Kodesh
/ˈkoʊ.dɛʃ/noun
A Hebrew word meaning holiness, sacredness, or that which is set apart for religious purposes.
Did you know?Kodesh comes from a Semitic root associated with separation and sanctification, forming the linguistic family behind Kaddish, Kiddush, and Kedushah.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*q-d-š
“A reconstructed root meaning holy, sacred, or set apart.”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
קֹדֶשׁ (qōḏeš)
“Holiness, sacredness, or a holy place or object.”
Second Temple Period
Hebrew
קודש (qodesh)
“The sacred or consecrated sphere, especially in religious language.”
Late Biblical and Rabbinic Hebrew
Hebrew
קָדוֹשׁ (qādōsh)
“Holy or sacred; the related adjective from the same root.”
Medieval Hebrew and Aramaic
Hebrew/Aramaic
קַדִּישׁ (qaddīsh)
“Holy or sanctified; the root behind the prayer name Kaddish.”
Modern English
English
kodesh
“An English transliteration used in Jewish, biblical, and academic contexts for Hebrew holiness or sacredness.”