God’s holiness is a theme in all of scripture and Christians are called to be a holy people in both the Old Testament and New Testament. This collection of scriptures about holiness is perfect to inspire personal and practical holiness in your life! From the majestic descriptions of God’s holiness in the Bible, to personal motivation for living a holy life, you’ll find what you need here. Let these verses inspire and encourage you on your journey to becoming more like Christ Jesus every day through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Bible Verses about Holiness
- Hebrews 12:14 Bible verse saying we must have holiness to see the LORD.
- 2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul the Apostle says to bring holiness to completion in the fear of God in this scripture about holiness.
- 1 Peter 2:9 The Apostle Peter says the Lord knows how to rescue his holy followers from trouble in this Bible quote.
- 1 Peter 1:15-16 Christians are called to be holy in all their conduct because God is Holy according to this Bible verse about holiness.
- 1 Samuel 2:2 is a popular scripture quote on holiness.
- Romans 12:1 Paul says to present our bodies as a holy sacrifice to God in this Bible verse about holiness.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7 God has called every Christian to holiness according to this scripture reference.
- Leviticus 19:2 God commanded Moses to tell the people of Israel that the LORD requires them to be holy.
- Romans 6:22 is another scripture verse about holiness.
- Isaiah 57:15 The Prophet Isaiah says God dwells in a high and holy place and among the humble in this Bible verse about holiness.
- Matthew 5:48 Jesus says we must be perfect like our Father in heaven is perfect in this classic scripture about holiness.
- Leviticus 20:26 The LORD declares his own holiness as the reason his people must be holy according to this scripture.
- Ephesians 5:3 Christians striving to be holy must avoid sexual immorality according to this scripture on holiness.
- Isaiah 6:3 In this classic scripture on holiness by the Prophet Isaiah, the seraphim in the Temple declares the LORD to be, “Holy, holy, holy.”
- Ezekiel 38:23 The Prophet Ezekiel says the LORD will show his holiness in this biblical reference on our Holy God.
- Psalm 96:9 King David says to worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness in this Bible verse about our Holy God.
- Exodus 15:11 There are no gods like the LORD who is majestic in holiness according to this Bible verse about God.
- Ephesians 1:4 The Apostle Paul says God chose the church to be holy and blameless in this Bible verse about holiness. This is the work of the Holy Spirit to make us holy like Jesus Christ.
- Romans 12:1-2 Paul writes these scriptures on holiness to remind Christians that God commands his followers to be holy.
- 2 Timothy 1:9 These scriptures on holiness remind Christians that Jesus Christ gave us a holy calling. The Holy Spirit is always working to us holy like Jesus Christ according to the Bible.
- Psalm 119:9 This Bible verse says we a young man can make his ways holy by living according to God’s Word.
Hebrews 12:14 Bible verse saying we must have holiness to see the LORD.
Hebrews 12:14
(ESV) Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
(KJV) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
(MSG) Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God.
(NIV) Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
(NLT) Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul the Apostle says to bring holiness to completion in the fear of God in this scripture about holiness.
2 Corinthians 7:1
(ESV) Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
(KJV) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
(MSG) With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.
(NIV) Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
(NLT) Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.
1 Peter 2:9 The Apostle Peter says the Lord knows how to rescue his holy followers from trouble in this Bible quote.
2 Peter 2:9
(ESV) then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,
(KJV) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
(MSG) So God knows how to rescue the godly from evil trials. And he knows how to hold the feet of the wicked to the fire until Judgment Day.
(NIV) if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
(NLT) So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.
1 Peter 1:15-16 Christians are called to be holy in all their conduct because God is Holy according to this Bible verse about holiness.
1 Peter 1:15
(ESV) but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
(KJV) But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
(MSG) As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness.
(NIV) But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
(NLT) But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.
1 Peter 1:16
(ESV) since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
(KJV) Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
(MSG) God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”
(NIV) for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
(NLT) For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
1 Samuel 2:2 is a popular scripture quote on holiness.
1 Samuel 2:2
(ESV) “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.
(KJV) There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
(MSG) Nothing and no one is holy like GOD, no rock mountain like our God.
(NIV) “There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
(NLT) No one is holy like the LORD! There is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
Romans 12:1 Paul says to present our bodies as a holy sacrifice to God in this Bible verse about holiness.
Romans 12:1
(ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
(KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(MSG) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
(NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
(NLT) And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
1 Thessalonians 4:7 God has called every Christian to holiness according to this scripture reference.
1 Thessalonians 4:7
(ESV) For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
(KJV) For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
(MSG) God hasn’t invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful—as beautiful on the inside as the outside.
(NIV) For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
(NLT) God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.
Leviticus 19:2 God commanded Moses to tell the people of Israel that the LORD requires them to be holy.
Leviticus 19:2
(ESV) “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
(KJV) Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
(MSG) “Speak to the congregation of Israel. Tell them: Be holy because I, GOD, your God, am holy.
(NIV) “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
(NLT) “Give the following instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.
Romans 6:22 is another scripture verse about holiness.
Romans 6:22
(ESV) But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
(KJV) But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
(MSG) But now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way!
(NIV) But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.
(NLT) But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.
Isaiah 57:15 The Prophet Isaiah says God dwells in a high and holy place and among the humble in this Bible verse about holiness.
Isaiah 57:15
(ESV) For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
(KJV) For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
(MSG) A Message from the high and towering God, who lives in Eternity, whose name is Holy: “I live in the high and holy places, but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed, And what I do is put new spirit in them, get them up and on their feet again.
(NIV) For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
(NLT) The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
Matthew 5:48 Jesus says we must be perfect like our Father in heaven is perfect in this classic scripture about holiness.
Matthew 5:48
(ESV) You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(KJV) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
(MSG) “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.
