List of top 50 Scripture references related to God's Holiness, ranked from most important to least important.
I have tried this search in the books and the Bible. I don't get more than 20 results in the synopsis, no matter how many times I click "more" below the initial results list. I am conducting an in-depth study of God's Holiness.
What am I doing wrong?
- A "Precise" Bible search using "topic:"God’s Holiness"" yielded 35 results. A "Smart" Bible search for "God's holiness" found dozens more. As for a "Top 50" list, that ranking would be rather subjective; you would have to determine that.
- I agree with Bob; you have asked for an objective list for a subjective question. Logos is a tool and wisdom dictates that the tool must have limitations. I used another tool and copied your exact question into it. I clicked on Grok at x.com, pasted in your question and got: https://x.com/i/grok/share/C59AMnljAQegqdUAXzmS2gr0g AI didn't come up with that because it is really intelligent, but because it is really fast! My gut feel is you are trying to substitute scholarship for something else. If you are really "conducting an in-depth study of God's Holiness" why not start with God. He gives wisdom to all who ask without reproach (James 1:5)
- I asked Grok about ways to find criteria for searching for such a subjective list and for Grok to create such a list, and got the following suggestions (https://x.com/i/grok/share/BAaa2APEZGCIZxvndJxajZMBv): One way to compile such a subjective list is to leverage crowd-sourced data from biblical reference sites like OpenBible.info, where users vote on the "helpfulness" of verses for specific topics (in this case, "Holiness of God"). This provides a proxy for importance based on community consensus, ranking verses by descending vote counts to reflect perceived relevance or impact. Here's the top 50 based on that approach:Rank Reference Verse Text 1 1 Samuel 2:2 “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” 2 1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 3 Isaiah 57:15 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.” 4 Isaiah 6:3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 5 Psalm 96:9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! 6 1 Peter 1:16 Since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 7 Leviticus 19:2 “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.” 8 Hebrews 12:14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 9 Ephesians 1:4 Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 10 2 Corinthians 7:1 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. 11 Exodus 15:11 “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?” 12 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 13 Romans 12:1 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. 14 Isaiah 6:1-13 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” ... 15 Revelation 4:8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” 16 Leviticus 11:44-47 For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground, to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten. 17 2 Timothy 1:9 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, 18 Matthew 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 19 Leviticus 20:26 You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine. 20 Romans 6:22 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. 21 Psalm 103:1-22 Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. ... 22 1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 23 Ephesians 5:3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 24 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 25 Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 26 Revelation 15:4 Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” 27 Ezekiel 36:23 And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. 28 1 Peter 1:15 But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 29 Romans 12:1-2 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. 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. 30 Ezekiel 38:23 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. 31 Isaiah 35:8 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. 32 Leviticus 11:44 For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. 33 1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 34 Amos 5:14 Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. 35 Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 36 Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 37 Philippians 2:14-16 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 38 Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! 39 1 Peter 1:14-16 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 40 Hebrews 7:26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 41 Luke 8:16 “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.” 42 John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 43 Proverbs 20:25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows. 44 Psalm 103:1 Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! 45 Psalm 68:4-5 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him! Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. 46 1 John 3:3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. 47 1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 48 1 Corinthians 3:17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. 49 Romans 16:17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 50 Mark 1:24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” Other criteria for basing a ranked list of Scripture references on God's holiness could include theological centrality (e.g., verses pivotal in doctrinal discussions), lexical frequency (e.g., occurrences of key words like "holy" in original languages), proximity of terms (e.g., "holy" near "God" or "Lord"), or cross-references from study resources. Since rankings remain subjective, these can serve as proxies for importance—e.g., prioritizing verses cited in systematic theologies or with high lemma matches. Logos Bible Software supports advanced searches via its Search tool, which uses syntax for keywords, lemmas, proximity, and more. You can run these in the Search panel (e.g., select "Basic" or "Morph" search type). Here's how to adapt criteria into sample search commands, which you can refine further: 1. Lexical Basis (Original Language Roots) Rationale: Rank by verses using Hebrew/Greek words for "holy" (e.g., qadosh in Hebrew, hagios in Greek), prioritizing those directly attributing holiness to God. This emphasizes etymological depth over English translations. Search Command: lemma.h:קָדוֹשׁ AND (God OR Lord OR Yahweh) (for Hebrew "qadosh"; switch to lemma.g:ἅγιος for Greek). Sort results by Bible reference or use the Morph search type for grammatical details. To rank by frequency, export results and count occurrences externally. 2. Proximity of Key Terms Rationale: Focus on verses where "holiness" is explicitly linked to God, assuming closer proximity indicates stronger thematic ties. Rank by tightness of connection (e.g., exact phrases first). Search Command: "holy" WITHIN 5 WORDS ("God" OR "Lord") (adjust the number for broader/narrower results). Use the Basic search type, limited to your preferred Bible (e.g., ESV). For ranking, sort by relevance or manually prioritize triplicates like "holy, holy, holy." 3. Theological Topic Indexing Rationale: Draw from curated resources like the Lexham Survey of Theology or Factbook, ranking verses by their association with doctrinal topics. This bases importance on scholarly tagging rather than votes. Search Command: In the Factbook tool, enter "Holiness of God" to pull related verses; or in Search: <Topic Holiness> AND God. Filter to Bible resources only, then rank by how often verses appear in linked systematic theologies (e.g., via Passage Guide). 4. Cross-Reference Frequency Rationale: Rank verses by how often they're referenced in study Bibles or commentaries on holiness, implying exegetical importance. Search Command: First, run a Topic Guide on "God's Holiness" to generate cross-references. Then search: REF <Bible Isaiah 6:3> (for a key verse like the trisagion) across commentaries. To rank, use the Referenced By tool on results and sort by citation count. 5. Contextual or Narrative Centrality Rationale: Prioritize verses in major theological narratives (e.g., Sinai encounters or prophetic visions), ranked by book or testament for historical progression. Search Command: holiness AND (God OR divine) SINCE Exodus UNTIL Revelation (limit by book range). Use Bible search type, then rank manually by thematic weight (e.g., worship contexts via AND worship). For any search, refine with operators like OR, ANDNOT (to exclude), or date ranges (e.g., SINCE 2020 for recent commentaries). If Logos doesn't auto-rank by "importance," export to a spreadsheet for custom sorting. Check Logos' help docs for syntax updates, as it evolves.