Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  7000 God's people  »  7300 Institutions and culture of OT  »  7478 washing

The physical or ritual cleansing of part or all of a person's body, a person's clothing or certain vessels. Washing can be symbolic of purification from defilement or cleansing from sin. It can also be part of preparation for a special act of religious service.

Washing as the cleansing of the body, clothing or certain vessels

Exodus 30:17-21; Leviticus 13:53-54 See also Exodus 40:30-32; Leviticus 6:27; Leviticus 14:8-9; Leviticus 15:2-13; Leviticus 16:24,26-28; Numbers 31:24; 2 Chronicles 4:6 pp 1 Kings 7:38; John 2:6

Jesus Christ taught that inner purity was more important than ritual washing

Matthew 15:17-20 pp Mark 7:20-23 See also Mark 7:1-9 pp Matthew 15:1-3; Mark 7:14-15 pp Matthew 15:10-11; Luke 11:37-41

Washing as a symbolic act

Of purification from defilement

Leviticus 11:24-25 See also Leviticus 11:28,40; Leviticus 13:6,34; Leviticus 15:4-8; Leviticus 17:15-16; Deuteronomy 23:10-11; 2 Kings 5:10

Of cleansing from sin

1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Ephesians 5:25-27 See also Psalm 51:2,7; Isaiah 1:16; Isaiah 4:4; Jeremiah 4:14; Acts 22:16; Titus 3:5; Hebrews 10:22; James 4:8; Revelation 7:14; Revelation 22:14

Of personal cleansing before a special act of religious service

Leviticus 16:24 See also Exodus 19:10-11; Exodus 29:4; Exodus 40:12-13,30-32; Leviticus 8:6; Numbers 8:6-7,21

Washing one's hands was used as a symbolic declaration of innocence

Deuteronomy 21:6-7 See also Psalm 26:6; Psalm 73:13; Matthew 27:24

See also

4293  water
5129  bathing
5153  foot-washing
5226  basin
6020  sin
7340  clean and unclean
7342  cleanliness
7416  purification
7426  ritual washing
7903  baptism
8218  consecration
8325  purity