(NIV) Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(NLT) But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Leviticus 20:26 The LORD declares his own holiness as the reason his people must be holy according to this scripture.
Leviticus 20:26
(ESV) You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.
(KJV) And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.
(MSG) Live holy lives before me because I, GOD, am holy. I have distinguished you from the nations to be my very own.
(NIV) You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.
(NLT) You must be holy because I, the LORD, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own.
Ephesians 5:3 Christians striving to be holy must avoid sexual immorality according to this scripture on holiness.
Ephesians 5:3
(ESV) But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
(KJV) But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
(MSG) Don’t allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed.
(NIV) But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
(NLT) Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.
Isaiah 6:3 In this classic scripture on holiness by the Prophet Isaiah, the seraphim in the Temple declares the LORD to be, “Holy, holy, holy.”
Isaiah 6:3
(ESV) And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
(KJV) And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
(MSG) And they called back and forth one to the other, Holy, Holy, Holy is GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies. His bright glory fills the whole earth.
(NIV) And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”
(NLT) They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”
Ezekiel 38:23 The Prophet Ezekiel says the LORD will show his holiness in this biblical reference on our Holy God.
Ezekiel 38:23
(ESV) So I will show my greatness and my holiness and make myself known in the eyes of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
(KJV) Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.
(MSG) “‘I’ll show you how great I am, how holy I am. I’ll make myself known all over the world. Then you’ll realize that I am GOD.’
(NIV) And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’
(NLT) In this way, I will show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
Psalm 96:9 King David says to worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness in this Bible verse about our Holy God.
Psalms 96:9
(ESV) Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
(KJV) O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
(MSG) Bow before the beauty of GOD, Then to your knees—everyone worship!
(NIV) Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
(NLT) Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him.
Exodus 15:11 There are no gods like the LORD who is majestic in holiness according to this Bible verse about God.
Exodus 15:11
(ESV) “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
(KJV) Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
(MSG) Who compares with you among gods, O GOD? Who compares with you in power, in holy majesty, In awesome praises, wonder-working God?
(NIV) Who among the gods is like you, LORD? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?
(NLT) “Who is like you among the gods, O LORD—glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?
Ephesians 1:4 The Apostle Paul says God chose the church to be holy and blameless in this Bible verse about holiness. This is the work of the Holy Spirit to make us holy like Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:4
(ESV) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
(KJV) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
(MSG) Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love.
(NIV) For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
(NLT) Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
Romans 12:1-2 Paul writes these scriptures on holiness to remind Christians that God commands his followers to be holy.
Romans 12:1
(ESV) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
(KJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(MSG) So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
(NIV) Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
(NLT) And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
Romans 12:2
(ESV) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
(KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(MSG) Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.
(NIV) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(NLT) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
2 Timothy 1:9 These scriptures on holiness remind Christians that Jesus Christ gave us a holy calling. The Holy Spirit is always working to us holy like Jesus Christ according to the Bible.
2 Timothy 1:9
(ESV) who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,
(KJV) Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
(MSG) who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it.
(NIV) He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
(NLT) For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
Psalm 119:9 This Bible verse says we a young man can make his ways holy by living according to God’s Word.
Psalms 119:9
(ESV) Beth How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.
(KJV) BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
(MSG) How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word.
(NIV) How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.
(NLT) Beth How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.
FAQ about Holiness in the Bible
Hebrews 12:14 says, “Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” So often we hear people talk about finding inner peace or trying to be more mindful, but what does it mean to live a holy life? The root word of “holy” is “hagios,” which means set apart. To be holy means to be different from the world around us. It doesn’t mean that we’re better than others; it simply means that we are called to a higher standard. We are called to live lives that reflect the character of God.
The two types of holiness are personal and practical holiness. Personal holiness refers to our individual relationship with God, while practical holiness refers to living out our faith in the world.
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, defined holiness as “love reigning in the heart.” He believed that personal holiness was necessary for every Christian, and that it was possible for everyone to attain it. Wesley’s concept of practical holiness involved bringing compassionate social action into our daily lives. He wrote extensively on how Christians could live holy lives through doing good works in their communities. While there are many different ways to understand and practice holiness, at its core, holiness is about growing closer to God.
Holiness is of utmost importance to God because it is an outward expression of an inward reality. When we are holy, we are reflecting the character of God Himself. Holiness isn’t just a list of dos and don’ts; it’s a matter of the heart. It’s about CHOOSING to live our lives in a way that pleases and honors God.
The late great pastor and theologian John Wesley said, “Give me one hundred men who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I’ll shake the world.” Those men would be living holy lives, representing Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world in need of hope and salvation.
We can think of holiness as living in a way that is pleasing to God. As the Bible says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). This doesn’t mean that we are sinless, but it does mean that we are striving to act in ways that reflect the character of God. One way to help children understand this concept is to compare it to being like Jesus. Just as Jesus was sinless and perfect, we too are called to live holy lives. This doesn’t mean that we will be perfect all the time – just as Jesus wasn’t – but it does mean that we should always be striving towards holiness.
The answer to this question really depends on how you understand the role of Jesus in our salvation. If you believe that Jesus Simply died as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins, then it could be argued that God does not require us to be holy since Christ has already Paid the ultimate price. However, if you believe that Jesus paid the price for our salvation and He also created a pathway for us to grow in holiness, then it makes sense that God would desire for us to follow that path.
The key biblical passage that speaks to this question is Hebrews 12:14 which says, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
Bible Study Resources on the Holiness of God in the Scriptures
Looking to learn more about the holiness of God in the Scriptures? You’ve come to the right place! Our Bible Study Resources will help you dig deep into God’s Word and find out all you need to know about His holiness. With our helpful tools, you’ll be able to understand this important topic better than ever before. So what are you waiting for? Get started today!