Kedushah
/kəˈduːʃə/noun
A Jewish liturgical prayer of sanctification, especially the congregational recitation of “Holy, holy, holy.”
Did you know?The Kedushah’s triple “Holy” comes from Isaiah’s vision of seraphim crying “Holy, holy, holy,” linking synagogue worship to an ancient celestial scene.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*q-d-š
“A root associated with holiness, sacredness, and separation from ordinary use”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
qōdeš
“Holiness; a holy or sacred thing”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
qiddēš
“He sanctified or declared holy”
Late Hebrew
Hebrew
qədūššāh
“Sanctification; holiness”
Medieval Hebrew
Hebrew
qedushah
“A liturgical declaration praising God’s holiness”
Modern English
English
kedushah
“A Jewish prayer or liturgical passage proclaiming divine holiness”