The holiness of God is a central theme throughout the Bible, reflecting His pure and perfect nature, distinct from all creation. Holiness, in the biblical sense, signifies separation from sin and moral perfection. God's holiness is foundational to His character and is a key attribute that defines His relationship with humanity and the world.

Biblical Foundation

The holiness of God is first introduced in the Old Testament and is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures. In Exodus 15:11, the song of Moses declares, "Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?" This verse highlights God's unparalleled holiness, setting Him apart from all other beings.

In Leviticus 19:2, God commands the Israelites, "Speak to the entire congregation of the Israelites and tell them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.'" Here, God's holiness serves as the standard for His people, calling them to a life of purity and obedience.

The prophet Isaiah had a profound vision of God's holiness, as recorded in Isaiah 6:3, where the seraphim call out, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; His glory fills the whole earth." The thrice-repeated "holy" emphasizes the absolute and complete holiness of God, a concept that is echoed in Revelation 4:8, where the heavenly creatures continually proclaim God's holiness.

God's Holiness and Human Sinfulness

The holiness of God starkly contrasts with human sinfulness. In Habakkuk 1:13, the prophet acknowledges, "Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing." This separation underscores the need for atonement and redemption, as humanity cannot approach a holy God without being cleansed from sin.

The sacrificial system in the Old Testament, particularly the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), illustrates the necessity of purification before entering God's presence. The high priest had to make atonement for himself and the people, symbolizing the cleansing required to stand before a holy God.

Holiness in the New Testament

The New Testament continues to affirm God's holiness, particularly through the person and work of Jesus Christ. In 1 Peter 1:15-16, believers are exhorted, "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" This call to holiness is rooted in the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, enabling believers to live in a manner that reflects God's character.

The holiness of God is also evident in the life and ministry of Jesus. Hebrews 7:26 describes Him as "holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens." Jesus' sinless life and sacrificial death provide the means by which believers are made holy and reconciled to God.

Implications of God's Holiness

God's holiness has profound implications for worship, ethics, and the believer's daily life. Worship is a response to God's holiness, as seen in Psalm 96:9, "Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth." This reverence and awe are due to God's majestic and pure nature.

Ethically, God's holiness demands a life of integrity and moral uprightness. Believers are called to reflect God's holiness in their conduct, as stated in 2 Corinthians 7:1, "Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

In summary, the holiness of God is a defining attribute that permeates the entire biblical narrative. It reveals His perfect nature, sets the standard for human conduct, and underscores the need for redemption through Jesus Christ.Exodus 3:5
And he said, Draw not near here: put off your shoes from off your feet, for the place where on you stand is holy ground.
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Exodus 15:11
Who is like to you, O LORD, among the gods? who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
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Leviticus 11:44
For I am the LORD your God: you shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creeps on the earth.
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Leviticus 19:2
Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
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Leviticus 20:26
And you shall be holy to me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that you should be mine.
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Leviticus 21:8
You shall sanctify him therefore; for he offers the bread of your God: he shall be holy to you: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.
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Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
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Joshua 5:15
And the captain of the LORD's host said to Joshua, Loose your shoe from off your foot; for the place where on you stand is holy. And Joshua did so.
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Joshua 24:19
And Joshua said to the people, You cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
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1 Samuel 2:2
There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside you: neither is there any rock like our God.
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1 Samuel 6:20
And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?
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1 Chronicles 16:10
Glory you in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
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Job 4:17-19
Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
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Job 6:10
Then should I yet have comfort; yes, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
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Job 15:15
Behold, he puts no trust in his saints; yes, the heavens are not clean in his sight.
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Job 25:5
Behold even to the moon, and it shines not; yes, the stars are not pure in his sight.
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Job 34:10
Therefore listen to me you men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
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Job 36:23
Who has enjoined him his way? or who can say, You have worked iniquity?
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Psalm 11:7
For the righteous LORD loves righteousness; his countenance does behold the upright.
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Psalm 18:30
As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
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Psalm 22:3
But you are holy, O you that inhabit the praises of Israel.
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Psalm 30:4
Sing to the LORD, O you saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
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Psalm 33:4,5
For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.
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Psalm 36:6
Your righteousness is like the great mountains; your judgments are a great deep: O LORD, you preserve man and beast.
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Psalm 47:8
God reigns over the heathen: God sits on the throne of his holiness.
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Psalm 48:1,10
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
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Psalm 60:6
God has spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
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Psalm 89:35
Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie to David.
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Psalm 92:15
To show that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
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Psalm 98:1
O sing to the LORD a new song; for he has done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, has gotten him the victory.
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Psalm 99:3,5,9
Let them praise your great and terrible name; for it is holy.
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Psalm 105:3
Glory you in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
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Psalm 108:7
God has spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
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Psalm 111:9
He sent redemption to his people: he has commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
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Psalm 119:142
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and your law is the truth.
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Psalm 145:17
The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
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Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
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Isaiah 5:16
But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
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Isaiah 6:3
And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
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Isaiah 12:6
Cry out and shout, you inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the middle of you.
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Isaiah 29:19,23
The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
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Isaiah 41:14
Fear not, you worm Jacob, and you men of Israel; I will help you, said the LORD, and your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
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Isaiah 43:14,15
Thus said the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
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Isaiah 45:19
I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not to the seed of Jacob, Seek you me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
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Isaiah 47:4
As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.
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Isaiah 49:7
Thus said the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose you.
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Isaiah 52:10
The LORD has made bore his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
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Isaiah 57:15
For thus said the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
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Jeremiah 2:5
Thus said the LORD, What iniquity have your fathers found in me, that they are gone far from me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?
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Lamentations 3:38
Out of the mouth of the most High proceeds not evil and good?
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Ezekiel 36:21,22
But I had pity for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, where they went.
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Ezekiel 39:7,25
So will I make my holy name known in the middle of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
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Daniel 4:8
But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
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Hosea 11:9
I will not execute the fierceness of my anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the middle of you: and I will not enter into the city.
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Habakkuk 1:12,13
Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, you have ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, you have established them for correction.
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Matthew 5:48
Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
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Matthew 19:17
And he said to him, Why call you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if you will enter into life, keep the commandments.
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Mark 10:18
And Jesus said to him, Why call you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
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Luke 1:49
For he that is mighty has done to me great things; and holy is his name.
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Luke 18:19
And Jesus said to him, Why call you me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
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John 7:28
Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, You both know me, and you know from where I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom you know not.
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John 17:11
And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through your own name those whom you have given me, that they may be one, as we are.
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Romans 1:23
And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.
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Hebrews 1:8
But to the Son he said, Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom.
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James 1:13
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man:
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1 Peter 1:15,16
But as he which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conversation;
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1 John 1:5
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
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1 John 2:20
But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things.
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Revelation 4:8
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
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Revelation 6:10
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
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Revelation 15:4
Who shall not fear you, O Lord, and glorify your name? for you only are holy: for all nations shall come and worship before you; for your judgments are made manifest.
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3742. hosiotes -- piety, holiness
... See 3741 (). 3742 ("holiness") looks to the of what God defines as (ie as
heaven's will works out on earth). This is holiness "fleshed ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3742.htm - 7k

