Aramaic word · H6922

קַדִּישׁ

kadishin

holy

'Holy, set apart, belonging to the divine sphere'. It is the Aramaic equivalent of Hebrew qādôš. Used as a noun it means 'holy one', and in the Bible and its world that very often means a heavenly being (Psalm 89:5–7; Job 5:1; 15:15; Zechariah 14:5; Deuteronomy 33:2–3).

A Biblical Aramaic word, from the parts of the Old Testament written in Aramaic. Why Aramaic?

Appears 13 times in 12 verses of the Aramaic of the Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) holy, separate

2) (TWOT) angels, saints

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Daniel 4:13

Range of meaning

'Holy, set apart, belonging to the divine sphere'. It is the Aramaic equivalent of Hebrew qādôš. Used as a noun it means 'holy one', and in the Bible and its world that very often means a heavenly being (Psalm 89:5–7; Job 5:1; 15:15; Zechariah 14:5; Deuteronomy 33:2–3). In Aramaic Daniel it also appears in Nebuchadnezzar's phrase 'the spirit of the holy gods' (4:8, 9, 18), and in Daniel 7 for 'the holy ones of the Most High'.

Against the English

'Holy one' is accurate. In church English 'holy' often means mainly 'morally pure', and 'Holy One' often means God himself. Here the main idea is belonging to God's realm. The being is holy because it comes from God's presence, and it is not God.

How it drifted

Over time 'holy' shifted in English toward personal moral goodness and, in older Catholic use, 'saint'. In the biblical period it first named the sphere of the divine and whatever was set apart to it.

Used elsewhere in the period

The Dead Sea Scrolls often call angels 'holy ones' (qĕdôšîm), for example in the War Scroll (1QM) and the Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice. 1 Enoch pairs 'Watchers and Holy Ones'. The Ugaritic texts and Phoenician inscriptions speak of the 'holy ones' (qdšm) as the assembly of the gods.

From the study of Daniel 7:18

Range of meaning

'Holy, set apart', describing what belongs to the divine sphere. Used of gods (Dan 4:8–9, 18 Eng: 'the spirit of the holy gods'). As a noun, 'holy ones' usually means heavenly beings: in Dan 4:13, 17, 23 a 'watcher, a holy one' comes down from heaven, and 'the holy ones' issue decrees. The Hebrew equivalent qedoshim also usually means angels (Ps 89:5, 7; Job 5:1; 15:15; Zech 14:5; Deut 33:2–3 probably). Sometimes it means God's people (Ps 34:9; Lev 11:44–45, where Israel is called to be holy).

Against the English

KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV and NASB have 'saints'. NIV and NLT have 'holy people'. NRSV has 'holy ones'. Only 'holy ones' leaves open what Daniel's Aramaic leaves open. 'Holy people' decides for humans. 'Saints' sounds human and morally excellent to modern ears.

How it drifted

'Saints' comes through the Latin Vulgate's 'sancti'. In English it came to mean either canonised holy persons (Catholic and Orthodox use) or simply all believers (Protestant use, from Paul's letters). Both meanings are human. The Aramaic word does not say 'people', and in the rest of Daniel it most often means angels.

Used elsewhere in the period

Ugaritic texts call the council of the gods 'the holy ones' (qdšm). The Dead Sea Scrolls use 'holy ones' (qedoshim) mostly for angels. Sometimes they use it for the community, which they believed worshipped together with angels (e.g. 1QS 11:7–8; 1QSa 2:8–9). The War Scroll (1QM 17:6–8) pictures God raising 'the dominion of Michael among the gods and the dominion of Israel among all flesh'. That is an angelic and a human rule paired together, much as Daniel 7 may intend. 1 Enoch also regularly uses 'holy ones' for angels.

From the study of Daniel 7:22

Range of meaning

Aramaic qaddîš (Hebrew qādôš) means 'holy': set apart, belonging to the divine sphere. Used as a noun, 'holy one(s)' can mean (a) heavenly beings, the angels of God's court, as normally in the Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Judaism (Ps 89:5–7; Zech 14:5; Job 5:1; Dan 4:13, 17, 23; 8:13), or (b) God's people Israel, who are called a 'holy nation' (Exod 19:6) and who are set apart to God by covenant. The full phrase 'holy ones of the Most High' occurs only in Daniel 7 (vv. 18, 22, 25, 27).

