The term "holy of holies" refers to the innermost and most sacred space within a religious sanctuary or temple, particularly in the context of Judaism. It is often used to describe the most revered area of the ancient Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, known as the Holy of Holies or the Inner Sanctum.
In ancient Jewish tradition, the Holy of Holies was regarded as the dwelling place of God's presence on Earth, and it represented the holiest and most sacred space where human access was highly restricted and limited. Only the High Priest, under specific rituals and at specific times, was granted permission to enter this inner chamber. Typically, this sacred room housed the Ark of the Covenant, a wooden chest that contained the stone tablets bearing the Ten Commandments according to biblical accounts.
The term "holy of holies" has subsequently come to be used metaphorically beyond its original biblical context. It is often utilized to refer to any place or object considered the epitome of sanctity, purity, or reverence. It implies an exclusive, untouchable, and hallowed area that is inaccessible to ordinary individuals, suggesting the utmost level of divinity, sanctity, or importance in a given context, whether religious or otherwise.
Overall, "holy of holies" is a phrase utilized to describe the innermost sanctum of a religious structure or an overarching concept representing the pinnacle of holiness, reverence, or significance.
