Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible (1898)
HOLY, HOLINESS. Ex 16:11; Lev 27:14. Holiness, or perfect freedom from sin, and immaculate purity are distinguishing attributes of the divine nature, Isa 6:3. These words in their primitive meaning imply a separation or setting apart from secular and profane uses to sacred and divine uses. They sometimes denote the purity of the angelic nature, Matt 25:31; the comparative freedom from sin which results from the sanctification of the human heart, as in the case of Christians, Heb 3:1; Col 3:12; and the consecrated character of things, Ex 30:25; Lev 16:4, and places, Ex 3:5. T.
While the nations of antiquity were attributing to the divine Being human passions and human sins, the Hebrews alone held firmly to the idea of God as absolutely holy.