Bible Dictionary: Holies

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

HOLY OF HOLIES

ho'-liz (qodhesh ha-qodhashim, Exodus 26:33, debhir, 1 Kings 6:16, etc.; in the New Testament, hagia hagion, Hebrews 9:3): The name given to the innermost shrine, or adytum of the sanctuary of Yahweh.

1. In the Tabernacle:

The most holy place of the tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 26:31-33) was a small cube of 10 cubits (15 ft.) every way. It was divided from the holy Ceiled by curtains which bore cherubic figures embroidered in blue and purple and scarlet (Exodus 26:1), it contained no furniture but the Ark of the Covenant, covered by a slab of gold called the MERCY-SEAT (which see), and having within it only the two stone tables of the Law (see TABERNACLE; ARK OF THE COVENANT). Only the high priest, and he but once a year, on the great clothed in penitential garments, amid a cloud of incense, and with blood of sacrifice (Leviticus 16; compare Hebrews 9:7).

2. In the Temple of Solomon:

The proportions of the most holy place in the first temple were the same as in the tabernacle, but the dimensions were doubled. The sacred chamber was enlarged to 20 cubits (30 ft.) each way. We now meet with the word debhir, "oracle" (1 Kings 6:16, etc.), which with the exception of Psalm 28:2, belonging perhaps to the same age, is met with in Scripture only in the period of Solomon's reign. This sanctum, like its predecessor, contained but one piece of furniture-the Ark of the Covenant. It had, however, one new conspicuous feature in the two large figures of cherubim of olive wood, covered with gold, with wings stretching from wall to wall, beneath which the ark was now placed (1 Kings 6:23-28 2 Chronicles 3:10-13; see TEMPLE).

3. In Later Times:

In Ezekiel's temple plans, which in many things may have been those of the temple of Zerubbabel, the prophet gives 20 cubits as the length and breadth of the most holy place, showing that these figures were regarded as too sacred to undergo change (Ezekiel 41:4). There was then no Ark of the Covenant, but Jewish tradition relates that the blood of the great Day of Atonement was sprinkled on an unhewn stone that stood in its place. In Herod's temple, the dimensions of the two holy chambers remained the same-at least in length and breadth (see TEMPLE, HEROD'S). The holiest place continued empty. In the spoils of the temple depicted on the Arch of Titus there is no representation of the Ark of the Covenant; only of the furniture of the outer chamber or holy place.

4. Figurative:

In the Epistle to the Hebrews we are taught that the true holy of holies is the heaven into which Jesus has now entered to appear in virtue of His own sacrifice in the presence of God for us (Hebrews 9:11). Restriction is now removed, and the way into the holiest is made open for all His people (Hebrews 10:19, 20).

W. Shaw Caldecott

Greek

2665. katapetasma -- a curtain (the inner veil of the temple)
... curtain Definition: (lit: that which is spread out downwards, that which hangs down),
a curtain, veil, of that which separated the Holy of Holies from the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2665.htm - 6k

40. hagios -- sacred, holy
... root Definition sacred, holy NASB Word Usage Holy (92), holy (62), Holy of Holies
(1), holy one (5), holy ones (1), holy place (7), most holy (1), saint (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/40.htm - 8k

2369. thumiaterion -- altar of incense, a censer
... ordinarily: censer, but) either the altar of incense, or the shovel, on which the
high-priest poured the coals, when he entered the Holy of Holies on the Day ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2369.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

6944. qodesh -- apartness, sacredness
... consecrated thing (1), consecrated things (2), dedicated (1), dedicated gifts (2),
dedicated things (5), holiness (9), Holy (6), holy (263), holies (6), holy ...
/hebrew/6944.htm - 6k

Library

In the Holy of Holies.
... 24. IN THE HOLY OF HOLIES. [Illustration: Chapter header.] The subject of the sanctuary
was the key which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /24 in the holy of.htm

In the Holy of Holies
... Chapter 24 In the Holy of Holies. The subject of the sanctuary was the key
which unlocked the mystery of the disappointment of 1844. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 24 in the holy.htm

