What does it mean that God is holy?
Quick answer
God is holy means he is utterly separate from sin, morally perfect, and infinitely majestic. Holiness is not just one attribute among many; it is the inner intensity of all his attributes — the "set-apart-ness" of God himself.
The seraphim cry "Holy, holy, holy" (Isaiah 6:3) — Hebrew’s superlative form. Nothing else is described as triply qualified in Scripture.
God’s holiness means he cannot tolerate sin. It also means he is uniquely glorious, perfectly good, and entirely set apart from creation.
For us, the holiness of God grounds the gospel: a holy God provides his own holy Son to make unholy sinners holy. "Be holy, for I am holy."
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Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.