We pick up the book and it identifies itself as holy. Its writers identify the Most High as holy. And it identifies the people of Yisrael, as holy. In modernity - people or items bear the title as well (holy father, holy grail, etc…) but what does that actually mean for the Israelite people? If we are to believe the mainstream narrative, what is identified as holy tends to have a connotation of a thing that appears to be different but it may not necessarily in substance – but only in façade.
The term “holy” is derived from the Old English term “halig”, which in and of itself meant “consecrated, sacred, godly, ecclesiastical”. Furthermore term “halig” is derived from the much older Proto Indo European “kailo-“, which represented an entity that was “whole” or “uninjured”. The indo-european culture is the epistemological origin from which the old English and modern English idea of “holy” is derived. So how does this pertain to us today?
Over time “kailo” became “halig” which eventually trickled down to become “holy”. Its cultural context was not from an Israelite cultural context – so even at its origins, their interpretation of our cultural writers must be taken with a grain of salt - especially since the special cadre of set-apart teachers with the ability to decipher the text and the wisdom to speak it in the ear of the Israelite masses are not as visible as in the day of old. In other words “kail” to the Indo-Europeans, “halig” to the Anglo-Saxons, or “holy” to tributaries (or colonial subjects) of England works for them and their value system – but it may not always fit within other cultural systems. Firstly, questions arise - the first being the question of who is the object of the sacred act? Sacred to whom? Consecrated for what purpose?
Secondly, if we were to look at “halig” as opposed to "kailo" we get a less subjective term – one which identifies wholeness or a state of being uninjured – but again – the cultural context can be misleading if we attempt to place it squarely on another culture – for we know not what wholeness or uninjured-ness meant to them. If it began from a place of accepting the worse or starting from a place that was not-whole or injured (although calling it whole) the standard by which the term is used is flawed – and itself not without blemish.
In Part 2 of "Be Ye Holy" I will continue to explore the Anglo-Saxon and English concepts of "halig" and "holy" and how each concept may or may not apply to the mind of the covenanted ancient Israelite. The Highest Praise for The Most High and gratitude to HIM for bringing forth ABBIY of whose name I bear and whose seed I am.
Peace be to you. Peace be to your house. Peace be to all that is yours! Shalom Shalom!
Bn Shmû ÉL is the the founder of HaDBR Media, Chief Editor at Bn Shmû ÉL Publishing House, and author of The Land Of Milk and Honey: The Heart Of The World. Order your copy today at https://www.bn-shmu-el.com/shop .
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