קָדַשׁ

“To sanctify” in Hebrew is Kadash (קָדַשׁ), pronounced “ka-DAHSH.” Kadash comes from the root ק-ד-שׁ (qof-dalet-shin), meaning 'to set apart, to consecrate, to make holy.' It is the verb form of kadosh (holy). The same root produces Kiddush (sanctification prayer), Kaddish (prayer declaring God's holiness), kiddushin (marriage sanctification), and mikdash (sanctuary).

Kadash (קָדַשׁ) means “To sanctify, to set apart, to make holy” in Biblical Hebrew. Kadash appears approximately 175 times in the Hebrew Bible. God kadash-es the Sabbath (Genesis 2:3), His people (Leviticus 20:26), the Tabernacle (Exodus 29:44), and priests (Exodus 29:1). Humans kadash themselves through obedience and are commanded to kadash God's name.

Kadash is pronounced “ka-DAHSH.” The word comes from the Hebrew root ק-ד-שׁ.

Kiddush (קִדּוּשׁ, 'sanctification') is the blessing recited over wine to mark the beginning of Shabbat and holidays. It derives from kadash — to sanctify. By saying Kiddush, you are declaring this time as kadosh (set apart) from ordinary time. The act of Kiddush transforms Friday evening from a regular meal into a sacred encounter.

The Jewish wedding ceremony is called 'kiddushin' (קִדּוּשִׁין) — from kadash. When a groom gives his bride a ring, he says, 'Behold, you are mekudeshet (sanctified/set apart) to me.' Marriage in Hebrew is an act of sanctification — two people setting themselves apart exclusively for each other, mirroring how God set Israel apart for Himself.

Kiddush HaShem (sanctification of God's name) means living in a way that honors God publicly. The opposite — Chillul HaShem (desecration of God's name) — is considered one of the gravest sins. When believers act with integrity, generosity, and justice, they kadash God's name before the watching world. In extreme cases, Kiddush HaShem refers to martyrdom — dying rather than denying God.