Lexical Definition
ἅγιον hágion (hag'-ee-on) Holy Place G:A
neuter of ἅγιος
holiest (of all), holy place, sanctuary.
- a sacred thing (i.e. spot)
Abbott-Smith
ἅγιος, -α, ον (< τό ἅγός, religious awe; ἅζω, to venerate), [in LXX chiefly for קֹ֫דֶשׁ;]
primarily, dedicated to the gods, sacred (Hdt.; rare in Att., never in Hom., Hes. and Trag., who use ἁγνός), hence, holy, characteristic of God, separated to God, worthy of veneration.
1. Its highest application is to God himself, in his purity, majesty, and glory: Lk 1:49, Jo 17:11, Re 4:8. Hence
(a) of things and places which have a claim to reverence as sacred to God, e.g. the Temple: Mt 24:15, He 9:1;
(b) of persons employed by him, as angels: I Th 3:13; prophets, Lk 1:70; apostles, Eph 3:5.
2. Applied to persons as separated to God's service:
(a) of Christ, Mk 1:24, Jo 6:69, Ac 4:30;
(b) of Christians, Ac 9:13, Ro 1:7, He 6:10, Re 5:8.
3. In the moral sense of sharing God's purity: Mk 6:20, Jo 17:11, Ac 3:14, Re 3:7.
4. Of pure, clean sacrifices and offerings: I Co 7:14, Eph 1:4.
SYN.: ἁγνός, pure, both in ceremonial and spiritual sense; ἱερός (sacer), sacred, that which is inviolable because of its (external) relation to God; ὅσιος (sanctus as opp. to nefas), that which is based on everlasting ordinances of right. (Cf. Tr., Syn., §lxxxviii; DB, ii, 399 f.; Cremer, 34, 594-601; MM, VGT, s.v.)
Abbott-Smith References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Matthew | 24:15 |
| Mark | 1:24 · 6:20 |
| Luke | 1:49 · 1:70 |
| John | 6:69 · 17:11 |
| Acts | 3:14 · 4:30 · 9:13 |
| Romans | 1:7 |
| 1 Corinthians | 7:14 |
| Ephesians | 1:4 · 3:5 |
| 1 Thessalonians | 3:13 |
| Hebrews | 6:10 · 9:1 |
| Revelation | 3:7 · 4:8 · 5:8 |
Liddell-Scott-Jones
Greek of: קֹדֶשׁ
ἅγιον [ᾰ], α, ον,
devoted to the gods:
__I in good sense, sacred, holy:
__I.1 of things, especially temples, ἈΦροδίτης ἱρὸν ἅ.[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἱρο᾽ν Ἡρακλέος ἅ.[Refs 5th c.BC+]; μητρός.. ἐστι πατρὶς ἁγιώτερον[Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἅ., τό, temple, [LXX+NT]Holy of Holies, [NT]
__I.2 of persons, holy, pure, [LXX+5th c.BC+] οἱ ἅ. the Saints, [NT] πνεῦμα ἅ. the Holy Spirit, [NT] adverb ἁγίως καὶ σεμνῶς ἔχειν[Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II in bad sense, accursed, execrable, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; rare in Attic dialect (see. above). (Possibly cognate with Sanskrit yajati 'sacrifice'.)
LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.Exod.26.33 ☩ Heb.9.2 ☩ Heb.9.3 ☩ LXX.Deut.7.6 ☩ 1Cor.6.1 ☩ Matt.3.11
Profile
Most Holy Place • The innermost room of the tabernacle and temple
The Most Holy Place was the innermost room of the tabernacle and temple, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.
- A location in Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם first mentioned at 1Ki.6.16;
- referred to as Most_Holy_Place קֹדֶשׁ, or Most Holy Place ἅγιον.
The Most Holy Place, also known as the Holy of Holies, was the innermost room of the tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem. It was separated from the Holy Place by a veil (Exod. 26:31-33). The Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tablets of the Ten Commandments, was kept in the Most Holy Place (Exod. 25:10-22; 1 Kgs. 8:6). The high priest entered the Most Holy Place only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for the sins of the people (Lev. 16). The Most Holy Place was a perfect cube, measuring 20 cubits in length, width, and height (1 Kgs. 6:20; 2 Chr. 3:8). It was overlaid with pure gold and contained gold cherubim (1 Kgs. 6:28; 2 Chr. 3:10-13). The Most Holy Place represented the dwelling place of God among His people.