The Scholarly Case

The question of "What does it mean to be holy?" is foundational to the Hebraic faith, deeply rooted in the Tanakh and fully expressed in Yeshua HaMashiach. The Hebrew word for holy, kadosh (קָדוֹשׁ), signifies being set apart, consecrated, distinct, and unique. It is not an abstract philosophical concept but a practical, relational call to live in alignment with the character and commands of YHWH, who Himself declares, "“Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy" (Leviticus 19:2 BSB).

This divine imperative for holiness is not merely about moral uprightness, though that is certainly included. It is primarily about separation from common use and dedication to YHWH. Israel was called to be a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6 BSB), distinct from the surrounding pagan cultures, demonstrating YHWH's unique sovereignty and righteous standards. This holiness was manifest in their laws, their worship, their dietary restrictions, and their social justice, all designed to set them apart as YHWH's treasured possession.

The concept of YHWH's holiness also reveals His unique nature. He is utterly distinct from creation, transcendent, and morally perfect. Yet, He invites humanity, made in His image (Genesis 1:26), to participate in His holiness. This participation is made possible through covenant and ultimately through the Messiah, Yeshua.

Yeshua, as the Son of YHWH, is repeatedly identified as the "Holy One of God" (Mark 1:24 BSB). He perfectly embodied the Torah, declaring, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them" (Matthew 5:17 BSB). His life, death, and resurrection provide the means for believers to be truly set apart and empowered to live holy lives. This is not a new law, but the fulfillment and internalizing of the Torah through the Spirit, enabling obedience from the heart. The Brit Chadashah consistently calls believers to pursue holiness, understanding that it is a process of sanctification (being made holy) through Yeshua, who "was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin" (Hebrews 4:15 BSB).

Regarding the question, "Can a normal person be holy?", the answer from a Hebraic-Messianic perspective is a resounding yes, but not by human effort alone. Holiness is a gift and a calling. YHWH makes His people holy, and then they are commanded to live out that holiness. It is a partnership: YHWH consecrates, and humanity responds in obedience and dedication. This is the essence of the covenant relationship. The "five signs of holiness" or "three types of holiness" are not explicitly defined in scripture but rather holiness is a holistic state of being and action—a life lived in devotion to YHWH, marked by love for God and neighbor, justice, mercy, and humility, as taught by Yeshua.

The "true meaning of holy" is therefore both an attribute of YHWH and a state of being for His people, characterized by being set apart for His service and reflecting His moral perfection. It is a journey of transformation, empowered by the Spirit of YHWH, and centered on Yeshua HaMashiach.

Adversary Teardown: Watchtower (jw.org)

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses, frequently addresses the concept of holiness, often emphasizing moral purity and obedience to their organizational directives. However, their understanding of holiness is fundamentally flawed by their distorted view of YHWH and His Messiah, Yeshua. Their publication, Awake! magazine, in an article titled "What Does It Mean to Be Holy?", presents a superficial understanding that skirts the profound Hebraic concept of YHWH's unique nature and Yeshua's divine role in making us holy.

The Watchtower's lineage traces back to Charles Taze Russell, who founded Zion's Watch Tower in 1879, influenced by Adventist chronology errors that led to failed predictions, such as the 1914 invisible presence of Christ. This tradition was further shaped by J.F. Rutherford, who rebranded the movement as "Jehovah's Witnesses" in 1931. This organizational history is marked by a consistent departure from foundational Hebraic-Messianic understanding, particularly regarding the nature of YHWH and Yeshua.

The most glaring fault line in their doctrine, which directly impacts their understanding of holiness, is their denial of Yeshua's full divinity. They assert that Yeshua is merely "a god" or a created being, a view propagated through their highly biased New World Translation (NWT). For instance, in John 1:1, the NWT renders "and the Word was God" as "and the Word was a god." This deliberate mistranslation, as documented by scholars like Bruce Metzger in The Jehovah's Witnesses and Jesus Christ (1953) and Robert Countess in The Jehovah's Witness New Testament (1982), undermines Yeshua's co-equality with YHWH. The original Greek text, "καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος" (kai theos ēn ho logos), unequivocally states the Word's divine nature, not a subordinate deity.

This theological distortion continues in other crucial passages. Colossians 1:16-17, which states, "For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (BSB), is corrupted in the NWT by the insertion of "[other]" four times, implying Yeshua created only "other" things, not all things absolutely. This diminishes His role as the Creator and Sustainer, a role explicitly attributed to YHWH in the Tanakh (Isaiah 45:12 BSB).

