Definition and Meaning of the Word "Holy" in Scripture

The Greek adjective ἅγιος (hagios) and the Hebrew קֹדֶשׁ (qodesh) both carry a fundamental sense of separation or consecration to the divine. In the Septuagint, ἅγιος chiefly translates קֹדֶשׁ ^{[3, 4]}, and the lexical range centers on what is "dedicated to the gods, sacred" in classical usage, evolving in biblical Greek to mean "characteristic of God, separated to God, worthy of veneration" ^{[3, 4]}. The term derives from τό ἅγός ("religious awe") and the verb ἅζω ("to venerate") ^{[3, 4, 6]}, though it appears rarely in Attic prose and never in Homer, Hesiod, or the tragedians, who preferred ἁγνός ^{[3, 4]}. Strong's defines ἅγιος as "sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated)" ^[2].

Primary Application to God

The highest application of holiness belongs to God himself, denoting his purity, majesty, and glory ^{[3, 4, 6]}. Passages such as Luke 1:49, John 17:11, and Revelation 4:8 exemplify this usage ^{[3, 4, 6]}. One medieval Jewish commentator notes that "holiness is an essential attribute of the Lord; it is therefore the same in every place" ^[13]. Easton's affirms that holiness "in the highest sense belongs to God" (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 15:4) ^[5]. Outside biblical Hebrew, the term "holy" is not widely used in Semitic languages; in Daniel 4:13, it likely refers simply to "that which is out of the ordinary or nonhuman" ^[10].

Derivative Meanings: Separation and Purity

The fundamental Hebrew meaning focuses on "separation of a person or thing for a particular function or use," with a derivative sense of "pure" or "morally and spiritually upright" ^[8]. To "hallow" means "to render sacred, to consecrate" (Exodus 28:38; 29:1), from the Saxon root meaning "to make holy" ^[7]. In Romans 1:7, Paul applies the term to Gentile Christians, making clear that "Gentiles are now fully included among God's people" by being "set apart for God" ^[9]—an expression used throughout the Old Testament to describe Israel (Exodus 19:6) ^[9]. A saint is thus "one separated from the world and consecrated to God; one holy by profession and by covenant" ^[1].

