Scripture calls it holy
The phrase Holy Land comes directly from Scripture. In the Bible, holy means set apart for God. It does not mean the ground has magical power, or that everyone who lives there is automatically good. Rather, God claimed this land for a particular purpose in his covenant and in the history of his people.
Zechariah spoke of the land as belonging to the Lord. That title points first to God, not to human achievement. The land matters because of what God chose to do there, and because of the promises and worship connected with it.
And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
A promise given to Abraham
The story begins with Abram, later called Abraham. When he entered Canaan, God promised that land to his descendants (Genesis 12:7). This promise became part of the covenant through which God formed Israel as a people and revealed his faithfulness across many generations.
Later, after Israel had been delivered from Egypt, the people entered the land under Joshua. It became the setting for their national life, their worship, their failures, and God’s repeated mercy (Joshua 21:43-45). So the land is woven into the Old Testament story, not as a random location but as a gift tied to God’s promises.
And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.
Jerusalem and the temple
Jerusalem became especially significant when Solomon built the temple there. Solomon described God as choosing Jerusalem in connection with his name (2 Chronicles 6:6). The temple gave Israel a visible centre for prayer, sacrifice, and worship, reminding them that God wanted to dwell among his people.
Yet Scripture never says God is confined to one city or country. At the temple’s dedication, Solomon recognised that even the highest heaven cannot contain God (2 Chronicles 6:18). The Holy Land is special because God acted there, but the Lord remains God of the whole earth.
But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
The land of Jesus’ life
For Christians, the land has further meaning because Jesus was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, taught in Galilee, and went to Jerusalem for his final days. His death and resurrection happened in that same region, making these places closely connected to the gospel itself (Luke 2:4-7; Luke 24:5-6).
That said, Christian faith does not depend on visiting Israel. The risen Jesus commissioned his followers to go to all nations and promised to be with them always (Matthew 28:19-20). A visit may help someone picture the biblical story, but God meets his people everywhere.
Holy does not mean free from sin
The Bible is honest about the evil committed in the land by Israel’s own kings, priests, and people. Through Jeremiah, God warned worshippers not to treat the temple as protection while they practised injustice and violence (Jeremiah 7:9-11). A holy place never makes injustice acceptable.
Christians may differ over how Old Testament promises relate to modern Israel and present-day political questions. Still, Scripture gives a wise posture: seek peace, pray for Jerusalem, and let concern for justice and human dignity shape the way we speak about every person involved (Psalm 122:6).