SANCTUARY (קֹ֫דֶשׁ, H7731, מִקְדָּשׁ, H5219, ἅγιον; meaning uncertain, perhaps separated place). A holy place set apart from profane use for the purpose of worship of, or communion with, a deity. The meaning commonly given to the root קדשׁ is separated, but also free from defect. The forerunners to Israel’s sanctuaries were the patriarchal worship places, usually designated by a theophany or some other special revelation of God (e.g. Gen 12:7; 26:24f.; 28:16f.). The term is most frequently used of the Tabernacle, but also of the Temple and of pagan holy places (Isa 16:12; Ezek 28:18). The first reference to sanctuary (Exod 15:17) speaks of the abode of God to which He brings His redeemed people to reign over them as King. This eschatological sanctuary (cf. Heb 8:5) forms the reality of which the earthly sanctuaries of God are but the foreshadowing. The sanctuary is a place for the Lord to dwell in the midst of His people (Exod 25:8), and since the presence of God is the important factor, the establishment of the right relationship with God ultimately renders the special holy place unnecessary (Ezek 11:16; Rev 21:22; see also John 4:21, 23). See Tabernacle; Jerusalem Temple.

Bibliography N. H. Snaith, The Distinctive Ideas of the Old Testament (1944), 24-32; R. de Vaux, Israel, Its Life and Institutions (1961), 274-311.