Holy Means Whole: According to the Bible in Exodus 30:13

Remember the game of hide and seek. It was fun as a kid. It is not so fun sometimes as a pastor, trying to find what was in the original text. Holy is one of the words that gets hidden a lot from the average reader. It is translated by numerous other words where the person may not realize that it is from the same word in the original. It is hidden from them, even if not intentionally, like in the game of hide and seek.

It is easy to see the same word each time it is translated as some form of holy. But I didn't know for large portions of my life that it is the same word behind the use of sanctify, sanctification, sanctuary, hallow, wholly, saint, saints, consecrate (set apart) and probably a few I forgot. That is even after I sat through bible school and seminary. What about the poor guy with neither?

I would like to say something about the translation and use of sanctuary in Exodus 30:13. I think it hides holy. I think instead it should reveal that holy is there.

"This is what they shall give: all who pass by of the counted [shall give] half a shekel of the holy shekel; ...." (Exodus 30:13). Holy shekel usually is translated "sanctuary shekel" which hides the fact that the word for holy is present. But "half" makes a lot of sense in the context of "whole" as meaning for holy. It would be an example of a quantitative part and whole. Half is an amount and whole would be the full amount. Whole would be each half and all of two half shekels to make a full or whole shekel.

I am in favor of revealing more from the Bible and hiding less. The reason is that God has revealed Himself in His Word. It does not say He has hidden Himself in His Word. Holy also is a very important word about who He is. Are we really supposed to have to play hide and seek so much, when He hasn't hidden what we need to know and He wants to be found by us? He is not worried about being told He's it. He is it! God bless your day.

In Christ,

Pastor Jon