What does קֹדֶשׁ (qōdeš) mean in the Bible?
קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh) names holiness, sacredness, or something designated as holy. ' The noun's range is learned from these uses, not from a claim that its root always means separation.
Hebrew · H6944
קֹדֶשׁ
A sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
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קֹדֶשׁ H6944
Pronunciation qōdeš
What does קֹדֶשׁ (qōdeš) mean in the Bible?
קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh) names holiness, sacredness, or something designated as holy. ' The noun's range is learned from these uses, not from a claim that its root always means separation.
Reader summary
Full entry for קֹדֶשׁ (H6944) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6944?
The BSB source-word alignment has 469 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include holy (40), . . . (27), the holy (21), My holy (16), of the sanctuary (13).
Where does קֹדֶשׁ (qōdeš) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 3:5. Its strongest book concentrations include Leviticus (92), Exodus (70), Ezekiel (57), Numbers (57).
Are there verse guides for קֹדֶשׁ (qōdeš)?
This entry includes 1 verse guide that explain exact original-language forms in context.
What This Word Actually Means
קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh) names holiness, sacredness, or something designated as holy. It can refer to holy ground, sanctuary space, offerings, garments, days, and the inscription 'Holy to the Lord.' The noun's range is learned from these uses, not from a claim that its root always means separation. Exodus 3 calls the ground holy because the Lord meets Moses there. Priestly texts mark people, places, and objects for service in God's presence.
Psalms speak of worship in holy splendor, and Isaiah 35 names a Way of Holiness within a promise of restoration. Zechariah 14 extends 'Holy to the Lord' beyond priestly equipment to ordinary objects, picturing a future in which all life belongs to God. Related adjective and verb forms also speak of God's own holiness and His people's calling, but they should not be collapsed into this noun.
Qodesh joins worship, consecration, moral obedience, mercy, and reverent access without making ritual status a tool for shame, exclusion, or control.
How the Bible Uses It
קֹדֶשׁ identifies holiness or what is sacred across places, objects, worship, and promised restoration. The noun often marks what belongs to God's service or presence. Each passage determines whether the focus is location, status, worship, or holy life.
- Exod.3.5
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”
The place is called holy ground because the Lord meets Moses there. The text grounds reverence in God's presence and command, not in an inherent quality Moses can manipulate.
- Exod.28.36
You are to make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: HOLY TO THE Lord.
The high priest's gold plate bears a public designation of belonging to the Lord. Priestly holiness is a commissioned status with serious responsibilities, not personal superiority.
- Ps.29.2
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.
The psalm joins holiness and worship. The phrase calls the worshiper to honor the Lord's glory rather than treating holiness as only a technical category.
- Isa.35.8
And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it—only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it.
Within Isaiah's restoration vision, the Way of Holiness leads the redeemed home. The image joins purity, safe passage, joy, and return rather than reducing holiness to exclusion.
- Zech.14.20
On that day, HOLY TO THE Lord will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the house of the Lord will be like the sprinkling bowls before the altar.
