TorahLegal Lexicon › Sanctify

The Legal Lexicon of Scripture
Entry No. 69H6942

69Sanctify

qadash — Hebrew

To sanctify is to set apart into holy status — a legal act of consecration that moves a person or thing from common to holy. Qadash is to declare and make holy: the seventh day was sanctified (Genesis 2:3), the firstborn sanctified to Yahuah (Exodus 13:2), the priests sanctified for office. It is a change of status conferred, not a feeling generated: what is sanctified is transferred into the holy category and thereby subject to holy use and holy rules. To sanctify is the opposite of to profane: one moves a thing into holy standing, the other drags it back to common. Sanctification is set-apart status, legally conferred.
The Root

qadash (H6942) — to set apart, to consecrate, to make or declare holy.

The Courtroom Word

A consecration term — the setting-apart of a person or thing into holy status.

Its Role in the Court

The holy is a category, and to sanctify is to move something into it — a legal consecration, conferring set-apart status. The day, the firstborn, the priests, the vessels are each sanctified: transferred from common to holy, subject thereafter to holy use. It is the reverse of profaning: sanctify moves into holy standing, profane drags back to common. Sanctification is a change of status conferred by the One who makes holy.

Proof Texts

Genesis 2:3 “Elohim blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it.” The day set apart into holy status.

Exodus 13:2 “Sanctify unto me all the firstborn.” The firstborn consecrated.

Leviticus 20:8 “I am Yahuah which sanctify you.” The One who confers holy status.

Exodus 19:6 “Ye shall be unto me... an holy nation.” The people set apart.

In Plain Terms

To sanctify is to set apart into holy status — a legal act of consecration that moves a person or thing from common to holy. The day, the firstborn, the priests were each sanctified: transferred into the holy category. It is the opposite of profaning: sanctify moves into holy standing, profane drags back to common.

Bring It Home

To sanctify is to move something into the holy category — set apart, consecrated, dedicated to Yahuah’s use. The seventh day, the firstborn, the priests: each was sanctified, transferred from common to holy. It is a change of standing, conferred by the One who makes holy — and the exact reverse of profaning.

Courtroom Roles
  • Yahuah (the One who sanctifies) confers holy status.
  • The set-apart (the sanctified) moved from common into holy standing.
  • The holy category (the status) the standing into which the sanctified is placed.
Where It Sits
IThere Is a Court
IIThe Court Runs on One Code
IIIYou Are Named on the Docket
IVThe Acquittal
VYour Life Is the Testing
VIIt Is All Entered as Evidence
VIIThe Bench Convenes

Movement III — You Are Named on the Docket. You are not watching the trial. You are a party to it, entered by name, with standing and an estate.

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