With our western understanding, we might interpret the word ‘holy’ as incorporating moral righteousness and Godly devotion and, of course, without doubt, those things should be a necessary part of any true Christian’s life.
However, the Hebraic understanding of the word ‘holy’,qadosh in the Hebrew Scriptures, is actually much more than that.
It is rather referring to something SET APART/SEPARATED for a particular purpose.
We need to look at the individual Hebrew letters in the word qadosh (קדש) to search out this fundamental understanding of the word, as it was intended.
Look particularly at the last 2 letters דש
Dalet…a door ד
Shin….teeth. ש
(The meanings above refer to the original ancient pictographs of these letters – see Hebrew Gems)
Together they say ‘dush’
This is a direct reference to the ancient method of threshing, which was separating the husk from the grain.
Now look at the picture of this ancient threshing instrument…you will see a ‘door’ with ‘teeth’!
What comes after threshing? Usable grain that’s been separated from the now useless husk!
This separation is the stripping process God uses (we need to agree to let Him!) to remove the stuff that hinders Him working in us and through us.
We need to understand what we are to be separated from…a world’s system (a system based on independence from God, elevating and satisfying the flesh) that is not God’s system.
So, in Revelation 4:8 and Isaiah 6:3, can we understand what the angels are saying when they cry,
“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY”
They are saying, in essence,
“You, YHVH Elohim, are separate/set apart from everything and all other beings.”
“THERE IS NO-ONE LIKE YOU!”
Enjoy and meditate on this fresh, Hebraic understanding of ‘holy’. 🙌🏻