Concerning Holy of Holies, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God of ...
... DIONYSIUS THE AREOPAGITE, ON DIVINE NAMES. CAPUT XII. Concerning Holy of Holies,
King of Kings, Lord of Lords, God of Gods. SECTION I. ...
/.../dionysius/dionysis on divine names/caput xii concerning holy of.htm

Concerning "Holy of Holies," "King of Kings," "Lord of Lords ...
... THE DIVINE NAMES CHAPTER XII Concerning "Holy of holies," "King of kings,"
"Lord of lords," "God of gods.". 1. Forasmuch as the things ...
/.../rolt/dionysius the areopagite/chapter xii concerning holy of.htm

How Pompey had the City of Jerusalem Delivered up to Him but Took ...
... Took The Temple By Force. How He Went Into The Holy Of Holies; As Also What
Were His Other Exploits In Judea. 1. At this treatment ...
/.../chapter 7 how pompey had.htm

Whether the Priesthood of Christ Endures for Ever?
... Objection 2: Further, the priesthood of Christ was made manifest most of all in
His passion and death, when "by His own blood He entered into the Holies" (Heb.9 ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the priesthood of christ.htm

Phenomena Accompanying the Death of Christ: the Earthquake the ...
... [790] The veil of the Holy of Holies in the Temple was rent asunder, [791] signifying
that the Holy of Holies in heaven is opened to all men through the ...
/.../section 293 phenomena accompanying the.htm

Hebrews ix. 5-Jan
... This, he says, [was] the "Holy" [3030] and the "Holy of Holies." [3031] The holy
place then is a symbol of the former period (for there all things are done by ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xv hebrews ix 5-jan.htm

On the Nativity of John the Baptist the First Sermon
... senses. This is truly the altar which stands outside, before the Holy of
Holies, where the goats and oxen are offered to God. Thus ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tauler/the inner way/sermon x on the nativity.htm

Marriage of the Blessed virgin to Joseph
... too, that a very aged priest, who could no longer walk (it was doubtless the high
priest), was carried on a chair by others before the Holy of Holies, and that ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/vii marriage of the blessed.htm

Thesaurus

Holies (23 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HOLY OF HOLIES. ho'-liz ... 20). W. Shaw Caldecott.
Multi-Version Concordance Holies (23 Occurrences). Hebrews ...
/h/holies.htm - 17k

Refined (26 Occurrences)
... the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and the censers, of refined gold, and
the hinges for the doors of the inner-house, for the holy of holies, for the ...
/r/refined.htm - 14k

Curtain (60 Occurrences)
... (2.) The sacred curtain, separating the holy of holies from the sanctuary,
is designated by a different Hebrew word (peroketh). ...
/c/curtain.htm - 27k

Day (17670 Occurrences)
... the altar and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small to be placed behind the
veil; 16:13, of the cloud of incense to be made in the Holy of Holies, so that ...
/d/day.htm - 70k

Cherubs (52 Occurrences)
... 1 Kings 8:6 And the priests bring in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its
place, unto the oracle of the house, unto the holy of holies, unto the place ...
/c/cherubs.htm - 22k

Partition (4 Occurrences)
... The temple itself consisted of the two divisions, the Holy Place, entered by the
priests every day, and the Holy of Holies into which the high priest entered ...
/p/partition.htm - 14k

Holy (1097 Occurrences)
... Holy of holies. The ... 11). It was divided from the holy of holies by a veil
of the most costly materials and the brightest colours. ...
/h/holy.htm - 99k

Ark (212 Occurrences)
... of the ark formed the throne of God, while the ark itself was his footstool (Exodus
25:10-22; 37:1-9). The ark was deposited in the "holy of holies," and was ...
/a/ark.htm - 84k

Testaments
... For when Ptolemy, drunk with victory, came to Jerusalem, he endeavored to enter
the holy of holies of the temple, although he retreated, in confusion, from the ...
/t/testaments.htm - 35k

