Gradations of Holiness (Less Holy to Most Holy)

The architectural plans and spatial layout of ancient Israelite temples demonstrate that each temple comprised graded divisions, including a holiest center (the Holy of Holies), a ceremonially unclean periphery (outside of the camp where lepers and ritually unclean souls dwelt), and gradations of holiness in between (e.g., the temple’s court and holy place). The goal of graded space was to present a holiest zone for Deity, which was far away, in terms of both height and distance, from profane and corruptible space, persons, and objects. And as one moves from secular space to holy space, and then to an even holier space, he/she notices that there is an increase in light, splendor, and beauty, and a heightened awareness of spiritual feelings.

An ancient rabbinic record identifies the various gradations of holiness that existed in the temple of Herod:

There are ten degrees of holiness:

The land of Israel is holier than all the [other] lands. . . .

The cities that are surrounded with walls are holier than it. . . .

Within the wall of Jerusalem is holier than they [the foregoing]. . . .

The Temple Mount is holier than it. . . .

The Court of the Women is holier than it. . . .

The Court of Israel is holier than it. . . .

The Court of the Priests is holier than it. . . .

[The space] between the porch and the altar is holier than it. . . .

The sanctuary is holier than it. . . .

The Holy of Holies is holier than them all. (m. Kelim 1:6–9)

Graded divisions of the tabernacle complex include the holiest center (the Holy of Holies), a ceremonially unclean periphery (outside of the camp where lepers and ritually unclean souls dwelt), and gradations of holiness in between (e.g., the temple’s court and holy place).

In addition to divisions of sacred space in ancient Israelite temples, the chart designates that the holiness continuum also pertained to other aspects of the ancient temple, such as fabrics, priestly vestments, foods, persons, and rituals of approaching sacred space.

The entire idea of the continuum was to teach the Israelites that the innermost zone of the temple (where God’s presence was found) was both superior and the most holy of spheres on the earth. This holiness was represented with the finest things—sacred vestments, fabric, sacrificial foods, and so forth. As priestly officiants or worshippers moved from a profane world outside of the holiness continuum toward the most holy zone, the visible things around them (fabric, vestments, temple furniture, vessels, foods, and so forth) were of better quality and more elaborate workmanship. All of these things served as teaching devices that pointed to the glories of heaven, where God Himself dwells in the temple of heaven.

Modern temples also display spatial layouts that demonstrate gradational divisions—from the profane world to the most holy. Richard Cowan, for example, points out that “the Logan, Manti, and Salt Lake Temples employed a series of rooms to present [the endowment]. Their walls were adorned with murals depicting distinctive stages in mankind’s progress back into God’s presence—the creation, the Garden of Eden, our present telestial world, the terrestrial state, and finally the celestial room, generally the most beautifully furnished space in the temple, representing the feelings of peace and joy in that glory. Typically one climbs a few stairs when going from one room to the next, representing progress forward and upward.”135

Gradations of Holiness—The Israelite Temple136

Gradations of Holiness

	Most Holy	Holy	Less Holy	Profane/ Unclean
Space	Holy of Holies	Holy place	Court	Cemeteries, camp of lepers, etc.
Fabric	Very elaborate, superior work, with woven figures	Elaborate, multicolored mixture of wool and linen, no figures	Less elaborate, no figures
Persons	High priest	Priests	Levites, male and female Israelites	Persons w/ major or minor ritual impurities
Priestly Vestments	Very elaborate, superior work and fabric, gold and precious stones	Elaborate	Less elaborate
Touching	Only the high priest is permitted to touch the ark	Only priests are permitted to touch furniture in the tabernacle; non-priests may not touch a priest when he is officiating or anointed with holy oil; outer veil may not be touched by non-priests	Only Levites may do the “work of the tent of meeting,” transport the furniture, beams, etc., but only when the items are covered
Sight	High priest, but the smoke of the incense tends to hide the ark in the Holy of Holies from the sight of the high priest	Non-priests may not view the furniture or items of the holy place; the priest covers them before they are transported.	Israelites only may see things in the court
Ore	Gold	Gold and silver	Copper (or bronze)
Approach	Prophet and high priest	Priest	Non-Levites may not approach the furniture of the tabernacle or outer altar; laypersons (women and men) may be located in the “entrance to the tent of meeting” between the entrance and the altar	Non-Israelites are forbidden entry to temple
Furniture	Ark of the covenant	Lampstand, utensils, altar of incense, table of shewbread	Outer altar, laver, utensils
Food	Sacrifices	Sacrifices, tithes	Pure food	Impure food (not permitted by law of Moses), carcasses