֖דֶשׁ קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ קֹ֚דֶשׁ קֹ֛דֶשׁ קֹ֜דֶשׁ קֹ֣דֶשׁ קֹ֤דֶשׁ קֹ֥דֶשׁ קֹ֨דֶשׁ קֹ֭דֶשׁ קֹּ֖דֶשׁ קֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ קֹֽדֶשׁ־ קֹֽדֶשׁ׃ קֹדֶשׁ֩ קֹדֶשׁ֮ קֹדֶשׁ־ קדש קדש־ קדש׃ קדשו קדשו׃ קדשי קדשי׃ קדשיהם קדשיו קדשיך קדשיכם׃ קדשים קדשים׃ קדשך קדשך׃ קדשנו קודש bakkodaShim bakKodesh baq·qo·ḏā·šîm baq·qō·ḏeš ḇaq·qō·ḏeš baqqoḏāšîm baqqōḏeš ḇaqqōḏeš ḇə·qā·ḏə·šî bə·qā·ḏə·šōw bə·qō·ḏeš bekadeSho beKodesh ḇəqāḏəšî bəqāḏəšōw bəqōḏeš hakkedaShim hakkodaShim hakKodesh haq·qə·ḏā·šîm haq·qo·ḏā·šîm haq·qō·ḏeš haqqəḏāšîm haqqoḏāšîm haqqōḏeš kadaShai kadaSheicha kadaShim kadeShei kadesheiChem kadesheiHem kadeShenu kadeSho kodaShav Kodesh kodShecha kodshi lakKodesh laq·qō·ḏeš laqqōḏeš lə·qā·ḏə·šōw lə·qō·ḏeš lekadeSho leKodesh ləqāḏəšōw ləqōḏeš mê·haq·qō·ḏeš mehakKodesh mêhaqqōḏeš mikkadeShei mikKodesh miq·qā·ḏə·šê miq·qō·ḏeš miqqāḏəšê miqqōḏeš qā·ḏā·šay qā·ḏā·šāy qā·ḏā·še·ḵā qā·ḏā·šîm qā·ḏə·šê qā·ḏə·šê·hem qā·ḏə·šê·ḵem qā·ḏə·šê·nū qā·ḏə·šōw qāḏ·še·ḵā qāḏ·šə·ḵā qāḏ·šî qāḏāšay qāḏāšāy qāḏāšeḵā qāḏāšîm qāḏəšê qāḏəšêhem qāḏəšêḵem qāḏəšênū qāḏəšōw qāḏšeḵā qāḏšəḵā qāḏšî qo·ḏā·šāw qō·ḏeš qō·ḏeš- qō·w·ḏeš qoḏāšāw qōḏeš qōḏeš- qōwḏeš vakKodesh vehakkodaShim vehakKodesh vekadeShei vekadeShi veKodesh velakkodaShim velakKodesh wə·haq·qo·ḏā·šîm wə·haq·qō·ḏeš wə·laq·qo·ḏā·šîm wə·laq·qō·ḏeš wə·qā·ḏə·šê wə·qō·ḏeš wəhaqqoḏāšîm wəhaqqōḏeš wəlaqqoḏāšîm wəlaqqōḏeš wəqāḏəšê wəqōḏeš
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Exodus 3:5
HEB: עָלָ֔יו אַדְמַת־ קֹ֖דֶשׁ הֽוּא׃
NAS: you are standing is holy ground.
KJV: thou standest [is] holy ground.
INT: and ground is holy He

Exodus 12:16
HEB: הָרִאשׁוֹן֙ מִקְרָא־ קֹ֔דֶשׁ וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י
NAS: day you shall have a holy assembly,
KJV: day [there shall be] an holy convocation,
INT: the first assembly holy day the seventh

Exodus 12:16
HEB: הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מִקְרָא־ קֹ֖דֶשׁ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם
NAS: assembly, and [another] holy assembly
KJV: day there shall be an holy convocation
INT: the seventh assembly and holy become all

Exodus 15:11
HEB: כָּמֹ֖כָה נֶאְדָּ֣ר בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ נוֹרָ֥א תְהִלֹּ֖ת
NAS: You, majestic in holiness, Awesome
KJV: who [is] like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful
INT: is like majestic holiness Awesome praises

Exodus 15:13
HEB: אֶל־ נְוֵ֥ה קָדְשֶֽׁךָ׃
NAS: You have guided [them] to Your holy habitation.
KJV: [them] in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
INT: about habitation your holy

Exodus 16:23
HEB: שַׁבָּת֧וֹן שַׁבַּת־ קֹ֛דֶשׁ לַֽיהוָ֖ה מָחָ֑ר
NAS: is a sabbath observance, a holy sabbath
KJV: [is] the rest of the holy sabbath
INT: sabbath sabbath A holy to the LORD Tomorrow

Exodus 22:31
HEB: וְאַנְשֵׁי־ קֹ֖דֶשׁ תִּהְי֣וּן לִ֑י
NAS: You shall be holy men
KJV: And ye shall be holy men
INT: men shall be holy become flesh

Exodus 26:33
HEB: לָכֶ֔ם בֵּ֣ין הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וּבֵ֖ין קֹ֥דֶשׁ
NAS: between the holy place and the holy
KJV: shall divide unto you between the holy [place] and the most
INT: and the veil between the holy between and the holy

Exodus 26:33
HEB: הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וּבֵ֖ין קֹ֥דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃
NAS: the holy place and the holy of holies.
KJV: unto you between the holy [place] and the most holy.
INT: the holy between and the holy of holies

Exodus 26:33
HEB: וּבֵ֖ין קֹ֥דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃
NAS: the holy place and the holy of holies.
KJV: [place] and the most holy.
INT: between and the holy of holies