Zechariah places the priestly inscription on ordinary equipment. The vision widens consecration across daily life and worship in the promised future.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It holy 40× Exodus 22:31, Exodus 28:2, Exodus 28:36, Exodus 30:10
. . . 27× Exodus 26:33, Exodus 26:34, Exodus 29:37, Leviticus 16:33
the holy 21× Exodus 29:6, Exodus 29:29, Leviticus 8:9, Leviticus 10:10
My holy 16× Leviticus 20:3, Leviticus 22:2, Leviticus 22:32, Isaiah 11:9
of the sanctuary 13× Exodus 38:27, Leviticus 4:6, Leviticus 10:4, Numbers 3:28
Your holy 13× Exodus 15:13, Deuteronomy 26:15, Nehemiah 9:14, Psalms 5:7
a sacred 12× Exodus 12:16, Exodus 30:25, Leviticus 23:7, Leviticus 23:21
both according to the sanctuary 12× Numbers 7:13, Numbers 7:19, Numbers 7:25, Numbers 7:31
according to the sanctuary 11× Exodus 30:13, Exodus 38:24, Exodus 38:25, Exodus 38:26
His holy 11× Psalms 30:4, Psalms 47:8, Psalms 48:1, Psalms 78:54
most 9× Exodus 30:10, Exodus 30:29, Exodus 30:36, Exodus 40:10
the sacred offerings 9× Leviticus 22:2, Leviticus 22:3, Leviticus 22:4, Leviticus 22:6
the sanctuary 8× Exodus 28:35, Exodus 36:1, Exodus 36:3, Numbers 4:12
the Holy Place 7× Exodus 26:33, Leviticus 16:3, 1 Kings 8:8, 1 Kings 8:10
the Most Holy Place 7× Leviticus 16:2, Leviticus 16:16, Leviticus 16:20, Leviticus 16:23
in His holy 6× 1 Chronicles 16:10, Ezra 9:8, Psalms 24:3, Psalms 33:21
in the sanctuary 6× Exodus 39:1, Exodus 39:41, Leviticus 14:13, Psalms 63:2
is holy 6× Exodus 3:5, Exodus 30:32, Exodus 31:14, Leviticus 27:30
are holy 5× Numbers 18:17, Joshua 6:19, 2 Chronicles 8:11, Ezra 8:28
from His holy 5× Psalms 3:4, Psalms 20:6, Jeremiah 25:30, Micah 1:2
sacred 5× Exodus 30:31, Leviticus 12:4, Numbers 5:9, 1 Kings 8:4
had dedicated 4× 1 Kings 7:51, 1 Kings 15:15, 2 Chronicles 5:1, 2 Chronicles 15:18
in the holy 4× Leviticus 10:17, Nehemiah 11:1, Nehemiah 11:18, Ezekiel 44:19
of His holiness 4× 1 Chronicles 16:29, 2 Chronicles 20:21, Psalms 29:2, Psalms 96:9
on My holy 4× Isaiah 58:13, Ezekiel 20:40, Joel 2:1, Zephaniah 3:11
the sacred 4× Exodus 37:29, Leviticus 16:4, Leviticus 16:32, Leviticus 23:4
as holy 3× Leviticus 27:14, Numbers 18:10, 2 Chronicles 31:18
both the holy 3× Exodus 31:10, Exodus 35:19, Exodus 39:41
consecrated 3× Leviticus 19:24, 1 Samuel 21:4, Haggai 2:12
holy things 3× Leviticus 5:15, Numbers 4:4, Numbers 4:19
in the Holy [Place] 3× Exodus 28:43, Exodus 29:30, Exodus 35:19
in the Holy Place 3× Leviticus 6:30, 2 Chronicles 29:7, 2 Chronicles 35:5
of the holy 3× Exodus 39:30, Ezekiel 48:21, Daniel 12:7
on the holy 3× Psalms 87:1, Isaiah 27:13, Ezekiel 28:14
the holy objects 3× Numbers 4:15, Numbers 7:9
the most 3× Leviticus 21:22, Numbers 4:19, Ezekiel 45:3
the most holy offerings 3× Numbers 18:9, Ezekiel 42:13
the most holy things 3× 1 Chronicles 23:13, Ezra 2:63, Nehemiah 7:65
[is] most 2× Leviticus 14:13, Leviticus 27:28
[it] 2× Leviticus 22:10, Ezekiel 48:18
a holy 2× Exodus 16:23, Ezekiel 45:1
and holy 2× Exodus 30:35, Psalms 98:1
as sacred 2× Leviticus 23:2, Leviticus 23:37
for My holy 2× Ezekiel 36:22, Ezekiel 39:25
from His sanctuary 2× Psalms 60:6, Psalms 108:7
in the Most Holy Place 2× Exodus 26:34, Leviticus 16:17
is in His holy 2× Psalms 11:4, Habakkuk 2:20
it is a most 2× Leviticus 2:3, Leviticus 2:10
My holy things 2× Ezekiel 22:8, Ezekiel 22:26
of My holy things 2× Ezekiel 44:8, Ezekiel 44:13
of the dedicated things 2× 1 Chronicles 26:20, 1 Chronicles 28:12
of the holy things 2× Exodus 28:38, 2 Chronicles 31:6
on the sanctuary 2× Exodus 36:4, Exodus 38:24
that he 2× 1 Kings 15:15, 2 Chronicles 15:18
the Holy [Place] 2× Exodus 28:29, Leviticus 10:18
the sacred objects 2× 2 Kings 12:18, 2 Chronicles 24:7
