UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: holy, pure, divine

Semantic entry: 88.24

Semantic domains: Moral and Ethical Qualities and Related Behavior

Subdomains: Holy, Pure

Definition: pertaining to being holy in the sense of superior moral qualities and possessing certain essentially divine qualities in contrast with what is human{N:001}

Sense 2: devout, godly, dedicated

Semantic entry: 53.46

Semantic domains: Religious Activities

Subdomains: Dedicate, Consecrate

Definition: pertaining to being dedicated or consecrated to the service of God

Notes: In some languages it is essential to distinguish between ἅγιος and ὅσιος when these refer to God (see 88.24: ἅγιος / 88.24: ὅσιος / 88.24: ὁσίως) and when they refer to persons or objects which have been consecrated to the service of God. It is both theoretically and practically advantageous to make a significant distinction in meaning on the basis of these contextual differences which occur in the Greek NT. It is not difficult to translate ἅγιος and ὅσιος by expressions meaning ‘dedicated to God,’ ‘devout,’ ‘pious,’ etc., but it may be extremely difficult to translate ἅγιος and ὅσιος when applied to God. In some languages one can only use an expression such as ‘he who is truly God’ or ‘he who is in every respect God.’

Sense 3: God’s people

Semantic entry: 11.27

Semantic domains: Groups and Classes of Persons and Members of Such Groups and Classes

Subdomains: Socio-Religious

Definition: persons who belong to God, and as such constitute a religious entity

Notes: In rendering οἱ ἅγιοι it is important to avoid an expression which means ‘sanctified,’ for the focus is not upon a particular state of holiness, but upon a special relationship with God. Those who are spoken of as οἱ ἅγιοι may also be admonished to become sanctified.|In a number of respects, οἱ ἅγιοι is similar in meaning to λαός [source selector 000001][b] people of God (11.12: λαός) and to ἀδελφός [source selector 000001][b] fellow believer (11.23: ἀδελφός).

Collocations: οἱ ἅγιοι

Sense 4: sanctuary

Semantic entry: 7.18

Semantic domains: Constructions

Subdomains: Buildings

Definition: (derivative of ἅγιος[a], 'holy', 88.24: ἅγιος / 88.24: ὅσιος / 88.24: ὁσίως) the movable tabernacle or the temple in Jerusalem as a consecrated place

Notes: ἅγιος[d] and ἅγιος [source selector 000004][e] should be translated in essentially the same way as ναός[a] (7.15: ναός).

Collocations: τὸ ἅγιον

Further resources: realia:3.15.2

Sense 5: sanctuary

Semantic entry: 7.18

Semantic domains: Constructions

Subdomains: Buildings

Definition: (derivative of ἅγιος[a], 'holy', 88.24: ἅγιος / 88.24: ὅσιος / 88.24: ὁσίως) the movable tabernacle or the temple in Jerusalem as a consecrated place

Notes: ἅγιος [source selector 000003][d] and ἅγιος[e] should be translated in essentially the same way as ναός[a] (7.15: ναός).

Collocations: τὰ ἅγια

Further resources: realia:3.15.2

Sense 6: the holy place, (most) holy place

Semantic entry: 7.35

Semantic domains: Constructions

Subdomains: Parts and Areas of Buildings

Definition: the interior (either the outer or the inner of the two rooms) of the sanctuary of the Jerusalem Temple or of the earlier tabernacle or of a corresponding ‘spiritual holy place,’ perhaps regarded as being in heaven

Notes: The inner room was more specifically identified by the phrase ἅγια ἁγίων, literally ‘holy of holies’ RV HEB 9:3 · LV HEB 9:3 · Read together HEB 9:3, a Hebrew idiom indicating superlative degree. The inner sanctuary could also be referred to as ‘within the curtain’ (τὸ ἐσώτερον τοῦ καταπετάσματος RV HEB 6:19 · LV HEB 6:19 · Read together HEB 6:19). See ἅγιος[a] (88.24: ἅγιος / 88.24: ὅσιος / 88.24: ὁσίως) and 7.18: ἅγιος / 7.18: ἅγιος.|The outer room of the sanctuary may be referred to in some languages as simply ‘the first room of the Holy Temple’ or ‘the first holy room of the Temple.’ The holy of holies may be referred to as ‘the most holy place’ or ‘the second holy room of the Temple’ or ‘the interior holy room of the Temple.’ What is important here is the degree of holiness, not so much the actual location within the Temple. It is for this reason that for the ‘holy of holies’ many translators use ‘the most sacred place’ or ‘the very, very sacred room.’ In this type of context the term ‘sacred’ may be rendered as ‘dedicated especially to God’ or ‘consecrated to God.’

Collocations: ἅγια ἁγίων; τὰ ἅγια

Further resources: realia:3.15.2.1; realia:3.15.2.2