Home

Kodesh

Kodesh (קדש) is a Hebrew noun meaning holiness or sacredness, derived from the root Q-D-Sh, which also gives the verb forms to be holy and to sanctify. The related adjective kadosh means holy, and the noun kedusha denotes holiness or sanctity. In Biblical Hebrew, kodesh designates what is set apart for God or reserved for sacred use.

In Jewish usage, kodesh refers to things, places, or times that are sanctified or set apart. The

In modern Hebrew, kodesh remains a core concept in religious and cultural discourse. It is used to

concept
underpins
descriptions
of
sacred
spaces
and
objects,
such
as
the
Holy
of
Holies,
traditionally
called
Kodesh
HaKodashim.
The
term
also
appears
in
religious
language
to
refer
to
God
and
his
nature,
with
phrases
such
as
HaKadosh
Baruch
Hu
(the
Holy
One,
Blessed
be
He).
Liturgical
expressions
and
theological
discussion
frequently
draw
on
the
idea
of
kedusha,
the
broader
notion
of
sanctity
in
worship
and
daily
life.
describe
sacred
time
(for
example,
Shabbat
and
Jewish
festivals),
sacred
spaces
and
items,
and
the
ethical
and
spiritual
dimensions
of
dedicating
one’s
life
to
God.
The
word
thus
functions
both
as
a
technical
term
in
biblical
and
rabbinic
contexts
and
as
a
everyday
descriptor
of
what
is
regarded
as
sacred.