Furthermore, the NWT obscures direct declarations of Yeshua's divinity. Hebrews 1:8, where YHWH addresses the Son as God, "But about the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever, and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom" (BSB), is rendered in the NWT as "God is your throne for ever and ever," twisting the meaning to avoid calling Yeshua God. Similarly, Titus 2:13, which speaks of "our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (BSB), is rendered in the NWT to separate God and Jesus, making them distinct entities. This systematic alteration of scripture prevents Jehovah's Witnesses from grasping the full holiness of Yeshua and, consequently, the true source of their own sanctification.

The Hebraic understanding of YHWH's nature, as expressed in the Shema, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4 BSB), signifies a compound unity (echad), not a singular isolation. This is evident in Genesis 1:26, "Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness," (BSB) and in the rabbinic concept of "Two Powers in Heaven," attested in the Babylonian Talmud (b. Sanhedrin 38b), which acknowledges a plurality within the Godhead. The Targum Jonathan on Isaiah 45:12 even speaks of YHWH creating the world through His "Memra" (Word), an agent-distinct-yet-YHWHic figure. Yeshua, as the Angel of YHWH who bears YHWH's Name (Exodus 23:20-21 BSB) and through whom YHWH reveals Himself (Judges 13:21-22 BSB), perfectly fits this Hebraic understanding of YHWH's complex unity. By reducing Yeshua to a created being, the Watchtower amputates the very means by which humanity can truly participate in divine holiness.

Counter-Arguments Anticipated

Objection 1: The term "Trinity" is not in the Bible, and therefore it is a pagan concept.

Rebuttal: While the specific Latin term "Trinity" is not found in scripture, the underlying Hebraic concept of YHWH's compound unity and the divine nature of Yeshua and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) are unequivocally biblical. The issue is not the absence of a specific word but the presence of clear scriptural evidence. Deuteronomy 6:4 states YHWH is "One" (echad), which, as seen in Genesis 2:24 ("one flesh") and Numbers 13:23 ("one cluster" of grapes), denotes a unified plurality, not absolute singularity. Yeshua's divine claims, such as "before Abraham was born, I am!" (John 8:58 BSB), directly invoke YHWH's self-revelation in Exodus. The Watchtower's insistence on a monolithic singularity is an imposition of a later philosophical construct, not a faithful reading of the Hebraic text. We do not frame this as "Trinity vs. anti-Trinity," but as Hebraic plurality of YHWH (rabbinically attested pre-Yeshua) versus 19th-century American Adventist-derived Arianism.

Objection 2: John 14:28 states "the Father is greater than I," proving Yeshua is subordinate and not God.

Rebuttal: This verse must be understood within the context of Yeshua's incarnation and His mission. Philippians 2:5-8 clarifies this: "Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness" (BSB). During His earthly ministry, Yeshua voluntarily submitted to the Father's will, taking on the limitations of humanity. This is a functional subordination in His role as Messiah, not an ontological inferiority in His divine nature. As God, Yeshua is equal; as the incarnate Son, He operates in submission to the Father. This does not negate His divinity but highlights His profound humility and obedience, which are essential aspects of His holiness.

Objection 3: The NWT is the most accurate translation because it restores God's name, Jehovah, and corrects pagan doctrines.

Rebuttal: The claim that the NWT is the "most accurate" is demonstrably false and disingenuous, especially concerning the restoration of "Jehovah." While the divine name YHWH is sacred, the NWT inserts "Jehovah" over 237 times into the Brit Chadashah Greek text where it does not appear in any extant manuscript. This is an editorial imposition, not a translation. Furthermore, as scholarly works by Bruce Metzger and Robert Countess meticulously detail, the NWT consistently alters Greek passages to align with Watchtower theology, particularly concerning Yeshua's divinity. These alterations are not corrections but rather deliberate theological biases inserted into the text to support their unique, non-Hebraic doctrines. True accuracy respects the original languages and manuscript evidence, which the NWT systematically disregards in critical areas.

Position Lock

Position Lock: True holiness is found solely in YHWH and is made accessible to humanity through Yeshua HaMashiach, who is fully divine and perfectly embodies the Torah, enabling believers to be set apart and transformed into His likeness, a truth systematically distorted by the Watchtower's anti-Messianic teachings.

Related Sources & Prophecies

• Yeshua's Divinity: Uncovering the Hebraic Roots
• The Torah and Messiah: Understanding Their Interconnection
• Understanding the Echad: YHWH's Compound Unity
• Messianic prophecy fulfillment timeline
• Jw worldview overview
• Ask Enoch about Does It Mean to Be Holy