Exodus 26:34
HEB: אֲר֣וֹן הָעֵדֻ֑ת בְּקֹ֖דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃
NAS: of the testimony in the holy of holies.
KJV: of the testimony in the most holy
INT: the ark of the testimony the holy of holies

Exodus 26:34
HEB: הָעֵדֻ֑ת בְּקֹ֖דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃
NAS: in the holy of holies.
KJV: in the most holy [place].
INT: of the testimony the holy of holies

Exodus 28:2
HEB: וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ בִגְדֵי־ קֹ֖דֶשׁ לְאַהֲרֹ֣ן אָחִ֑יךָ
NAS: You shall make holy garments
KJV: And thou shalt make holy garments
INT: shall make garments holy Aaron your brother

Exodus 28:4
HEB: וְעָשׂ֨וּ בִגְדֵי־ קֹ֜דֶשׁ לְאַהֲרֹ֥ן אָחִ֛יךָ
NAS: and they shall make holy garments
KJV: and they shall make holy garments
INT: shall make garments holy Aaron your brother

Exodus 28:29
HEB: בְּבֹא֣וֹ אֶל־ הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ לְזִכָּרֹ֥ן לִפְנֵֽי־
NAS: when he enters the holy place, for a memorial
KJV: when he goeth in unto the holy [place], for a memorial
INT: enters about the holy A memorial before

Exodus 28:35
HEB: בְּבֹא֨וֹ אֶל־ הַקֹּ֜דֶשׁ לִפְנֵ֧י יְהוָ֛ה
NAS: and leaves the holy place before
KJV: when he goeth in unto the holy [place] before
INT: enters about the holy before the LORD

Exodus 28:36
HEB: פִּתּוּחֵ֣י חֹתָ֔ם קֹ֖דֶשׁ לַֽיהוָֽה׃
NAS: of a seal, Holy to the LORD.'
KJV: of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD.
INT: the engravings of a seal Holy to the LORD

Exodus 28:38
HEB: אֶת־ עֲוֹ֣ן הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַקְדִּ֙ישׁוּ֙
NAS: away the iniquity of the holy things
KJV: the iniquity of the holy things, which the children
INT: and Aaron the iniquity of the holy which consecrate

Exodus 28:38
HEB: לְכָֽל־ מַתְּנֹ֖ת קָדְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם וְהָיָ֤ה עַל־
NAS: of the holy things which
KJV: shall hallow in all their holy gifts;
INT: to all gifts things become be on

Exodus 28:43
HEB: הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לְשָׁרֵ֣ת בַּקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וְלֹא־ יִשְׂא֥וּ
NAS: to minister in the holy place, so that they do not incur
KJV: to minister in the holy [place]; that they bear
INT: the altar to minister the holy not incur

Exodus 29:6
HEB: אֶת־ נֵ֥זֶר הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ עַל־ הַמִּצְנָֽפֶת׃
NAS: and put the holy crown
KJV: and put the holy crown
INT: and put crown the holy on the turban

Exodus 29:29
HEB: וּבִגְדֵ֤י הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְאַהֲרֹ֔ן
NAS: The holy garments of Aaron
KJV: And the holy garments of Aaron
INT: garments the holy him of Aaron

Exodus 29:30
HEB: מוֹעֵ֖ד לְשָׁרֵ֥ת בַּקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃
NAS: to minister in the holy place.
KJV: to minister in the holy [place].
INT: of meeting to minister the holy

Exodus 29:33
HEB: יֹאכַ֖ל כִּי־ קֹ֥דֶשׁ הֵֽם׃
NAS: [them], because they are holy.
KJV: shall not eat [thereof], because they [are] holy.
INT: eat because are holy like

Exodus 29:34
HEB: יֵאָכֵ֖ל כִּי־ קֹ֥דֶשׁ הֽוּא׃
NAS: because it is holy.
KJV: it shall not be eaten, because it [is] holy.
INT: shall not be eaten because is holy you

464 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 6944
464 Occurrences


baq·qo·ḏā·šîm — 1 Occ.
baq·qō·ḏeš — 17 Occ.
bə·qā·ḏə·šōw — 4 Occ.
bə·qō·ḏeš — 3 Occ.
haq·qə·ḏā·šîm — 2 Occ.
haq·qo·ḏā·šîm — 32 Occ.
haq·qō·ḏeš — 111 Occ.
qā·ḏā·šay — 4 Occ.
qā·ḏā·še·ḵā — 1 Occ.
qā·ḏā·šîm — 25 Occ.
qā·ḏə·šê — 10 Occ.
qā·ḏə·šê·ḵem — 1 Occ.
qā·ḏə·šê·hem — 2 Occ.
qā·ḏə·šê·nū — 1 Occ.
qā·ḏə·šōw — 29 Occ.
qo·ḏā·šāw — 2 Occ.
qō·ḏeš — 147 Occ.
qāḏ·še·ḵā — 20 Occ.
qāḏ·šî — 28 Occ.
laq·qō·ḏeš — 1 Occ.
lə·qā·ḏə·šōw — 1 Occ.
lə·qō·ḏeš — 3 Occ.
mê·haq·qō·ḏeš — 1 Occ.
miq·qā·ḏə·šê — 3 Occ.
miq·qō·ḏeš — 4 Occ.
ḇaq·qō·ḏeš — 3 Occ.
wə·haq·qo·ḏā·šîm — 2 Occ.
wə·haq·qō·ḏeš — 1 Occ.
wə·qā·ḏə·šê — 1 Occ.
ḇə·qā·ḏə·šî — 1 Occ.
wə·qō·ḏeš — 1 Occ.
wə·laq·qo·ḏā·šîm — 1 Occ.
wə·laq·qō·ḏeš — 1 Occ.

6943
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