Soiled
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In biblical terminology, the concept of being "soiled" often carries a metaphorical meaning, referring to spiritual impurity or moral defilement. The imagery of soiling is used throughout Scripture to illustrate the effects of sin and the need for purification and righteousness.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the idea of being soiled is frequently associated with ritual impurity and the need for cleansing. For instance, in the book of Leviticus, various laws are given to the Israelites concerning cleanliness and uncleanliness, emphasizing the importance of maintaining purity before God. Leviticus 13:6 discusses the examination of skin diseases, where the priest is to declare a person clean or unclean, illustrating the broader principle of spiritual purity.

The prophet Isaiah uses the imagery of soiled garments to describe the sinful state of the people of Israel. Isaiah 64:6 states, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away." This verse highlights the inadequacy of human righteousness apart from divine intervention.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of being soiled is further developed in the context of spiritual defilement and the call to holiness. The book of Revelation uses the imagery of soiled garments to describe those who have not remained faithful to Christ. Revelation 3:4 says, "But you do have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments, and because they are worthy, they will walk with Me in white."

The Apostle Paul also addresses the theme of spiritual purity in his letters. In 2 Corinthians 7:1 , he exhorts believers, "Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Here, Paul emphasizes the need for believers to actively pursue holiness and avoid anything that might spiritually soil them.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of being soiled underscores the pervasive nature of sin and the necessity of divine cleansing. The Bible consistently teaches that human efforts alone are insufficient to achieve true purity. Instead, it is through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ that believers are cleansed and made righteous. Hebrews 9:14 affirms this, stating, "How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works, so that we may serve the living God!"

The imagery of soiled garments serves as a powerful reminder of the transformative power of God's grace. Believers are called to live in a manner worthy of their calling, continually seeking to be cleansed from sin and to walk in the righteousness provided through faith in Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(imp. & p. p.) of Soil.
Greek
3435. moluno -- to stain, defile
... and met. 3435 -- properly, to soil, make mucky (dirty); (figuratively)
defile; (passive) become spiritually besmirched (soiled). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3435.htm - 7k
Strong's Hebrew
2611. chaneph -- profane, irreligious
... hypocritical. From chaneph; soiled (ie With sin), impious -- hypocrite(-ical). see
HEBREW chaneph. 2610, 2611. chaneph. 2612 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/2611.htm - 6k

6674. tso -- filthy
... filthy. Or tsov {tso}; from an unused root meaning to issue; soiled (as if
excrementitious) -- filthy. 6673, 6674. tso or tsoi. 6675 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6674.htm - 6k

Library

Breaking with God.
... What's the difficulty? These outstretched hands are soiled! They are actually
holding their sin-soiled hands up into God's face; and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/breaking with god.htm

A Servant of Servants
... When the Saviour's hands were bathing those soiled feet, and wiping them with the
towel, the heart of Judas thrilled through and through with the impulse then ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the desire of ages/chapter 71 a servant of.htm

Letter iv. Personal Habits.
... Soiled laces and soiled ribbons are to be shunned; but better untidiness and soil
of the outward apparel than of that which we know by the general name of ...
/.../letter iv personal habits.htm

The Beginning of the Gospel.
... familiar to the Mosaic law, administered by the worshipper to himself, but an ablution
at other hands, a confession that one is not only soiled, but soiled ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 1 1-6 the beginning of.htm

The Trials and visions of Devout Youth
... But the great lesson for all young people from the picture of Joseph's early days,
when his whiteness rebuked the soiled lives of his brothers, as new-fallen ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the trials and visions of.htm

God's Need of Men who Pray
... How far remote is all this from the character of the sin-loving, worldly-minded,
fleshly disposed men, soiled by fleshly lusts, spotted by worldly indulgence ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the weapon of prayer/iv gods need of men.htm

Ephesians i. 15-20
... No, I suppose, not. But thou wouldest rather choose not to come at all,
than come with soiled hands. And then, thus scrupulous as ...
/.../homily iii ephesians i 15-20.htm

The Foot-Washing.
... The daily use of the bath rendered it needless to wash more than the feet, which
were soiled with walking from the bath to the supper-chamber. ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/vi the foot-washing.htm

Be not Deceived; God is not Mocked.
... wanted to get friends to pray for him; but as he was not able to buy a piece of
paper, or pay for a postage stamp, he got an old piece of soiled paper, stood ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/moody/sowing and reaping/chapter ii be not deceived.htm

The Moral Reactions of Prayer
... In this intercession our best prayer, broken, soiled, and feeble as it is,
is caught up and made prayer indeed and power with God. ...
/.../forsyth/the soul of prayer/chapter iii the moral reactions.htm

Thesaurus
Soiled (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Soil. Multi-Version Concordance
Soiled (1 Occurrence). Revelation 3:4 Yet you have in Sardis ...
/s/soiled.htm - 6k

Soil (59 Occurrences)
... 9. (vi) To become soiled; as, light colors soil sooner than dark ones. 10.
(n.) That which soils or pollutes; a soiled place; spot; stain. ...
/s/soil.htm - 23k

Cormorant (4 Occurrences)
... The eggs are small for the size of the birds, having a rough, thick, but rather
soft shell of a bluish white which soon becomes soiled, as well as the nest and ...
/c/cormorant.htm - 10k

Soiling (1 Occurrence)

/s/soiling.htm - 6k

Shabby (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Torn or worn to rage; poor; mean; ragged.
2. (n.) Clothed with ragged, much worn, or soiled garments. ...
/s/shabby.htm - 6k

Stain (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To spot with guilt or infamy; to bring reproach on; to blot; to soil; to
tarnish. 4. (vt) To cause to seem inferior or soiled by comparison. ...
/s/stain.htm - 9k

Hoopoe (2 Occurrences)
... feeding and breeding habits. The nest, being paid no attention by the elders,
soon becomes soiled and evil smelling. The bird is ...
/h/hoopoe.htm - 9k

Hat
... It consists in detail of a piece of cotton cloth worked into the form of a cap
(takiyeh), and so worn as to protect the other headgear from being soiled by the ...
/h/hat.htm - 9k

Discomfiture (6 Occurrences)
... There is hardly an acre of soil that is not tainted by fraud or violence. The coin
that passes from hand to hand is in many instances soiled by guilt. ...
/d/discomfiture.htm - 101k

Jude (4 Occurrences)
... and smirched by the foul contamination of the guilty seducers, and such were to
be saved, and the rescuers were to fear lest they should be soiled by contact ...
/j/jude.htm - 40k

Resources
What was Jesus' message to the church in Sardis in Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

Why are all of our righteous acts considered filthy rags? | GotQuestions.org

Soiled: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Soiled (1 Occurrence)

Revelation 3:4
Yet you have in Sardis a few who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white; for they are worthy.
(WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Soiled

Related Terms

Guard (185 Occurrences)

Spotting (1 Occurrence)

Soiled (1 Occurrence)

Setting (82 Occurrences)

Sojourn (51 Occurrences)

Placed (297 Occurrences)

Itself (203 Occurrences)

Within (400 Occurrences)

Soil
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