In biblical terminology, the concept of "sprinkling" is often associated with purification, consecration, and atonement. The act of sprinkling, particularly with blood or water, is a significant ritualistic practice found throughout the Old and New Testaments. It symbolizes cleansing from sin, dedication to God, and the establishment of a covenant relationship.

Old Testament Context

1. Purification and Atonement: The practice of sprinkling blood is prominently featured in the Levitical laws. In Leviticus 16:14, during the Day of Atonement, the high priest is instructed to sprinkle the blood of the sacrificial bull and goat on the mercy seat and before it, to make atonement for the sins of Israel: "He is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the mercy seat; he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat."

2. Consecration of Priests: In Exodus 29:21, the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests involves the sprinkling of blood mixed with anointing oil: "And take some of the blood on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments, and on his sons and their garments. So he and his garments will be consecrated, as well as his sons and their garments."

3. Covenant Ratification: The sprinkling of blood also signifies the ratification of covenants. In Exodus 24:8, Moses sprinkles the blood of the covenant on the people, declaring, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."

4. Ritual Cleansing: The use of water for sprinkling is also noted for purification purposes. Numbers 19:18 describes the use of water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer for cleansing: "Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent and on all the furnishings and people who were there."

New Testament Context

1. Fulfillment in Christ: The New Testament presents the sprinkling of blood as fulfilled in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:13-14 contrasts the Old Testament rituals with the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice: "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?"

2. Spiritual Cleansing: The concept of sprinkling is also used metaphorically to describe spiritual cleansing and sanctification. In 1 Peter 1:2, believers are described as "chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood."

3. Covenant of Grace: The sprinkling of blood in the New Covenant is seen as a means of grace and redemption. Hebrews 12:24 speaks of "Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."

Symbolism and Significance

The act of sprinkling in the Bible is rich with symbolic meaning. It represents the cleansing from sin, the sanctification of individuals and objects for divine service, and the establishment of a covenant relationship with God. Through the lens of the New Testament, the sprinkling of blood finds its ultimate fulfillment in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice provides eternal redemption and purification for believers.5137a. nazah -- to spurt, spatter, sprinkle
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to spurt, spatter, sprinkle NASB Word Usage
splashed (1), splashes (1), sprinkle (16), sprinkled (4), sprinkles (1). ...
/hebrew/5137a.htm - 5k

2236b. zaraq -- to toss or throw, scatter abundantly
... root Definition to toss or throw, scatter abundantly NASB Word Usage scatter (2),
scattered (1), sprinkle (13), sprinkled (15), sprinkles (1), threw (2), throw ...
/hebrew/2236b.htm - 5k

Leviticus
... Laws for the peace-offering"the offerer kills it, the priest sprinkles the blood
on the sides of the altar and burns the fat (iii.) For an unconscious ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/leviticus.htm

Grace and Truth Coupled.
... my brother." So he puts some flowering plants down in the slime of the gutter, and
he brushes the man's clothes a bit, and his hair, and sprinkles the latest ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on johns gospel/grace and truth coupled.htm

Nearly Identical with Hymnxiii
... 11. In the seventh year let the clouds and winds sound the trumpet with us,"they
whose dew sprinkles the faces of the flowers,"yet saw they the Son that He ...
/.../hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn ii nearly identical with.htm

Monday in Passion Week. And when He was Come Near, He Beheld the ...
... These drops so greatly, that before His eyes. Who sprinkles o'er his soul with them
is clean and whole,. And from his sorrows' depth new joy shall rise. ...
/.../winkworth/lyra germanica the christian year/monday in passion week and.htm

Concerning the Festivals; and How Each Day of Such Festival is to ...
... its pavement, and again as often toward the most holy place, and about the golden
altar: he also at last brings it into the open court, and sprinkles it about ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 concerning the festivals.htm

Lenox. HM
... 2 He ever lives above, For me to intercede; His all-redeeming love, His precious
blood to plead; His blood atoned for all our race, And sprinkles now the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/lorenz/the otterbein hymnal/196 lenox h m.htm

Whether Solemn Penance Should be Imposed on Women and Clerics, and ...
... Having brought them into the church the bishop with all his clergy recites the seven
penitential psalms, and then imposes his hand on them, sprinkles them with ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether solemn penance should be.htm

The Holy Nation
... But the central idea of this first promise is that it must be God's hand which
sprinkles from an evil conscience. Forgiveness is a divine prerogative. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the holy nation.htm

Dialogue Between a Gentleman and a Shepherd.
... Once in six months, once in three months, or once a year, the priest opens the door,
and if there be a feast or full moon, he sprinkles and sweeps a little ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hodson/old daniel/chapter five dialogue between a.htm

John Chapter xv. 1-3.
... word." This word of faith possesses such virtue in the Church of God, that through
the medium of him who in faith presents, and blesses, and sprinkles it, He ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate lxxx john chapter xv.htm

Sprinkles (2 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sprinkles (2 Occurrences). ... It shall be the priest's
who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. (WEB NAS NIV). ...
/s/sprinkles.htm - 7k

Sprinkleth (11 Occurrences)

/s/sprinkleth.htm - 10k

Throws (8 Occurrences)
... a heave offering to Yahweh. It shall be the priest's who sprinkles the
blood of the peace offerings. (See RSV). Numbers 35:20 And ...
/t/throws.htm - 8k

Cake (25 Occurrences)
... heave offering to Yahweh. It shall be the priest's who sprinkles the blood
of the peace offerings. (See RSV). Leviticus 8:26 and ...
/c/cake.htm - 17k

Sprinkle (37 Occurrences)
... 5. (vi) To rain moderately, or with scattered drops falling now and then; as, it
sprinkles. 6. (vi) To fly or be scattered in small drops or particles. ...
/s/sprinkle.htm - 26k

Spit (15 Occurrences)
... 11. (vi) To throw out saliva from the mouth. 12. (vi) To rain or snow slightly,
or with sprinkles. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SPIT; SPITTLE. ...
/s/spit.htm - 13k

Sprinkling (48 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Sprinkle. 2. (n.) The
act of one who, or that which, sprinkles. 3. (n.) A small ...
/s/sprinkling.htm - 29k

Contribution (24 Occurrences)
... heave offering to Yahweh. It shall be the priest's who sprinkles the blood
of the peace offerings. (See NAS NIV). Leviticus 7:32 ...
/c/contribution.htm - 16k

Sprinkled (55 Occurrences)

/s/sprinkled.htm - 24k

Impurity (42 Occurrences)
... Numbers 19:21 It shall be a perpetual statute to them: and he who sprinkles the
water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for ...
/i/impurity.htm - 21k

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