the sacred offering 2× Leviticus 22:10, Leviticus 22:14
to Your holy 2× 1 Chronicles 16:35, Psalms 106:47
will be holy 2× Jeremiah 31:40, Ezekiel 45:1
with the holy 2× Exodus 40:13, Numbers 35:25
(that is, the Most Holy Place 1× 1 Kings 7:50
[are] holy 1× Leviticus 16:4
[bless] His holy 1× Psalms 103:1
[God’s] sanctuary 1× Psalms 114:2
[there shall be] a sacred 1× Leviticus 23:35
[these] holy 1× Exodus 28:4
[upon] My holy 1× Psalms 2:6
[will be called] the Holy 1× Zechariah 8:3
a day of sacred 1× Leviticus 23:3
a holy portion 1× Ezekiel 45:4
a most 1× Leviticus 24:9
a most holy portion 1× Ezekiel 48:12
a sacred offering 1× Leviticus 22:14
according to the sanctuary shekel 1× Numbers 3:50
after the holy 1× Isaiah 48:2
all according to the sanctuary 1× Exodus 30:24
and another 1× Exodus 12:16
and dedicated gifts 1× 2 Chronicles 31:12
and for the holy 1× Exodus 35:21
and the consecrated gifts 1× 2 Chronicles 31:14
And the consecrated offerings [were] 1× 2 Chronicles 29:33
and the holy 1× 1 Chronicles 22:19
and the inner sanctuary 1× Ezekiel 41:23
and the sanctuary 1× Daniel 9:26
and your holy 1× Daniel 9:24
are consecrated 1× 2 Chronicles 23:6
are the holy 1× Ezekiel 42:13
Arrayed in holy 1× Psalms 110:3
as a most holy [offering] 1× Numbers 18:10
as a sacred offering 1× Leviticus 27:23
as most holy [offerings] 1× Numbers 18:9
as sacred gifts 1× 2 Kings 12:4
as well as the holy 1× Exodus 39:1
at His holy 1× Psalms 99:9
at the holy objects 1× Numbers 4:20
by His holiness 1× Amos 4:2
by My holiness 1× Psalms 89:35
Can consecrated 1× Jeremiah 11:15
for sacrifices 1× Ezekiel 36:38
for the holy offerings 1× Nehemiah 10:33
for the Holy Place 1× Exodus 31:11
for the sanctuary 1× Exodus 36:6
for this holy 1× 1 Chronicles 29:3
for Your holy 1× 1 Chronicles 29:16
from the Most Holy Place 1× Exodus 26:33
from the sanctuary 1× Psalms 20:2
from these a sacred 1× Exodus 30:25
from Your holy 1× Isaiah 63:15
his own consecrated items 1× 2 Kings 12:18
His sanctuary 1× Psalms 68:17
holiness 1× Psalms 93:5
holy [part] 1× Leviticus 24:9
Holy [Place] 1× Ezekiel 45:3
holy day 1× Exodus 35:2
holy part 1× Leviticus 2:3
I will make My holy 1× Ezekiel 39:7
in His sanctuary 1× Psalms 150:1
in holiness 1× Exodus 15:11
in My holy 1× Isaiah 62:9
In the Most Holy 1× 2 Chronicles 3:10
in the sanctuary area 1× Numbers 28:7
including the holy objects 1× Numbers 4:16
into the Most Holy Place 1× Leviticus 16:27
into the sanctuary 1× Psalms 68:24
is a holy 1× Numbers 6:20
is most 1× Leviticus 10:17
is sacred 1× Exodus 29:34
is the Most Holy Place 1× Ezekiel 41:4
it [is] most 1× Leviticus 6:25
it in the sanctuary area 1× Leviticus 10:18
it is holy 1× Ezekiel 48:14
most holy 1× Exodus 29:37
O holy 1× Jeremiah 31:23
of His sanctuary 1× Psalms 102:19
of Holiness 1× Isaiah 35:8
of holy ones 1× Deuteronomy 33:2
of the Most Holy Place 1× 1 Chronicles 6:49
of the sacred 1× Leviticus 22:12
of the temple 1× Lamentations 4:1
of your sanctuary 1× Isaiah 43:28
on Your holy 1× Psalms 15:1
or holy 1× Nehemiah 10:31
or the most holy things 1× Ezekiel 44:13
Our holy 1× Isaiah 64:11
place 1× 2 Chronicles 30:27
Regarding any holy thing 1× Leviticus 5:16
regards the most 1× Numbers 4:4
rules of the sanctuary 1× 2 Chronicles 30:19
sacred gifts 1× Numbers 5:10
sanctuary 1× Malachi 2:11
set apart 1× Isaiah 23:18
so that the holy 1× Ezra 9:2
so the holy 1× Isaiah 6:13
the [other] holy [offerings] 1× 2 Chronicles 35:13
the consecrated [bread] 1× 1 Samuel 21:6
the holy [food] 1× Leviticus 21:22
the holy area 1× Ezekiel 42:14
the holy things 1× 1 Chronicles 23:28
the Most Holy 1× 2 Chronicles 3:8
the Most Holy [Place] 1× Daniel 9:24
the sacred [portion] 1× Deuteronomy 26:13
their holy 1× Exodus 28:38
then the sanctuary 1× Daniel 8:14
