holy of holies
Most sacred space
The holy of holies is the innermost and most sacred part of something—originally the inner sanctuary of the ancient Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, where only the high priest could enter once a year.
The phrase now describes any place or thing regarded as inviolably private or sacred: His workshop was his holy of holies—no one else was allowed in.
Often used with gentle irony to describe spaces people guard jealously.
Portable sacred dwelling
- templeSacred worship structure
- JerusalemTriply sacred ancient capital
- SolomonPeaceable Hebrew name
- curtainFabric hung for privacy
veil · cherubim · golden · cubical · cedar · overlay · wings · Herod
Protected private place
- inner chamberInnermost private room
- veilFabric that obscures
- arkLarge rescue vessel
- mercy seatArk's golden atonement cover
inner sanctum · hidden chamber · naos · restricted area · beyond the veil
Declared sacred through ritual
- hallowedMade or regarded holy
- divine presenceFelt nearness of deity
- dwelling placeResidence or habitation
- set apartTo separate distinctly
sanctified · anointed · blessed · venerated
Regarded as too important to alter
- untouchableExempt from criticism or harm
- forbiddenNot allowed
- restrictedLimited in scope
- off-limitsProhibited from access
impenetrable · guarded · protected · taboo · sealed · inaccessible · exclusive · prohibited
tabernacle
Portable sacred dwelling
curtain · veil · cherubim · golden · cubical · cedar · overlay · wings · Herod · destruction
sanctum
Protected private place
- inner chamberInnermost private room
- veilFabric that obscures
- arkLarge rescue vessel
mercy seat · inner sanctum · hidden chamber · naos · restricted area · beyond the veil
consecrated
Declared sacred through ritual
- hallowedMade or regarded holy
- divine presenceFelt nearness of deity
- dwelling placeResidence or habitation
set apart · sanctified · anointed · blessed · venerated
sacrosanct
Regarded as too important to alter
- untouchableExempt from criticism or harm
- forbiddenNot allowed
- restrictedLimited in scope
off-limits · impenetrable · guarded · protected · taboo · sealed · inaccessible · exclusive · prohibited · death penalty
- sanctuariessanctuary, sanctum sanctorum, safe haven, haven, wildlife sanctuary
- atonementpropitiation, substitution, reconciler, forgiveness, sin offering
- Jewish Placesshul, beit midrash, mikvah, mikveh, yeshiva
- Old TestamentGenesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Leviticus, Numbers
- sacred sitesBuddhist temples, Jerusalem, consecrated ground, Hindu temples, sacred rivers
- sacred spacessanctuary, chapel, sanctum, mandir, prayer hall
holy of holiesouter court
Peripheral enclosed space
common ground · courtyard · vestibule · narthex · streets
holy of holiespublic space
Area open to everyone
periphery · margins · common area · outer reaches · no man's land