HALLOWED.—Used of the name of our Father—first petition in the Lord’s Prayer ([Mat 6:9] || [Luk 11:2]), = ‘revered’ or ‘counted holy.’ It is, says Godet (Com. in loco), a prayer that ‘unworthy conceptions of God and of His character may no longer prevail among men. The child of God beseeches Him to manifest with effect His holy character, in the conscience of men, so that all impure idolatry, gross or refined, as well as all formal Pharisaism, may be completely removed, and that every human being may unite with the seraphim in the anthem of adoration, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” ’
The verb ἀγιάζειν is in constant usage in LXX Septuagint to render the different forms of Heb. קָדַשׁ (see Concord. s.v.). Isaiah ([Isa 8:13]; [Isa 29:23]) and Ezekiel (passim, e.g. [Eze 20:41]; [Eze 36:23]) employ the word (rendered ‘sanctify’ Authorized Version and Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 ) of the Lord and His name, in exactly the same sense as the Lord’s Prayer, of causing to be revered, whether by judgment or by deliverance. OT usage with reference to Sabbath, firstborn, etc., ought to be compared. Our Lord uses ἀγ. (1) of Himself ([Joh 10:36]; [Joh 17:19]) in the sense of consecration (‘sanctify’ Authorized Version and Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 , cf. marg.) to the office of Messiah by His submitting to death; and (2) of His disciples ([Joh 17:17]; [Joh 17:19]) as consecrated by the truth. The root idea is setting apart for holy purposes, with the consequent development of a holy character. This ethical sense is derived from [Lev 11:44] ἀγιασθήσεσθε καὶ ἀγιοι ἔσεσθε, ὁτι ἁγιός εἰμι ἑγώ (see Lightfoot on [Php 1:1]). See, further, artt. Consecrate and Sanctify.
For usage of the English word see Hasting’s Dictionary of the Bible (s.v.).
R. Macpherson.
