Bible Dictionary: Sprinkling

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Sprinkle.

2. (n.) The act of one who, or that which, sprinkles.

3. (n.) A small quantity falling in distinct drops or particles; as, a sprinkling of rain or snow.

4. (n.) Hence, a moderate number or quantity distributed like drops.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SPRINKLE; SPRINKLING

sprin'-k'-l, sprin'-kling (zaraq, nazah; rhantizein): The first word means "to toss" or "scatter abundantly," e.g. in handfuls, as dust on the head (Job 2:12) or blood from a bowl (Exodus 9:8). The other Hebrew word is used of sprinkling with the finger (Leviticus 14:7; Leviticus 16:14, etc.). In the account of Jezebel's death the word is used in its literal meaning of "spurt" (2 Kings 9:33).

Sprinkling (blood, water, oil) formed an important-if not the essential-part of the act of sacrifice. A consideration of the chief passages in the Old Testament will reveal the prominence and the significance of sprinkling as a feature of the sacrificial act. The significance of the sprinkling of blood is seen in the account of the establishment of the covenant between Yahweh and Israel (Exodus 24:6-8). Half the blood was sprinkled on the altar as representing the Deity, while the remainder was put into a basin and then sprinkled on the people. This ceremony is a survival in a modified form of the communal meal in which the tribal god and his worshippers sat together and participated in the same food, and in this way came to possess the same life. The two-fold sprinkling of blood resulted in the establishment of an inviolable bond (Numbers 18:17 2 Kings 16:15). In the account of the consecration of Aaron and his sons (Exodus 29:16, 20, 21) the blood of the ram of the burnt offering was sprinkled on the altar, while the blood of the ram of consecration was put on the altar and sprinkled on Aaron and his sons and on their garments. Water of purifying was sprinkled on the Levites at their ordination (Numbers 8:7). Leviticus gives detailed information in regard to sacrificial sprinkling. In the case of burnt offering the blood was sprinkled round about upon the altar (Leviticus 1:5, 11). The same practice obtained in the case of peace offerings, whether ox, lamb or goat (Leviticus 3:2, 8, 13). When a sin offering for sins inadvertently committed was made, the priest dipped his fingers in the blood and sprinkled it seven times before Yahweh, before the veil of the Holy Place (Leviticus 4:6). Elsewhere (Leviticus 16:11, 15) we read that Aaron took the blood of the sin offering and sprinkled it with his finger upon the mercy-seat, eastward, 7 times (see also Numbers 19:4). Sprinkling constituted part of the process of purification. But it is obvious that the sprinkling, even in this case, was a religious act, and not part of the actual physical cleaning. A simple kind of sprinkler was made by fastening a bunch of hyssop to a cedar rod by a piece of scarlet thread or wool and then the patient was besprinkled 7 times (Leviticus 14:7), while oil was sprinkled with the finger, also 7 times, before Yahweh (Leviticus 14:16; see also Exodus 12:22 Numbers 19:18 Psalm 51:7). The house in which the leper lived was disinfected in the same thorough manner (Leviticus 14:51).

In the case of persons who had contracted uncleanness through contact with a corpse, sprinkling with the "water of separation" was part of the process of cleansing. The water of separation consisted of the ashes of a red heifer (slain for the purpose) mixed with running water (Numbers 19). A sprinkler was used as in the case of the leper (Numbers 19:18). The final sprinkling-on the 7th day-was followed by a bath (Numbers 19:19). The "tent" in which the corpse lay, together with all the contents, were thoroughly disinfected.

See HEIFER, RED.