Against the English

KJV, WEB, BSB, ESV and NASB say 'saints'; NIV and NLT say 'holy people'. 'Saints' is not wrong as a Latin-derived word for 'holy ones' (sancti), but a modern reader hears either outstandingly good people or, in Protestant use, all Christian believers. 'Holy people' settles a question the Aramaic leaves open, because it rules out angels.

How it drifted

English 'saint' passed through Latin sanctus and the medieval cult of saints, where it came to mean individuals of exceptional holiness, later formally recognised. Protestant usage then reapplied it to every believer, following Paul's letters. Neither sense is what the Aramaic word brings into focus: belonging to God's holy realm.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Daniel's own Aramaic, 'holy one' is used for a heavenly 'watcher' (4:13, 17, 23), and in Hebrew Daniel 8:13 'holy ones' are angels. At Qumran 'holy ones' (qedoshim) often means angels, and the community saw itself as joined with them in worship (1QS 11:7–8; War Scroll 1QM 12). 1 Enoch also uses 'holy ones' for angels (1 En 1:9). The plural 'Most High' (ʿelyônîn) is a Hebrew divine title (Gen 14:18–20; Ps 82:6) with an Aramaic plural ending, most likely a plural used for majesty or one that matches the plural noun in the phrase.

Where it appears

Daniel · 13

  1. Daniel 4:8 קַדִּישִׁ֖ין holy

    But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream:

    Here: 'Holy' (plural, agreeing with 'gods'). It means divine and belonging to the sacred realm, and is a standard way of describing the gods.

  2. Daniel 4:9 קַדִּישִׁין֙ holy

    “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.

    Here: "Holy", also plural, agreeing with "gods": "holy gods". It means gods who belong to the sacred realm, set apart from ordinary human life.

  3. Daniel 4:13 וְקַדִּ֔ישׁ and a holy [one]

    As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

    Here: 'And a holy one'. The 'and' most likely explains rather than adds: 'a watcher, that is, a holy one'. This is one being who belongs to God's realm, set apart from the human world.

  4. Daniel 4:17 קַדִּישִׁ֖ין holy [ones]

    This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’

    Here: "Holy ones": the same heavenly beings as the watchers, described this time by their belonging to God's sacred realm. The pairing 'watcher and holy one' already appeared in v. 13.

  5. Daniel 4:18 קַדִּישִׁ֖ין holy

    This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

  6. Daniel 4:23 וְקַדִּ֣ישׁ and a holy [one]

    And you, O king, saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and graze with the beasts of the field till seven times pass him by.’

    Here: 'Holy one' here names a being of the divine realm, set apart to God, not a morally good human. The 'and' most likely joins two descriptions of one being ('a watcher, even a holy one').

  7. Daniel 5:11 קַדִּישִׁין֮ holy

    There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king,

    Here: Plural adjective, 'holy', agreeing with 'gods'. Holiness here means belonging to the divine sphere, set apart from ordinary human things.

  8. Daniel 7:18 קַדִּישֵׁ֖י [the] holy [ones] of

    But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’

    Here: Literally 'holy ones', those who belong to God's own sphere. Earlier in Daniel the word means angels (4:13, 17, 23 Eng). Here it might mean angels, faithful Israel, or both. That question is open (see debates). It comes last in its clause, as the delayed subject.

  9. Daniel 7:21 קַדִּישִׁ֑ין [the] holy [ones]

    As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them,

  10. Daniel 7:22 לְקַדִּישֵׁ֖י קַדִּישִֽׁין׃ for [the] holy [ones] of, [the] holy [ones]

    until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.

    Here: 'To' or 'for the holy ones of'. The little word lə- can mean 'to' (they receive judgment, i.e. the right to judge) or 'for, in favour of' (the verdict goes their way). Both are possible Aramaic.

  11. Daniel 7:25 וּלְקַדִּישֵׁ֥י and <obj.> [the] holy [ones] of

    He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.

    Here: "And the holy ones of". These are the people or beings set apart to God. Elsewhere in Daniel the word often means angels (4:13, 17, 23). Whether it means angels, faithful Israel, or both here is debated.

  12. Daniel 7:27 קַדִּישֵׁ֣י [the] holy [ones] of

    Then the sovereignty, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey Him.’

    Here: 'Holy ones' means beings set apart to God. In Daniel's Aramaic it is used of angels (4:13, 17, 23) and here, with 7:18–25, of those who receive the kingdom. Whether these are angels, faithful Israelites, or both is debated.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.