What Is the Meaning of Kadosh (קָדוֹשׁ)? Plus, When to Use It

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A guide to the Hebrew word for “holy”
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While reading the Hebrew Bible or listening to Jewish prayers, you may have come across the Hebrew word kadosh (קָדוֹשׁ). Kadosh means “holy” and refers to something or someone that is distinct or set apart from others. If you’re curious to learn more about kadosh , read on! We’ll explain what kadosh is, what it can refer to, when to say it, and go over some Bible verses that use it.

Kadosh Meaning in Hebrew

Rabbi Avrohom Rapoport explains that kadosh means “holy,” or something that is distinct or set apart from something else. God is kadosh because He is uniquely perfect, omnipotent, and omniscient. Kadosh also refers to the blessing that is used to sanctify Shabbat and separate it from the rest of the week.

Section 1 of 4:

The Meaning of Kadosh

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  1. means “holy,” which refers to distinction or separateness. The Hebrew word קָדוֹשׁ, or kadosh , translates to “holy.” In Hebrew, holiness refers to something or someone that is set apart or distinct from others. In other words, kadosh means that something is special, one of a kind, and not common. [1]
    • Kadosh can be spelled “kodesh.”
    • Kadosh can sometimes refer to the Christian definition of holy, or something or someone that is pure, sacred, or without sin. However, kadosh is more general, so this is a less common meaning.
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Section 2 of 4:

Examples of Kadosh

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  1. God is considered kadosh , or holy, in the Hebrew Bible because he is completely unique from all other beings. According to believers, He is infinitely powerful, omniscient, omnipresent, and free of sin. This puts God in a class of His own and makes only Him worthy of worship. [2]
    • In the Hebrew Bible, God is often referred to as HaKadosh Baruch Hu (הקדוש ברוך הוא), which means “The Holy One, Blessed be He.”
    • While God is separate from Earth and humans, His believers don’t consider Him uninvolved. What sets Him apart and makes Him kadosh is His love for all humans and His forgiveness of sin.
  2. According to the Hebrew Bible, God created humans in His image. [3] This makes humans kadosh and sets them apart from other living things, like plants and animals. Humans are more sacred and share some of God’s essence, like the ability to think, forgive, and spread His love. [4]
  3. In Genesis 2:1-3 of the Hebrew Bible, God created the world in 6 days and rested on the seventh, sanctifying it. [5] Jews consider the seventh day, which is called Shabbat or the Sabbath, as a holy day of rest; they refrain from work and spend time worshiping God. [6]
    • This makes Shabbat or the Sabbath kadosh because it is special and distinct from the other days of the week.
  4. The spaces that God occupies and where He is worshiped are also considered kadosh . Temples and holy sites, like Jerusalem, are consecrated for worship, which makes them distinct and sacred compared to other buildings, landmarks, and cities. [7]
    • Jerusalem is nicknamed Ir ha-Kodesh , which means “The Holy City.”
  5. In Judaism, the first stage of marriage is called kiddushin . This is when a couple commits to each other and sets their intention to marry; in other words, it’s like an engagement. So, marriage is seen as kadosh because the couple separates themselves from the dating pool and forms a one-of-a-kind bond. [8]
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Section 3 of 4:

When to Use Kadosh

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  1. Kedusha is a common prayer that’s recited during the daily standing prayer, Amidah , or during the Yotzer Or prayer. One part of the prayer reads, “Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh, Adonai tz’vaot! M’lo chol haaretz, k’vodo.” [9]
    • This translates to “Holy, Holy, Holy, is Adonai Tzv’aot (My Lord of Hosts)! God’s presence fills the whole earth.”
  2. The Kedoshim is a section of the Torah that recounts the list of commandments God gave Moses. It starts with God telling Moses that he and his followers are holy because God is holy. [10] Reading the Kedoshim can be a great way to remind yourself that you are holy, or kadosh , too. [11]
  3. When you pray to God , refer to Him by His Hebrew names, like HaKadosh Baruch Hu (The Holy One, Blessed be He) or Ruach HaKadosh (The Holy Spirit or spirit of the Holy One). [12] Or, start your prayers with “Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh” to proclaim God’s holiness. [13]
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Section 4 of 4:

Bible Verses Referencing Kadosh

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  1. In this Bible verse, Isaiah sees a vision of God. He hears the angels say, “Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh, YHWH Tsabaoth, melo kal ha’aretz kevodoh,” which means “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” [14]
    • The repetition of kadosh emphasizes God’s holiness, indicating that he is holier beyond comprehension.
    • This Bible verse is the basis of the Kedusha prayer.
  2. Revelation 4:8 also refers to angels proclaiming, “Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh” and reveling in God’s holiness. This speaks to God’s infinite holiness, perfection, and power. [15]
  3. In Leviticus 20:26, God tells Moses and the Israelites “You are to be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be mine.” God proclaims that both He and His followers are kadosh and sacred. [16]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://hebrewwordlessons.com/2018/03/04/holy-kadosh-kadosh-kadosh/
      2. ↑ https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/god-is-holy-and-righteous-are-those-the-same
      3. ↑ https://www.pbs.org/faithandreason/theogloss/imago-body.html
      4. ↑ https://ohr.edu/explore_judaism/ask_the_rabbi/ask_the_rabbi/1362
      5. ↑ https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0102.htm
      6. ↑ https://www.lib.uchicago.edu/collex/exhibits/exsond/sabbath/
      7. ↑ https://ohr.edu/explore_judaism/ask_the_rabbi/ask_the_rabbi/1362
      8. ↑ https://www.malvernejewishcenter.org/2022/05/06/kedoshim-how-are-we-holy/
      9. ↑ https://khnseattle.org/bnai-mitzvah-prayers/kedushah-need-wav-files-hebrew-english-transliteration/
      1. ↑ https://www.sefaria.org/Leviticus.19.1?ven=Tanakh:_The_Holy_Scriptures,_published_by_JPS&vhe=Miqra_according_to_the_Masorah&lang=bi&aliyot=0
      2. ↑ https://www.malvernejewishcenter.org/2022/05/06/kedoshim-how-are-we-holy/
      3. ↑ https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Names_of_G-d/Holy_Spirit/holy_spirit.html
      4. ↑ https://www.jtsa.edu/torah/the-meaning-of-repetition-repetition/
      5. ↑ https://hebrewwordlessons.com/2018/03/04/holy-kadosh-kadosh-kadosh/
      6. ↑ https://biblehub.com/commentaries/revelation/4-8.htm
      7. ↑ https://biblehub.com/commentaries/leviticus/20-26.htm

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