Holy of Holies: Biblical Meaning, Structure, and Access to God’s Presence
The Holy of Holies was the innermost and most sacred part of the Tabernacle and later the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. It was the place where God’s presence was believed to dwell in a unique and direct way. Only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people.
Biblical References:
- Exodus 26:33-34 – Description of the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle:
- “You shall hang the veil under the clasps, and bring in the Ark of the Testimony there, within the veil. The veil shall separate for you the holy place from the most holy.”
- The Holy of Holies was separated from the Holy Place by a veil, a thick curtain that symbolized the separation between God and humanity due to sin.
- Exodus 40:34-35 – God’s presence in the Holy of Holies:
- “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”
- The cloud and glory of the Lord filling the Holy of Holies represented God’s presence with His people. This was a visible manifestation of God’s holiness.
- Leviticus 16:2 – The High Priest’s role in the Holy of Holies:
- “The Lord said to Moses: ‘Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.’”
- Only the High Priest, and only on the Day of Atonement, could enter the Holy of Holies. It was a sacred space where God’s presence was considered so powerful that unauthorized entry would result in death.
- Hebrews 9:3-7 – The Holy of Holies in the context of the New Covenant:
- “Behind the second veil was a tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the Ark of the Covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.”
- The Holy of Holies is described in the New Testament as a place where the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat, overshadowed by cherubim, symbolized God’s presence.
- Matthew 27:51 – The veil torn after Jesus’ death:
- “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split…”
- When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the Temple (which separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple) was torn in two, symbolizing the removal of the barrier between God and humanity. This act allowed all believers direct access to God through Jesus Christ.
- Hebrews 10:19-20 – Access to the Holy of Holies through Christ:
- “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body…”
- Through Jesus’ sacrificial death, believers now have direct access to God, symbolized by the torn veil and the invitation to enter the Holy of Holies in a spiritual sense.
Conclusion:
The Holy of Holies was a central and sacred part of Israelite worship, representing God’s direct and unapproachable presence. However, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the separation between God and humanity was removed, offering all believers access to the Holy of Holies through Christ. The biblical references highlight the significance of this sacred space, the role of the High Priest, and how the Holy of Holies foreshadows the ultimate reconciliation between God and mankind.
