Holy Place

(הקּדשׁ, ha-ḳōdhesh, Exodus 26:33, ההכל, ha-hēkhāl, 1 Kings 6:17, etc.; ἡ πρώτη σκηνή, hē prō̇tē skēnḗ, Hebrews 9:6 f):

The tabernacle consisted of two divisions to which a graduated scale of holiness is attached: “The veil shall separate unto you between the holy place and the most holy” (Exodus 26:33). This distinction was never abrogated. In the Epistle to the Hebrews these divisions are called the “first” and “second” tabernacles (Hebrews 9:6 f). The term “holy place” is not indeed confined to the outer chamber of the sanctuary; in Leviticus 6:16, it is applied to “the court of the tent of meeting.” But the other is its technical use. In Solomon’s temple we have a different usage. The word hēkhāl, “temple,” is not at first applied, as after, to the whole building, but is the designation specifically of the holy place, in distinction from the debhīr, or “oracle” (compare 1 Kings 6:3, 5, 16, 17, 33, etc.; so in Ezekiel 41:1-2, 4, etc.). The wider usage is later (compare 2 Kings 11:10-11, 13, etc.).

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Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia

Keywords: Holy Place, Most holy, Holy of holies, Tabernacle, Tent of meeting, Solomon's temple, Herod's temple, Temple veil, Sanctuary, Inner sanctuary

Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.

Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.