holy of holies

noun

a place of special sacredness.
the innermost chamber of the Biblical tabernacle and the Temple in Jerusalem, in which the ark of the covenant was kept.
Eastern Church. the bema.

Origin of holy of holies

1350–1400; Middle English, translation of Late Latin sanctum sanctōrum (Vulgate), translation of Greek tò hágion tôn hagíōn, itself translation of Hebrew qōdesh haqqodāshīm

Words nearby holy of holies

holy mary, holy moly, holy moses, holy mother, holy mysteries, holy of holies, holy office, holy oil, holy one, holy orders, holy place

Example sentences from the Web for holy of holies

  • I made no reply, for I feared that she would live to regret having created that scene in the monk's holy-of-holies.

    The Minister of Evil |William Le Queux

  • Englishmen had been to Lhassa and to Tashi-lunpo; therefore, both of their holy-of-holies had been profaned.

    Caravans By Night |Harry Hervey

  • Only a chosen few had ever set foot within the holy-of-holies; this young man was not one of them.

    Warrior of the Dawn |Howard Carleton Browne

  • If you know your business, you are struck with awe on being in this holy-of-holies.

    The Church of St. Bunco |Gordon Clark

British Dictionary definitions for holy of holies

holy of holies

noun

any place of special sanctity
(capitals) the innermost compartment of the Jewish tabernacle, and later of the Temple, where the Ark was enshrined

Idioms and Phrases with holy of holies

holy of holies

A place of awe or sacredness, as in The corporate board room is the holy of holies here. This expression is a translation of the Hebrew term for the sanctuary inside the tabernacle of the Temple of Jerusalem, where the sacred Ark of the Covenant was kept (Exodus 26:34). Its figurative use dates from the second half of the 1800s.