According to Exodus (9:8, 10) the plague of "boils and blains" was caused through the sprinkling of ashes ("soot" the Revised Version margin) in the air toward heaven, which settled on man and beast and produced the eruption. The narrative gives no clue in reference to the connection between the ashes and the eruption, but the religious character of the act is obvious. By means of it, the assistance of the Deity was invoked. According to primitive thought, there was no necessary connection between the religious act and the consummation devoutly wished for. The purpose of the religious observance was to influence, or bring pressure to bear upon, the Deity so that He might exert Himself on behalf of the worshipper. It is evident that sprinkling as part of the act of worship was believed to be religiously effectual. It was not symbolical nor morally significant. It was a religious act. It is not denied that in some passages sprinkling is symbolical. According to Ezekiel (36:25) the restored community will experience moral and spiritual renewal. There will be a "new heart" and a "new spirit." The sprinkling with clean water is the outward symbol of the inward lustration. In Isaiah 63:3 the sacrificial allusion is obvious. The conqueror who strides triumphantly from Bozrah is "besprinkled" with the life-blood (or juice) of his victims. In Isaiah 52:15 "sprinkle" is a doubtful rendering. There is no apparent connection between bodily disfigurement and national purification. the Revised Version margin renders "startle" (literally, "cause to spring"). The exalted dignity of the "martyr" will excite the wonder of kings and peoples.

In 1 Peter 1:2, "sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" is used figuratively of its cleansing efficacy (compare Hebrews 9:13, 14; Hebrews 10:22).

T. Lewis

Greek

4473. rhantismos -- sprinkling
... sprinkling. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: rhantismos Phonetic
Spelling: (hran-tis-mos') Short Definition: sprinkling, purification Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4473.htm - 6k

4378. proschusis -- a pouring upon
... a pouring upon. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: proschusis Phonetic
Spelling: (pros'-khoo-sis) Short Definition: a sprinkling Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4378.htm - 6k

4472. rhantizo -- to sprinkle
... Speech: Verb Transliteration: rhantizo Phonetic Spelling: (hran-tid'-zo) Short
Definition: I sprinkle Definition: I sprinkle, cleanse ceremonially by sprinkling ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4472.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

3138. yoreh -- the early rain
... first rain, former rain. Active participle of yarah; sprinkling; hence, a sprinkling
(or autumnal showers) -- first rain, former (rain). see HEBREW yarah. ...
/hebrew/3138.htm - 6k

4219. mizraq -- bowl, basin
... bason, bowl. From zaraq; a bowl (as if for sprinkling) -- bason, bowl. see HEBREW
zaraq. 4218, 4219. mizraq. 4220 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/4219.htm - 6k

5130. nuph -- to move to and fro, wave, sprinkle
... A primitive root; to quiver (ie Vibrate up and down, or rock to and fro); used in
a great variety of applications (including sprinkling, beckoning, rubbing ...
/hebrew/5130.htm - 6k

Library

Whether Venial Sins are Removed by the Sprinkling of Holy Water ...
... OF THE REMISSION OF VENIAL SIN (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether venial sins are removed
by the sprinkling of holy water and the like? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether venial sins are removed.htm

The Blood of Sprinkling
... The Blood of Sprinkling. A Sermon ... And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant,
and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/the blood of sprinkling.htm

The Blood of Sprinkling
... CHAPTER V. THE BLOOD OF SPRINKLING. But an inquirer asks, What is the special meaning
of the blood, of which we read so much? How does it speak peace? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bonar/gods way of peace/chapter v the blood of.htm

The Blood of Sprinkling (Second Sermon. )
... The Blood of Sprinkling (Second Sermon.). A Sermon (No.1889). Delivered on
Lord's-day Evening, February 28th, 1886, by. CH SPURGEON,. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 32 1886/the blood of sprinkling second.htm

V. ...
... Asia and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through
sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of ...
/.../the epistles of st peter and st jude preached and explained/chapter i v .htm

Psalm LIII. (LIV. ).
... Now, by the Law, sprinkling was a cleansing from sins; it purified the people through
faith by the sprinkling of blood, of which this same blessed David thus ...
/.../hilary/the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/psalm liii liv.htm

Whether Immersion in Water is Necessary for Baptism?
... of the body. Therefore it seems that immersion is necessary for Baptism,
and that mere sprinkling is not enough. On the contrary ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether immersion in water is.htm

False Teachings of the Apostasy.
... Sprinkling And Pouring. ... We have no account of sprinkling and pouring until the
third century. The Novatians practised it in the third century. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter iii false teachings of.htm

Whether, at the Time of the Law, the Ceremonies of the Old Law had ...
... But it is written (Ex.39:21) that the priests and their apparel were consecrated
by the sprinkling of blood and the anointing of oil; and (Lev.16:16) that, by ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether at the time of.htm

Hebrews xii. 18-24
... God the Judge of all; and to the spirits of just men made perfect: and to Jesus
the Mediator of the New Covenant: and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh ...
/.../homily xxxii hebrews xii 18-24.htm

Thesaurus

Sprinkling (48 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A small quantity falling in distinct drops or particles; as, a sprinkling
of rain or snow. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SPRINKLE; SPRINKLING. ...
/s/sprinkling.htm - 29k

Sprinkling-pans (1 Occurrence)
Sprinkling-pans. Sprinkling, Sprinkling-pans. Sprout . Multi-Version
Concordance Sprinkling-pans (1 Occurrence). Exodus ...
/s/sprinkling-pans.htm - 6k

Sprinkle (37 Occurrences)
... 7. (n.) A small quantity scattered, or sparsely distributed; a sprinkling. 8. (n.)
A utensil for sprinkling; a sprinkler. Int. ... SPRINKLE; SPRINKLING. ...
/s/sprinkle.htm - 26k

Cleansing (37 Occurrences)
... is dead, and purifieth not himself--he hath defiled the tabernacle of the
LORD--that soul shall be cut off from Israel; because the water of sprinkling was ...
/c/cleansing.htm - 18k

Purification (25 Occurrences)
... hands (Deuteronomy 21:6; Matthew 27:24); washing the hands and feet (Exodus
30:18-21; Hebrews 6:2, "baptisms", RV marg., "washings;9:10); sprinkling with blood ...
/p/purification.htm - 18k

Hyssop (12 Occurrences)
... They would any of them furnish a bunch suitable for sprinkling, and they have the
important recommendation that they grow everywhere, being found even in the ...
/h/hyssop.htm - 14k

Showers (20 Occurrences)
... we know -- we pursue to know Jehovah, As the dawn prepared is His going forth, And
He cometh in as a shower to us, As gathered rain -- sprinkling earth.' (See ...
/s/showers.htm - 12k

Sprinkled (55 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 9:13 for if the blood of bulls, and goats, and ashes of an heifer, sprinkling
those defiled, doth sanctify to the purifying of the flesh, (See NIV). ...
/s/sprinkled.htm - 24k

Nonimmersionist
... Christian baptism must have been performed originally by immersion only, and that
the two other forms of affusion and aspersion or sprinkling are invalid-that ...
/n/nonimmersionist.htm - 38k

Non-immersionist
... Christian baptism must have been performed originally by immersion only, and that
the two other forms of affusion and aspersion or sprinkling are invalid-that ...
/n/non-immersionist.htm - 38k

Bible Concordance

Sprinkling (48 Occurrences)

Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh:
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Hebrews 11:28 By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Hebrews 12:24 to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Exodus 27:3 You shall make its pots to take away its ashes, its shovels, its basins, its flesh hooks, and its fire pans: all its vessels you shall make of brass.
(See NIV)

Exodus 38:3 and he maketh all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the sprinkling-pans, the forks, and the fire-pans; all its vessels he hath made of brass.
(YLT NIV)

Leviticus 7:14 and he hath brought near out of it one of the whole offering -- a heave-offering to Jehovah; to the priest who is sprinkling the blood of the peace-offerings -- it is his;
(YLT)

Leviticus 16:15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the ark-cover, and before the ark-cover.
(See RSV)

Numbers 4:14 And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, the fire-pans, the flesh-hooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of sealskin, and set the staves thereof.
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:13 and his offering was: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:19 He offered for his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:25 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:31 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:37 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:43 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:49 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:55 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:61 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:67 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:73 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:79 gave his offering: one silver platter, the weight of which was one hundred thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering;
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:84 This was the dedication of the altar, on the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, twelve golden ladles;
(See NIV)

Numbers 7:85 each silver platter weighing one hundred thirty shekels, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels two thousand four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary;
(See NIV)

Numbers 19:9 And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place; and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water for impurity: it is a sin-offering.
(See JPS)

Numbers 19:13 Whosoever toucheth a dead person, the body of a man that hath died, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of Jehovah; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water for impurity was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.
(See JPS)

Numbers 19:20 But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of Jehovah: the water for impurity hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.
(See JPS)

Numbers 19:21 And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them: and he that sprinkleth the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he that toucheth the water for impurity shall be unclean until even.
(See JPS YLT)

Numbers 31:23 everything that may abide the fire, ye shall make to go through the fire, and it shall be clean; nevertheless it shall be purified with the water for impurity: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make to go through the water.
(See JPS)

Deuteronomy 11:14 that I have given the rain of your land in its season -- sprinkling and gathered -- and thou hast gathered thy corn, and thy new wine, and thine oil,
(YLT)

1 Kings 7:40 Hiram made the basins, and the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram made an end of doing all the work that he worked for king Solomon in the house of Yahweh:
(See NIV)

1 Kings 7:45 and the pots, and the shovels, and the basins: even all these vessels, which Hiram made for king Solomon, in the house of Yahweh, were of burnished brass.
(See NIV)

1 Kings 7:50 and the cups, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the fire pans, of pure gold; and the hinges, both for the doors of the inner house, the most holy place, and for the doors of the house, to wit, of the temple, of gold.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 12:13 But there were not made for the house of Yahweh cups of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh;
(See NIV)

2 Kings 25:15 The fire pans, and the basins, that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver, the captain of the guard took away.
(See NIV)

1 Chronicles 28:17 and the forks, and the basins, and the cups, of pure gold; and for the golden bowls by weight for every bowl; and for the silver bowls by weight for every bowl;
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 4:8 He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. He made one hundred basins of gold.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 4:11 Huram made the pots, and the shovels, and the basins. So Huram made an end of doing the work that he did for king Solomon in the house of God:
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 4:22 and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and the fire pans, of pure gold: and as for the entry of the house, the inner doors of it for the most holy place, and the doors of the main hall of the temple were of gold.
(See NIV)

2 Chronicles 30:16 And they stand on their station according to their ordinance; according to the law of Moses the man of God the priests are sprinkling the blood out of the hand of the Levites,
(YLT)

Psalms 72:6 He cometh down as rain on mown grass, As showers -- sprinkling the earth.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 5:24 And they have not said in their heart, 'Let us fear, we pray you, Jehovah our God, who is giving rain, The sprinkling and the gathered, in its season, The appointed weeks of harvest He keepeth for us.'
(YLT)

Jeremiah 52:18 The pots also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the basins, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass with which they ministered, took they away.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 52:19 The cups, and the fire pans, and the basins, and the pots, and the lampstands, and the spoons, and the bowls-that which was of gold, in gold, and that which was of silver, in silver,-the captain of the guard took away.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 43:18 And He saith unto me, 'Son of man, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: These 'are' statutes of the altar in the day of its being made to cause burnt-offering to go up on it, and to sprinkle on it blood.
(See NIV)

Hosea 6:3 And we know -- we pursue to know Jehovah, As the dawn prepared is His going forth, And He cometh in as a shower to us, As gathered rain -- sprinkling earth.'
(YLT)

Joel 2:23 And ye sons of Zion, joy and rejoice, In Jehovah your God, For He hath given to you the Teacher for righteousness, And causeth to come down to you a shower, Sprinkling and gathered -- in the beginning.
(YLT)

Zechariah 9:15 Yahweh of Armies will defend them; and they will destroy and overcome with sling stones; and they will drink, and roar as through wine; and they will be filled like bowls, like the corners of the altar.
(See NIV)

Zechariah 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness.
(See JPS)

Subtopics

Sprinkling

Sprinkling of Blood

Sprinkling of Water

Related Terms

Sprinkling-pans (1 Occurrence)

Sprinkle (37 Occurrences)

Cleansing (37 Occurrences)

Purification (25 Occurrences)

Hyssop (12 Occurrences)

Showers (20 Occurrences)

Sprinkled (55 Occurrences)