In the Bible, “holy” means set apart, completely different, pure. God is holy—and he calls people close to him so that they too may become holy. Here you will find 20 Bible verses about God’s holiness and about becoming holy in everyday life.
Holy is the LORD
Verses about God’s holiness.
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And one called to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; all the land is full of his glory!
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LORD, who is like you among the gods? Who is like you, so mighty, holy, awesome, praiseworthy, and wonderful?
Exodus 15:11Miracles
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There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one like you, and no stronghold like our God.
1 Samuel 2:2Rock
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Exalt the LORD, our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD, our God, is holy.
Psalm 99:9
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And each of the four living creatures had six wings, and they were full of eyes on the outside and on the inside, and they had no rest day or night, and they said: Holy, holy, holy is God the LORD, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!
Revelation 4:8
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Who should not fear you, LORD, and praise your name? For you alone are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you; for your judgments have been revealed.
Revelation 15:4Awe
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Your eyes are pure, so that you cannot look upon evil.
Habakkuk 1:13aEvil
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He said: Do not come near; take your shoes off your feet; for the place where you stand is holy ground!
Exodus 3:5
You shall be holy
God calls people to a holy life.
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Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy; for I am holy, the LORD, your God.
Deuteronomy 19:2
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Rather, after the one who called you and made you holy, you too shall be holy in all your ways. For it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:15-16
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For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you avoid sexual immorality.
1 Thessalonians 4:3God’s will
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But he, the God of peace, will sanctify you completely, and your spirit, soul, and body will be kept blameless until the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ.
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Pursue peace with everyone and holiness, without which no one will see the LORD.
Hebrews 12:14PeaceReconciliation
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Now that we have such promises, my beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of body and spirit, and continue in holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
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Now that you are free from sin and have become servants of God, you have fruit in that you are becoming holy, and the end is eternal life.
Romans 6:22FreedomBearing fruit
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And such you once were; but you have been washed, you have been sanctified, you have been justified through the name of the LORD Jesus and through the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11
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For he chose us through the same one before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love.
Ephesians 1:4Blameless
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But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9CallingIdentity in Christ
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In this will we were sanctified all at once through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10:10Sacrifice
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Sanctify them in your truth; for your word is truth.
John 17:17God’s wordTruth
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
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What Does “Holy” Mean?
The Hebrew word qadosch originally meant “set apart,” “completely different.” God is holy because he is not a part of the world, but its Creator—pure, just, perfect. When Isaiah sees him in the temple, the angels call out “Holy” three times (Isaiah 6:3), and Isaiah cries, “Woe is me, for I am undone!” Holiness is overwhelming in the Bible. And yet the holy God comes close to people: He purifies Isaiah’s lips and sends him.
Becoming Holy in Everyday Life
“You shall be holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16, according to Deuteronomy 19:2). Becoming holy does not mean living an otherworldly, perfect life, but belonging to God and allowing him to transform you. Paul calls the Christians in Corinth “holy,” even though there was plenty of disorder in the church (1 Corinthians 1:2). Holiness is both a gift and a path: God sanctifies, and people “pursue” holiness (Hebrews 12:14). Learn more about Bible verses about awe of God, Bible verses about purification, and Bible verses about growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does “Holy, Holy, Holy” Mean?
The angels’ threefold cry in Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8 emphasizes God’s perfect holiness. In Hebrew, repetition expresses the highest degree.
What Is Sanctification?
Sanctification is the process by which God transforms a person and makes them more like him (1 Thessalonians 4:3; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
