Places & biblical world
Holy of Holies
The innermost and most restricted room of the tabernacle and temple.
Also called · Most Holy Place · inner sanctuary
What it means
In the tabernacle, a veil divided the outer Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where the ark was kept.
Leviticus 16 warns that the high priest may not enter whenever he chooses. During the annual Day of Atonement rites, he brings incense and the blood of the sacrifices behind the veil.
How it appears in the Bible
In 1 Kings 6, Solomon prepares the inner sanctuary at the back of the temple to hold the ark of God’s covenant.
Translation note
“Holy of Holies” is a superlative expression meaning the most holy place.