42. hagiosune -- holiness
... 42 ("holiness/sanctification") is "the brand" of God's sanctification that brings
His gift of holiness so the believer can fully enjoy eternal life now and in ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/42.htm - 7k

2150. eusebeia -- piety
... God, ie what He calls sacred (worthy of veneration). Word Origin from eusebes
Definition piety NASB Word Usage godliness (14), piety (1). godliness, holiness. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2150.htm - 7k

2412. hieroprepes -- reverent
... 4241 , "fitting") --"befitting men, places, actions, or things sacred to God, reverent"
(K ... From hieros and the same as prepo; reverent -- as becometh holiness. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2412.htm - 7k

The Holiness of God
... The next attribute is God's holiness. Exodus 15:51. ... God's holiness consists
in his perfect love of righteousness, and abhorrence of evil. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/7 the holiness of god.htm

Note C. The Holiness of God.
... Sufficient attention was not paid to the fact that though all these thoughts are
closely connected with God's Holiness, they are but a formal definition of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/holy in christ/note c the holiness of.htm

Second Day. God's Provision for Holiness.
... In the gift from the throne of the Spirit of God's Holiness, representing and revealing
and communicating the unseen Christ, the holy life of Christ descends ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/murray/holy in christ/second day gods provision for.htm

The Holiness of God.
... CHARACTER, ATTRIBUTES AND PROVIDENCE OF GOD. 136. " The Holiness of God. 136. LM
C. Wesley. The Holiness of God. 1 Holy as thou, O Lord, is none! ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/136 the holiness of.htm

First Day. God's Call to Holiness.
... complaints of many Christians as to lack of joy and strength, as to failure and
want of growth, are simply owing to this"the place God gave Holiness in His ...
//christianbookshelf.org/murray/holy in christ/first day gods call to.htm

Praise and Thanksgiving the Holiness of God Brought Near to Man in ...
... Praise and Thanksgiving The Holiness of God brought near to Man in Christ. V. The
Holiness of God brought near to Man in Christ 10,10,10,10,8,8,10,10. ...
/.../praise and thanksgiving the holiness.htm

"But we are all as an Unclean Thing, and all Our Righteousnesses ...
... of sinfulness. Seeing at the first sight of God's holiness and glory, he
cried "unclean," &c. Isaiah 6:5, certainly he doth so now ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xv but we are.htm

Twenty-Sixth Day. Holiness and the Will of God.
... the will of God as his chief good, and has taken the life-principle of Christ to
be his: 'I delight to do Thy will, O God.' This was the holiness of Christ, in ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/twenty-sixth day holiness and the.htm

Sanctified by God the Father.
... And it is precisely the standard of God's holiness which is set before us by the
Saviour as the mark at which we also are to aim, and aim not vainly nor ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter xi sanctified by god.htm

Right Notions of God Essential to Holiness.
... Homily II. Chapter XLII."Right Notions of God Essential to Holiness. "But what
I am going to tell you will be sufficient by way of example. ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xlii right notions of god.htm

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