Holiness in Believers

For Christians, holiness involves both positional consecration and progressive conformity to God's will ^[5]. It is "a work of gradual development" carried on "under many hindrances," requiring watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:23–24) ^[5]. Being holy entails "purity gained by separation from the world, and living a life so aligned with God that it reflects his passions" ^[11]. The term appears infrequently before Exodus 3:5, where God declares the ground around the burning bush "holy," but thereafter becomes "the central descriptor of God in the Old Testament" ^[12].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Saint — One separated from the world and consecrated to God; one holy by profession and by covenant; a believer in Christ (Ps. 16:3; Rom. 1:7; 8:27; Phil. 1:1; Heb. 6:10). The "saints" spoken of in Jude 1:14 are probably not the disciples of Christ, but the "innumerable company of angels" (Heb. 12:22; Ps. 68:17), with reference to Deut. 33:2. This word is also used of the holy dead (Matt. 27:52; Rev. 18:24). It was not used as a distinctive title of the apostles and evangelists and of a "spiritual nobility" till the fourth century. In that sense it is not a scriptura”
Strong's Greek Dictionary “[G40] ἅγιος (hágios) — Definition: sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated) | Derivation: from (an awful thing) (compare G53 (ἁγνός), G2282 (θάλπω)); | KJV usage: (most) holy (one, thing), saint”
STEPBible TBESG “[G0039] G0039H = the Greek of (H6944H) — ἅγιος, -α, ον (τό ἅγός, religious awe; ἅζω, to venerate), [in LXX chiefly for קֹ֫דֶשׁ ;] primarily, dedicated to the gods, sacred (Hdt.; rare in Att., never in Hom., Hes. and Trag., who use ἁγνός), hence, holy, characteristic of God, separated to God, worthy of veneration. __1. Its highest application is to God himself, in his purity, majesty, and glory: <ref='Luk.1.49'>Luk.1:49</ref>, <ref='Jhn.17.11'>Jhn.17:11</ref>, <ref='Rev.4.8'>Rev.4:8</ref>. Hence __(a) of things and places which”
STEPBible TBESG “[G0039] G0039G = the Greek of (H6944J) — ἅγιος, -α, ον (τό ἅγός, religious awe; ἅζω, to venerate), [in LXX chiefly for קֹ֫דֶשׁ ;] primarily, dedicated to the gods, sacred (Hdt.; rare in Att., never in Hom., Hes. and Trag., who use ἁγνός), hence, holy, characteristic of God, separated to God, worthy of veneration. __1. Its highest application is to God himself, in his purity, majesty, and glory: <ref='Luk.1.49'>Luk.1:49</ref>, <ref='Jhn.17.11'>Jhn.17:11</ref>, <ref='Rev.4.8'>Rev.4:8</ref>. Hence __(a) of things and places which”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Holiness — In the highest sense belongs to God (Isa. 6:3; Rev. 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Rom. 6:19, 22; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Pet. 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 7:1; Eph. 4:23, 24). (See [280]SANCTIFICATION.)”
STEPBible TBESG “[G0040] G0040H = a Meaning of (G0040G) — ἅγιος, -α, ον (τό ἅγός, religious awe; ἅζω, to venerate), [in LXX chiefly for קֹ֫דֶשׁ ;] primarily, dedicated to the gods, sacred (Hdt.; rare in Att., never in Hom., Hes. and Trag., who use ἁγνός), hence, holy, characteristic of God, separated to God, worthy of veneration. __1. Its highest application is to God himself, in his purity, majesty, and glory: <ref='Luk.1.49'>Luk.1:49</ref>, <ref='Jhn.17.11'>Jhn.17:11</ref>, <ref='Rev.4.8'>Rev.4:8</ref>. Hence __(a) of things and places which”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hallow — To render sacred, to consecrate (Ex. 28:38; 29:1). This word is from the Saxon, and properly means "to make holy." The name of God is "hallowed", i.e., is reverenced as holy (Matt. 6:9).”
Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 14:2: 14:2 The fundamental Hebrew meaning of holy focuses on separation of a person or thing for a particular function or use. A derivative meaning is “pure” or “morally and spiritually upright.””
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:7: 1:7 To be holy means to be set apart for God. This expression is used throughout the Old Testament to describe Israel, God’s chosen people (cp. Exod 19:6), whom God called from among all other nations to be his own. By calling the Gentile Christians his own holy people, Paul makes it clear that Gentiles are now fully included among God’s people.”
Daniel (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Daniel 4:13: 4:13 a holy one: The term holy is not widely used in the Semitic languages outside of the Bible. It simply refers to that which is out of the ordinary or nonhuman. Nebuchadnezzar was most probably using it that way here.”
John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 17:16: 17:16-18 Being holy refers to purity gained by separation from the world, and living a life so aligned with God that it reflects his passions. Disciples are set apart by God, equipped by the Spirit, and readied by God’s word to enter the world without being victimized by its darkness.”
Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 3:5: 3:5 The soil around the bush was holy ground, while the soil on the bottom of Moses’ sandals was common. The common cannot touch the holy without being transformed or destroyed (see “Clean, Unclean, and Holy” Theme Note). At the outset of the Exodus, God was making it plain that he is absolutely “other” than his creation, a reality that cannot be overlooked in a proper divine-human relationship. The word holy occurs only a few times in the Bible prior to Exod 3:5. It now becomes the central descriptor of God in the Old Testament. In other Semitic languages, the sam”
Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Isaiah 6:3: Holy . An adjective. Holiness is an essential attribute of the Lord; it is therefore the same in every place. God showed Isaiah this vision, that he might purify himself from the uncleanness of the lips; for the Lord is holy, and so also should be His servants and messengers.”

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