God as Holy
In the Bible, God is described as holy. But there are other beings, people, objects and matters that are also called holy. This makes it clear that they have been set aside for God.
God as Holy
God is called “holy” in the Old Testament around a hundred times. In 36 instances, the expression “the Holy One of Israel” is used.
In some books, God’s holiness only plays a small role, as in Deuteronomy
Holy Beings and Objects
In the Old Testament, “holy” is used in different ways. It can refer to:
- beings that are in close proximity to God (for example in Daniel 8:13
, ESV); - people whom God has set aside for his service (especially the people of Israel; see for example Exodus 19:6
and priests ); - things that have been dedicated to God’s service, especially in the Temple;
- places, for example Jerusalem as a holy city (Psalm 46:4
); - times, for example the Sabbath.
Christians as Holy
In the New Testament, people and things are also called holy. This makes it clear that they are connected to God. This includes Christ and God’s Spirit, which are also called holy.
When Christians
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