Hebrew word · Strong's H6944

קֹדֶשׁ

qôdesh · ko'-desh · noun · “holiness, sacredness”

In a sentence

Qodesh means holiness — being set apart, sacred, devoted to God. It marks the fundamental difference between God and everything common, and what God consecrates for himself.

Qodesh is the quality of being set apart from the ordinary and devoted to God — the root behind “holy,” “sanctuary,” and “sanctify.” The temple’s inner room was the “Most Holy” (qodesh haqodashim) place.

Holiness flows from God’s own nature: he is utterly distinct, pure, and good. He calls his people to share that set-apart life — “you shall be holy, for I am holy” — not to earn his love but to reflect it.

Strong's reference

Definition: a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity

KJV usage: consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Leviticus 19:2 ““Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” Exodus 15:11 “Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?” Isaiah 6:3 “And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.””

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.