Holiness in the Old Testament: A Textual and Thematic Analysis

“You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Leviticus 19:2

The holiness of God and Israel’s call to be holy are arguably at the center of the theological vision of the Old Testament. Thus, a careful and thorough analysis and evaluation of the theme of holiness is critical for understanding both God and this call.

In Holiness in the Old Testament, thirteen respected Old Testament scholars come together to provide a cohesive view of Scripture’s testimony to the nature of holiness. They explore the historical and cultural context of the Hebrew terms related to holiness and aptly argue that any definition relating to God must include his incommunicable and communicable attributes—those qualities that belong to him alone, such as his eternality and transcendence, and those qualities that he expects his people to emulate, such as his steadfast love and ethical purity.

Furthermore, the authors demonstrate that human holiness must be understood “not just as a response to God’s holiness but as the restoration of the image of God in humanity—a key notion for the fulfillment of God’s plans and purposes for the creation as a whole.” By surveying holiness in each major section of the Old Testament and how it relates to other critical Old Testament theological themes, the authors provide a comprehensive biblical and theological study of Holiness in the Old Testament. The careful student will walk away with a deeper understanding of their holy God and their holy call.