bible verses about holiness

Bible Verses About Holiness: 15 Scriptures

Bible verses about holiness: 15 Scriptures on being set apart for God, holy living in every condition, and peace that walks with holiness.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 29, 2026Updated October 4, 20266 min read1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

A person washes their hands at a stone basin before entering a quiet lamp-lit room.

"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"

— 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about holiness want Scripture for being set apart — God's character, a calling that touches every condition, and a life that matches the One who called you. This page is a numbered list of fifteen passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. The wider essay sits under Love and holiness. Related lists: Bible verses about purity, Bible verses about faith, Bible verses about obedience, Bible verses about self-control, and Love and purity. Holiness here is being set apart for God — distinct from the clean-heart and sexual-integrity focus in Bible verses about purity, though the two belong together. Oil and Spirit anointing is Bible verses about anointing. The title Holy One of Israel and Holy One of God is Bible verses about the Holy One. God as refiner is Bible verses about the refiner. The Isaiah 6:3 title is Bible verses about Holy God.

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, "holy" is often ἅγιος hagios (Strong's G40) — sacred, set apart, holy. See also Bible Hub G40. In Hebrew, קֹדֶשׁ qodesh (Strong's H6944; Bible Hub H6944) means holiness, sacredness, that which is set apart to God.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Peter 1 presses the duty wide: "Holiness is the desire and duty of every Christian. It must be in all affairs, in every condition, and towards all people… God makes those holy whom he saves" (Bible Hub commentaries on 1 Peter 1:15; fuller MHC at Bible Hub MHC 1 Peter 1). On Hebrews 12 he refuses a peace that skips holiness: "Peace with men, of all sects and parties, will be favourable to our pursuit of holiness. But peace and holiness go together; there can be not right peace without holiness" (Bible Hub commentaries on Hebrews 12:14; Bible Hub MHC Hebrews 12).

15 Bible verses about holiness

  1. 1 Peter 1:15-16. "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" The call to holiness copies the Caller's character — in all you do. See Love and holiness.

  2. Hebrews 12:14. "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord." Peace and holiness travel together; seeing the Lord is tied to holiness.

  3. Leviticus 19:2. "'Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: "Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy."'" Israel's holiness rests on who God is, not on fashion.

  4. 1 Thessalonians 4:7. "For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." The call itself is toward a holy life, not impurity.

  5. 2 Corinthians 7:1. "Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." Holiness is perfected out of reverence — body and spirit both.

  6. Romans 12:1. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." Holy living is worship, not a side project.

  7. Ephesians 4:24. "and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." The new self is created toward righteousness and holiness.

  8. Hebrews 12:10. "They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness." Discipline aims at sharing God's holiness.

  9. Exodus 15:11. "Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you— majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?" Holiness begins as God's majesty before it becomes our calling.

  10. Isaiah 6:3. "And they were calling to one another: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.'" Heaven's thrice-holy cry names God's glory filling the earth.

  11. 1 Thessalonians 5:23. "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." Sanctification is God's work through and through. See Bible verses about sanctification.

  12. Romans 6:22. "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." Freedom's harvest is holiness; the end is eternal life.

  13. Colossians 3:12. "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Holy and dearly loved — then clothed in virtues. See Bible verses about compassion.

  14. Psalm 96:9. "Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth." Holiness has a splendor that calls for worship and trembling.

  15. Leviticus 11:44. "I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy…" Consecration answers God's own holiness. See Love and holiness and Love and purity.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for a week when compromise feels normal, a decision that needs a set-apart line, or a night you need God's holiness before your own effort — not fifteen. Read it out loud. If you need the be-holy-because call, start with 1 Peter 1:15-16. If you need peace-with-holiness, start with Hebrews 12:14. If you need the essay that frames love and holiness, read Love and holiness. For clean-heart and integrity (related, not identical), see Bible verses about purity. For the mountain where the Lord descended in fire, open Bible verses about Mount Sinai. For the glory that fills the house, open Bible verses about shekinah glory. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about holiness?

1 Peter 1:15-16 ("be holy, because I am holy") and Hebrews 12:14 (without holiness no one will see the Lord) are strong starting places. Leviticus 19:2 roots the call in who God is.

What does the Bible mean by holiness?

It is being set apart for God. Greek hagios (G40) and Hebrew qodesh (H6944) name sacredness and consecration. Henry: holiness is the desire and duty of every Christian, in all affairs and conditions; God makes holy those he saves.

How is holiness different from purity?

Holiness is the set-apart belonging to God. Purity stresses clean hands and heart, including sexual integrity. See Bible verses about purity and Love and purity. They support each other; the pages stay distinct.

Can I have peace without holiness?

Hebrews 12:14 pairs them. Henry: there can be not right peace without holiness.

Start with Love and holiness, then Bible verses about purity, Love and purity, and Bible verses about self-control. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Sources

A man washes his hands at a stone basin.

Keep reading