Description
The Holy of Holies was a cubical room at the west end of the Tabernacle proper and the Temple. In the Tabernacle it measured 10 cubits (5 meters; 16.5 feet) in each direction; in the Temple the dimensions were doubled.
Translation
“Holy of Holies” is a literal translation of the Hebrew expression meaning “most holy of all holy things.” The literal phrase will not be meaningful to most readers. It may be rendered “Most Holy Place” (GNT), “second holy room of the Tabernacle/Temple,” or “interior holy room of the Tabernacle/Temple.” What is important here is the degree of holiness, not so much the actual location within the Tabernacle/Temple. It is for this reason that many translators say “most sacred place,” “very, very sacred room,” or “Place/Room that is surpassingly sacred.” In this type of context the term “sacred” may be rendered “dedicated especially to God” or “consecrated to God,” so other possible models for “Holy of Holies” are “room that belongs to God more than any other place” or “room that has been dedicated to God more than any other room.” Another possibility is “Place/Room inside/within the Place where God is.” See also the comments at Holy Place.
The inner room of the sanctuary could also be referred to as “within (or, behind) the curtain” (LEV 16:2; LEV 16:12; LEV 16:15; NUM 18:7; HEB 6:19; see Curtain, veil, drape).