קָדוֹשׁ
Kadosh
Holy, set apart, sacred
In Isaiah's vision of heaven, the angels don't cry out 'Love, love, love' or 'Power, power, power.' They cry 'Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh' — Holy, Holy, Holy. Holiness is the only attribute of God repeated three times in Scripture, making it the supreme characteristic of who God is. But what does kadosh actually mean? Most people think of moral purity, but the Hebrew reveals something more fundamental: kadosh means 'set apart, utterly distinct.' God is kadosh because He is completely other — unlike anything in creation. And when He calls you to be kadosh (Leviticus 19:2), He's inviting you into that same distinctiveness. Understanding kadosh will reshape your view of worship, identity, and purpose.
“And one called to another and said: 'Holy (kadosh), holy (kadosh), holy (kadosh) is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!'”
Etymology & Root Letters
Kadosh comes from the root ק-ד-שׁ (qof-dalet-shin), meaning 'to set apart, to separate.' The core idea is distinction — something kadosh is fundamentally different from everything else.
How Kadosh Is Used in Scripture
Kadosh and its derivatives appear over 830 times in the Hebrew Bible — making holiness one of Scripture's most important themes. The triple repetition 'Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh' (Isaiah 6:3) is the only attribute of God repeated three times, emphasizing its supreme importance.
Cultural & Modern Context
The 'Kiddush' (sanctification) prayer said over wine on Shabbat comes from the same root as kadosh. The word 'Kaddish' (the mourner's prayer) also shares this root — even in grief, God is declared holy.
How to Use Kadosh in Prayer
Use kadosh in worship to declare God's holiness. The Kedushah prayer, recited three times daily in Jewish liturgy, echoes the angels' cry. As believers, we are called to be kadosh — set apart for God's purposes.
People Also Ask About Kadosh
Why do the angels say 'Holy, Holy, Holy' three times?
In Hebrew, repetition is the way to express the superlative. Saying something once is a statement. Saying it twice is emphasis. Saying it three times is the absolute highest degree possible. 'Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh' means God is the holiest being imaginable — supremely, infinitely, incomparably set apart. No other attribute of God receives this triple emphasis.
What does it mean to 'be holy as God is holy'?
When God commands 'Be kadosh, for I am kadosh' (Leviticus 19:2), He's not demanding moral perfection. He's calling His people to be distinct — set apart from the surrounding culture for His purposes. Holiness is about belonging to God and living differently because of that belonging. It's identity before it's behavior.
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