King James Bible Dictionary

In the highest sense belongs to God (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 15:4), and to Christians as consecrated to God's service, and in so far as they are conformed in all things to the will of God (Romans 6:19, 22; Ephesians 1:4; Titus 1:8; 1 Peter 1:15). Personal holiness is a work of gradual development. It is carried on under many hindrances, hence the frequent admonitions to watchfulness, prayer, and perseverance (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:23, 24). (See SANCTIFICATION.)

General references
Genesis 17:1; Genesis 35:2; Exodus 19:6; Exodus 22:31; Exodus 39:30; Exodus 28:36; Leviticus 10:8-10; Leviticus 11:44-45; Leviticus 11:47; Leviticus 19:2; Leviticus 20:7; Leviticus 20:26; Deuteronomy 13:17; Deuteronomy 14:2; Deuteronomy 26:19; Deuteronomy 18:13; Deuteronomy 28:9; Deuteronomy 30:2; Deuteronomy 30:10; Joshua 7:12-13; Job 5:24; Job 28:28; Job 36:21; Psalms 4:4; Psalms 24:3-5; Psalms 15:1-5; Psalms 32:2; Psalms 37:27; Psalms 68:13; Psalms 73:1; Psalms 85:13; Psalms 94:15; Psalms 97:10; Psalms 119:1-3; Proverbs 11:23; Proverbs 12:5; Proverbs 16:17; Proverbs 21:8; Proverbs 21:15; Proverbs 21:29; Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1; Isaiah 4:3; Isaiah 26:2; Isaiah 26:8-9; Isaiah 32:17; Isaiah 35:8; Isaiah 51:7; Isaiah 52:1; Isaiah 52:11; Isaiah 57:2; Isaiah 60:1; Isaiah 60:21; Isaiah 61:3; Isaiah 61:9-11; Micah 6:8; Zephaniah 2:3; Zech 8:3; Zech 14:20-21; Matthew 5:6; Matthew 5:8; Matthew 5:29-30; Matthew 5:48; Matthew 12:33; Mark 9:49-50; Luke 1:74-75; Luke 6:45; John 1:47; John 4:14; John 5:14; John 6:35; John 15:19; John 17:23; Acts 24:16; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 7:4; Romans 7:6; Romans 8:1; Romans 8:4; Romans 8:12; Romans 11:16; Romans 12:1-2; Romans 12:9; Romans 13:12-14; Romans 14:17; Romans 16:19; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Corinthians 6:12-13; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Corinthians 7:23; 1 Corinthians 8:12; 1 Corinthians 10:21; 1 Corinthians 10:31-32; 1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 15:34; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Corinthians 10:3; 2 Corinthians 10:5; 2 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Corinthians 13:7-8; Galatians 2:17; Galatians 5:22-25; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 1:4; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 2:21-22; Ephesians 4:20-24; Ephesians 5:1; Ephesians 5:3; Ephesians 5:8-11; Philippians 1:10-11; Philippians 2:15; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 1:22; Colossians 3:5-10; Colossians 3:12-15; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Timothy 4:8; 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Timothy 5:22; 1 Timothy 6:6; 1 Timothy 6:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:19; 2 Timothy 2:21-22; 2 Timothy 2:16-17; 2 Timothy 3:17; Titus 1:15; Titus 2:9-10; Titus 2:12; Hebrews 4:3; Hebrews 4:9; Hebrews 10:22; Hebrews 12:1; Hebrews 12:10; Hebrews 12:14-15; Hebrews 13:9; James 1:21; James 1:27; James 3:17; James 4:4; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 1 Peter 2:1; 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Peter 2:11-12; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 Peter 3:11; Psalms 34:14; 1 Peter 4:1-2; 1 Peter 4:6-7; 2 Peter 1:2-8; 2 Peter 3:11-12; 2 Peter 3:14; 1 John 1:6-7; 1 John 2:1; 1 John 2:5; 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:3; 1 John 3:6-10; 1 John 5:4-5; 1 John 5:18; 1 John 5:21; 2 John 1:4; 3 John 1:11; Revelation 14:4-5; Revelation 18:4; Revelation 19:8
Desire, Spiritual; God, Holiness of; Righteousness; Sanctification; Sinlessness

HO'LINESS, noun [from holy.] The state of being holy; purity or integrity of moral character; freedom from sin; sanctity. Applied to the Supreme Being, holiness denotes perfect purity or integrity of moral character, one of his essential attributes.

Who is like thee, glorious in holiness? Exodus 15:11.

1. Applied to human beings, holiness is purity of heart or dispositions; sanctified affections; piety; moral goodness, but not perfect.

We see piety and holiness ridiculed as morose singularities.

2. Sacredness; the state of any thing hallowed, or consecrated to God or to his worship; applied to churches or temples.

3. That which is separated to the service of God.

Israel was holiness unto the Lord. Jeremiah 2:3.

4. A title of the pope, and formerly of the Greek emperors.