What is the meaning of the word “holy?” Over the years I have participated in lessons and discussions that attempt to explain the meaning of the word “holy.” None of these lessons and discussions seemed to really arrive at the meaning of “holy” because in almost every case, a synonym was used that can also be found in conjunction with the word “holy” somewhere in Scripture.
By examining many of these verses, I deduced what “holy” cannot mean. Holy cannot mean any of the words used in conjunction with holy, such as “pure.” If “holy” is used in Scripture with another attribute, it cannot mean that attribute. For example, holy cannot mean blameless or pure because Hebrews 7:26 (NIV) says “holy, blameless, and pure.”
By re-visiting those same verses, I considered the context, to determine what “holy” might mean. From this, I made a list of possible meanings. This is certainly not an exhaustive list of possible meanings, but it is enough for me to conclude what “holy” means. This is my list of possible meanings.
Based on scriptures in which these words are used in conjunction with Holy in the King James Version (KJV 1789 edition), the New King James Version (NKJV 1982 edition), the New International Version (NIV 1984 edition), and the New American Standard Bible (NASB 1995 edition), here is my list of what “holy” cannot mean.
High – Isaiah 57:15, KJV, NKJV, NIV, NASB
True – Revelation 3:7; 6:10, KJV, NKJV, NIV, NASB
Honorable – 1 Thessalonians 4:4, NIV
Awesome – Psalm 111:9, NKJV, NIV, NASB
Reverend – Psalm 111:9, KJV
Glorious – Daniel 11:45, KJV, NKJV, a mountain is described as holy
Righteous – Psalm 145:17; Revelation 22:11, KJV, NKJV, NASB
Blameless – Ephesians 1:4, NIV, NASB; 5:27, NIV, NASB; Colossians 1:22, NASB, NKJV; Hebrews 7:26, NIV
Without blame – Ephesians 1:4, KJV, NKJV
Blessed – Revelation 20:6, NIV, KJV, NASB, NKJV
Pleasing – Romans 12:1, NIV
Acceptable – Romans 12:1, KJV, NASB, NKJV
Faithful – Isaiah 49:7, NIV, KJV, NASB, NKJV
Disciplined – Titus 1:8, NIV
Temperate – Titus 1:8, KJV
Self-controlled – Titus 1:8, NKJV, NASB
Godly – 2 Peter 3:11, NIV
Pure – Hebrews 7:26, NIV
Just – Titus 1:8, KJV, NKJV, NASB
Good – Romans 7:12, NIV, KJV, NASB, NKJV
Beautiful – Daniel 11:25, NIV, NASB
Without blemish – Ephesians 5:27, KJV, NKJV; Colossians 1:22, NIV
Set apart – Hebrews 7:26, NIV
Sanctified [01] – 1 Corinthians 1:2, NIV, “those who are sanctified, and called to be holy”
Undefiled – Hebrews 7:26, NASB, KJV, NKJV
Innocent – Hebrews 7:26, NASB
Right – Revelation 22:11, NIV
Special – 1 Peter 2:9, NIV, KJV, NKJV, NASB
If you assert that any of the above words are part of the definition of Holy, you're asserting at least one of these four translations is incorrect (KJV, NKJV, NASB, NIV). You might say my conclusion is subject to errors of the translators, but keep in mind, a translator’s goal is to give us the meaning of the passage through the words in the original text. Whether the translator used the correct English word in the translation isn't relevant to the fact that the word is a different word from “holy” in the original language. Since the word was included with the word that means “holy” in the original language, the original writer was making a distinction between that word and “holy.”
Ezekiel 44:23 and 26 (KJV, NKJV, and NIV) indicate that “profane” and “common” are the opposite of holy.
One definition for “holy” that comes to me is “the opposite of evil”. However, that definition is circular. Evil could be defined as that which is not holy. It doesn’t get to the point, and we're still left with the question, “What is the meaning of 'Holy'?”
Paul indicates it means “clean” (as in uncorrupted).
1Corinthians 7:14
For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
Nevertheless, because of its use in other passages, I conclude the meaning of “holy” is “according to God’s intended purpose.”
In the case of God’s holiness, it means God is completely consistent in all ways.
So, if “holy” means “according to God’s intended purpose," anything we do or make that is different from God’s intended purpose might be considered unholy.
But wait a minute…
Allow me to present the concepts of legal, not legal, and illegal and draw an analogy from it.
Under the law, something is legal if there is a law permitting it. Something is illegal if there is a law saying you are not permitted to do it. However, if there is no law addressing the issue, it is not legal and it is not illegal.
So, perhaps “holy” is analogous to this. Something is holy if it is according to God’s intended purpose. Something is unholy if it is contrary to God’s intended purpose. What about something that is not actually contrary to God’s intended purpose, but it is not actually the same as God’s intended purpose? That is, “not holy” but “not unholy.” Is it possible to do or make something that's not according to God’s intended purpose, making it “not holy” but still not be “unholy.”
This is a gray area that concerns me.
For example: seedless fruit. God intended fruit to make seeds. The intended purpose is for the fruit to produce seeds to propagate more fruit. We have seedless watermelon, navel oranges, bananas, seedless grapes, and more. These are clearly contrary to God’s intended purpose. They're not “holy.” But are they simply “not holy” or are they “unholy”?
You might think I’m just stirring the pot, but I really do have concerns about this. Is this a perversion of God’s creation with which God is annoyed, or is this just a harmless extension of man’s creativity and efforts toward a more convenient life?
Sometimes, when I open a navel orange, I see sections that are all messed up inside, especially around the navel. These messed up sections sometimes take up to a third of the orange. Is that a manifestation of the fruit’s unholiness?
Consider the unhealthy modifications we make to almost all our food supply. Is it possible this contributes to our rising incidence of disease and unhealthiness like diabetes, heart disease, and so on. Then there are the genetic modifications we’re making to food. Scientists have been modifying the DNA of our food (GMOs) for many years. They say the modifications are safe, but you could only be sure they are safe if you were God. Whether you believe in God or not, Scientists and Doctors are not God. Do we have an unholy food supply?
Now, they’re making DNA modifications to humans. The “vaccines” presented to the world in response to COVID-19 are not vaccines at all. Among other questionable things, they contain mRNA—Molecules that will change the DNA of the person who receives it. In my mind, this is a clear example of being contrary to God’s intended purpose. It is unholy. This is similar to the corruption of all flesh in Genesis 6:12. (See Genesis 6 - A more detailed summary of what you need to know and do a find on “disembodied Nephilim”.)
The atheistic scientist believes it's a logical direction and a desirable goal to change and attempt to improve the human genome. But for someone who believes in God, it presumes to supplant God. It’s as if God isn’t very bright and He needs scientists to fix what He did poorly.
The problem isn't a poor genome or bad design. The problem is corruption due to thousands of years of sin. I believe many of the things we’ve done to our environment and our food supply are a result of unholy manipulation. We presume to know enough to make risky modifications to plants and animals and introduce questionable products such as plastic into the world. But we’re not God. The more we discover, the more we reveal how little we know.