Covenant (309 Occurrences)
... not willing that David should build one for Him (2 Samuel 7). Solomon then built
the temple and placed the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies of this ...
/c/covenant.htm - 101k

Bible Concordance

Holies (23 Occurrences)

Hebrews 9:3 After the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Hebrews 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
(Root in KJV DBY WBS)

Hebrews 9:12 nor by blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, has entered in once for all into the holy of holies, having found an eternal redemption.
(DBY)

Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
(Root in KJV DBY WBS)

Hebrews 13:11 for of those beasts whose blood is carried as sacrifices for sin into the holy of holies by the high priest, of these the bodies are burned outside the camp.
(DBY)

Exodus 26:33 And thou shalt bring the veil under the clasps, and bring in thither, inside the veil, the ark of the testimony; and the curtain shall make a division to you between the holy place and the holiest of all.
(Root in DBY YLT NAS)

Exodus 26:34 And thou shalt put the mercy-seat on the ark of the testimony in the holiest of all.
(Root in DBY YLT NAS)

Numbers 4:4 This 'is' the service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting, the holy of holies:
(YLT)

Numbers 4:19 but this do to them, and they have lived, and do not die in their drawing nigh the holy of holies: -- Aaron and his sons go in, and have set them, each man to his service, and unto his burden,
(YLT)

Numbers 18:10 in the holy of holies thou dost eat it; every male doth eat it; holy it is to thee.
(YLT)

1 Kings 6:16 And he buildeth the twenty cubits on the sides of the house with ribs of cedar, from the floor unto the walls; and he buildeth for it within, for the oracle, for the holy of holies.
(YLT)

1 Kings 7:50 and the basins, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and the censers, of refined gold, and the hinges for the doors of the inner-house, for the holy of holies, for the doors of the house of the temple, of gold.
(YLT)

1 Kings 8:6 And the priests bring in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its place, unto the oracle of the house, unto the holy of holies, unto the place of the wings of the cherubs;
(YLT)

1 Chronicles 6:49 And Aaron and his sons are making perfume on the altar of the burnt-offering, and on the altar of the perfume, for all the work of the holy of holies, and to make atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses servant of God commanded.
(YLT)

1 Chronicles 23:13 Sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron is separated for his sanctifying the holy of holies, he and his sons -- unto the age, to make perfume before Jehovah, to serve Him, and to bless in His name -- unto the age.
(YLT)

2 Chronicles 3:8 And he made the most holy place; the length thereof, according to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty cubits; and he overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents.
(See NAS)

2 Chronicles 3:10 And in the most holy place he made two cherubim of image work; and they overlaid them with gold.
(See NAS)

2 Chronicles 4:22 and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and the censers, of gold refined, and the opening of the house, its innermost doors to the holy of holies, and the doors of the house to the temple, of gold.
(YLT NAS)

2 Chronicles 5:7 And the priests bring in the ark of the covenant of Jehovah unto its place, unto the oracle of the house, unto the holy of holies, unto the place of the wings of the cherubs;
(YLT NAS)

Ezekiel 41:4 And he measureth its length twenty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits, unto the front of the temple, and he saith unto me, 'This 'is' the holy of holies.'
(YLT)

Ezekiel 44:13 And they draw not nigh unto Me to act as My priest, and to draw nigh unto any of My holy things, unto the holy of holies, and they have borne their shame and their abominations that they have done,
(YLT)

Ezekiel 45:3 And of this measure shalt thou measure the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand; and in it shall be the sanctuary, the holy of holies.
(DBY YLT)

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are apportioned out upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to close the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make expiation for iniquity, and to bring in the righteousness of the ages, and to seal the vision and prophet, and to anoint the holy of holies.
(DBY YLT)

Subtopics

Holies

Related Terms

Refined (26 Occurrences)

Curtain (60 Occurrences)

Day (17670 Occurrences)

Cherubs (52 Occurrences)

Partition (4 Occurrences)

Holy (1097 Occurrences)

Ark (212 Occurrences)

Testaments

Covenant (309 Occurrences)