there is to be a sacred 1× Numbers 28:18
there shall be a sacred 1× Leviticus 23:8
things are sacred 1× Exodus 29:33
to dedicate 1× Proverbs 20:25
to the Most Holy Place 1× 2 Chronicles 4:22
to the sanctuary 1× Psalms 134:2
vvv 1× 2 Chronicles 31:14
was holy 1× Jeremiah 2:3
what is holy 1× Leviticus 19:8
will be most holy 1× Ezekiel 43:12
with My sacred 1× Psalms 89:20
you shall regard it as holy 1× Exodus 30:37
Your holy place 1× Isaiah 63:18
your holy sacrifices 1× Ezekiel 20:40
your holy things 1× Deuteronomy 12:26
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 3:5 קֹ֖דֶשׁ to is holy Noun - masculine singular Exodus 12:16 קֹ֔דֶשׁ to a sacred Noun - masculine singular Exodus 12:16 קֹ֖דֶשׁ to and another Noun - masculine singular Exodus 15:11 בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ to in holiness Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Exodus 15:13 קָדְשֶֽׁךָ׃ to Your holy Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Exodus 16:23 קֹ֛דֶשׁ to a holy Noun - masculine singular Exodus 22:31 קֹ֖דֶשׁ to holy Noun - masculine singular Exodus 26:33 הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ to the Holy Place Article | Noun - masculine singular Exodus 26:33 קֹ֥דֶשׁ to from the Most Holy Place Noun - masculine singular construct Exodus 26:33 הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃ to . . . Article | Noun - masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 3:5
Aligned rows 469
Books represented 29
Exodus 70 Leviticus 92 Numbers 57 Deuteronomy 4 Joshua 2 1 Samuel 3 1 Kings 12 2 Kings 3 1 Chronicles 17 2 Chronicles 30 Ezra 6 Nehemiah 7 Psalms 45 Proverbs 1 Isaiah 23 Jeremiah 6 Lamentations 1 Ezekiel 57 Daniel 13 Joel 3 Amos 2 Obadiah 2 Jonah 2 Micah 1 Habakkuk 1 Zephaniah 2 Haggai 1 Zechariah 5 Malachi 1
Source forms
הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ 34x haq·qō·ḏeš Exodus 28:29, Exodus 30:13, Exodus 30:24, Exodus 36:1
קֹ֖דֶשׁ 25x qō·ḏeš Exodus 3:5, Exodus 12:16, Exodus 22:31, Exodus 28:2
קֹ֥דֶשׁ 22x qō·ḏeš Exodus 26:33, Exodus 29:33, Exodus 29:34, Exodus 30:36
קֹ֑דֶשׁ 21x qō·ḏeš Leviticus 22:10, Leviticus 23:2, Leviticus 23:4, Leviticus 23:35
קֹ֣דֶשׁ 20x qō·ḏeš Exodus 29:37, Exodus 30:29, Exodus 30:32, Leviticus 12:4
הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ 19x haq·qō·ḏeš Exodus 26:33, Exodus 38:27, Leviticus 8:9, Leviticus 10:4
הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ 16x haq·qō·ḏeš Exodus 35:21, Exodus 38:24, Exodus 38:25, Leviticus 4:6
הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ 13x haq·qō·ḏeš Exodus 29:6, Exodus 36:3, Exodus 39:30, Leviticus 5:15
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - masculine singular 111x Exodus 26:33, Exodus 28:29, Exodus 28:35, Exodus 29:6
Noun - masculine singular 111x Exodus 3:5, Exodus 12:16, Exodus 16:23, Exodus 22:31
Noun - masculine singular construct 36x Exodus 26:33, Exodus 29:37, Exodus 30:10, Exodus 30:29
Article | Noun - masculine plural 34x Exodus 26:33, Exodus 26:34, Exodus 28:38, Leviticus 21:22
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular 29x 1 Chronicles 16:10, 2 Chronicles 30:27, Ezra 9:8, Psalms 3:4
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular 28x Leviticus 20:3, Leviticus 22:2, Leviticus 22:32, Psalms 2:6
Noun - masculine plural 25x Exodus 29:37, Exodus 30:10, Exodus 30:29, Exodus 30:36
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular 20x Exodus 15:13, Deuteronomy 26:15, 1 Chronicles 16:35, 1 Chronicles 29:16
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Teach reverence and obedient belonging to God together with mercy, cleansing, truth, and protection for vulnerable people.
