holy of holies

noun

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

holy of holies

noun

1. any place of special sanctity
2. capitals the innermost compartment of the Jewish tabernacle, and later of the Temple, where the Ark was enshrined

Word History and Origins

Origin of holy of holies¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg