Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7300 Institutions and culture of OT  »  7348 defilement

The result of making oneself or someone else unclean in God's sight. Outward, physical defilement comes from contact with someone or something unclean, whereas sin produces inner, spiritual defilement.

Defilement through contact with anything unclean

Leviticus 20:25 See also Leviticus 7:19-21; Leviticus 11:41-45; Leviticus 21:1-4; Leviticus 22:4-5; Numbers 5:1-3; Numbers 6:9,12; Ezekiel 4:9-15; Ezekiel 44:25; Daniel 1:8; Haggai 2:10-14; Malachi 1:7

Defilement through bodily emissions

Leviticus 12:2-7; Leviticus 15:1-17

Defilement by sin

Ezekiel 14:11 See also Leviticus 19:31; Psalm 106:34-39; Jeremiah 2:23; Lamentations 4:14; Ezekiel 20:1-44; Ezekiel 22:1-4; Ezekiel 23:28-30; Ezekiel 37:23

Defilement as a result of illicit sexual relations

Leviticus 18:20 See also Genesis 34:1-5 rape; Genesis 34:27; Genesis 49:3-4; Leviticus 18:23-30 bestiality

Prostitution:

Leviticus 21:7,9,13-15 Numbers 5:19-22,27-30; Deuteronomy 24:1-4; 1 Chronicles 5:1; Ezekiel 18:6; Ezekiel 22:11 incest; Ezekiel 23:7,17; Ezekiel 33:26 adultery; Revelation 14:4

Defilement of God's house

Leviticus 15:31

Through uncleanness:

Numbers 19:13,20 2 Chronicles 29:4-5; 2 C 14; Psalm 74:4-7; Psalm 79:1

Through setting up idols:

Jeremiah 7:30; Jeremiah 32:32-35 Ezekiel 5:11; Ezekiel 9:7; Ezekiel 23:38; Acts 21:27-28 Paul was falsely accused of bringing Gentiles into the temple area.

Defilement of God's name

Ezekiel 43:7-8

Defilement of altars and offerings

Exodus 20:25 See also Numbers 18:30-32; 2 Kings 23:16,19

Defilement of the land

Numbers 35:34 See also Joshua 22:19; Isaiah 24:5; Jeremiah 2:7; Jeremiah 3:9; Jeremiah 16:18; Ezekiel 36:17-18

See also

4639  dung and manure
6021  sin, nature of
6151  dirt
6236  sexual sin
7340  clean and unclean
7342  cleanliness
7416  purification
7426  ritual washing
7478  washing