- When applying priestly or purity texts, explain their covenant setting before drawing conclusions for Christian worship or daily life.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that everything called holy has the same function or that sacred status proves moral superiority.
- Do not claim that the lexical family itself proves the whole doctrine of sanctification or authorizes coercive purity rules.
Key Verse and Form Guides
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
Hebrew word. Sanctity defined by separateness from the profane; God's realm intrinsically set apart and demanding human reverence.
Source Gloss
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Sanctity defined by separateness from the profane; God's realm intrinsically set apart and demanding human reverence.
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity BDB: apartness Usage: consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (× most) holy (× day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Set apart for sacred purpose.
Set apart for God’s sacred purposes.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 467 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
קֹדֶשׁ is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
The concern for priestly purity reflects the priority of holiness in restored covenant worship. Isaiah 23:15-18
Profit redirected to the Lord signifies transformed allegiance. Nehemiah 7:5-73
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Qodesh teaches that holiness is not an abstract mood. Scripture attaches it to God's presence, His claim, and the ordered service of worship. Moses removes his sandals on holy ground. The priest bears 'Holy to the Lord.' Worshipers honor God in holy splendor. Isaiah's highway places holiness within restoration, and Zechariah imagines the priestly inscription reaching horses and cooking pots.
These passages keep sacred status and holy life together without confusing them. What belongs to God is treated according to His word, and His people are called to lives that reflect His character. Yet holiness must never become a cover for fear, domination, or contempt. The holy God cleanses and commissions Isaiah, provides priestly mediation, restores exiles, and promises a renewed order.
Christian teaching may trace these themes to Christ's priestly work and the Holy Spirit's presence, while still letting each Old Testament use retain its own cultic, poetic, or prophetic function.
Anchor passage
Exod.3.5
Doctrinal connections
- Exodus 3:1-6 joins holy ground, divine presence, reverence, and God's call to Moses.
- Exodus 28 and Leviticus 8-10 place priestly holiness within consecrated service and accountable approach to God.
- Psalms 29 and 96 summon worship in the splendor of holiness.
- Isaiah 35 places the Way of Holiness within restoration, safe return, and joy.
- Zechariah 14:20-21 envisions 'Holy to the Lord' extending into ordinary life.
- Hebrews 9-10 and First Peter 1-2 connect access, priesthood, cleansing, and holy life to Christ without erasing the Old Testament settings.
קֹדֶשׁ is a noun that can denote holiness or a holy place, object, portion, or status. It is related to adjective and verb forms in the same lexical family, but those related forms are not interchangeable. Construct phrases and nearby nouns often specify what is holy and to whom it belongs.
From Old to New Testament
The New Testament speaks of the Holy Spirit, holy people, holy conduct, and access to God's presence through Christ. Hebrews develops priestly and sanctuary fulfillment, while First Peter applies Israel's holy-priesthood language to the church. These connections arise canonically and should not be reduced to one Hebrew root gloss.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain