Excrement, commonly referred to as human waste or feces, is mentioned in the Bible in various contexts, often symbolizing impurity or uncleanness. The handling and disposal of excrement are addressed in the Mosaic Law, reflecting the importance of cleanliness and holiness in the daily lives of the Israelites.

Biblical References and Contexts:

1. Deuteronomy 23:12-14: The Mosaic Law provides specific instructions for the disposal of human waste, emphasizing the need for cleanliness within the camp of Israel. The passage states: "You are to have a place outside the camp to go and relieve yourself. And you must have a digging tool in your equipment so that when you relieve yourself, you can dig a hole and cover up your excrement. For the LORD your God walks throughout your camp to protect you and deliver your enemies to you. Therefore, your camp must be holy, so that He will not see anything indecent among you and turn away from you." This directive underscores the importance of maintaining a clean and holy environment, as the presence of God among His people required purity.

2. Ezekiel 4:12-15: In a symbolic act, the prophet Ezekiel is instructed to bake bread using human excrement as fuel, illustrating the defilement that Israel would experience in exile. Ezekiel protests, and God permits him to use cow dung instead. This passage highlights the association of excrement with defilement and the severe conditions of judgment that would come upon the people.

3. 2 Kings 18:27 and Isaiah 36:12: These passages recount the words of the Assyrian Rabshakeh, who taunts the people of Jerusalem during the siege by suggesting that they will be forced to consume their own excrement and drink their own urine due to the dire conditions. This imagery is used to convey the desperation and humiliation that would accompany the siege.

4. Philippians 3:8: While not directly referring to excrement, the Apostle Paul uses the Greek word "skubalon," often translated as "rubbish" or "dung," to describe all things he once valued compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. This metaphor illustrates the worthlessness of worldly achievements in light of the spiritual riches found in Christ.

Theological Implications:

In the biblical narrative, excrement is often associated with impurity, defilement, and judgment. The instructions in Deuteronomy reflect a broader theological theme of holiness and the need for God's people to maintain purity in all aspects of life. The physical act of disposing of waste properly is a tangible expression of the spiritual principle of separating oneself from impurity.

The prophetic imagery in Ezekiel and the taunts in 2 Kings and Isaiah serve as stark reminders of the consequences of disobedience and the severity of divine judgment. These passages use the repulsiveness of excrement to convey the depth of degradation and suffering that result from turning away from God.

In the New Testament, Paul's use of the term "dung" in Philippians underscores the radical revaluation of values that comes with faith in Christ. It serves as a powerful metaphor for the believer's rejection of worldly status and achievements in favor of the eternal worth found in a relationship with Jesus.

Overall, the biblical treatment of excrement, while addressing practical concerns of hygiene and health, also serves as a profound symbol of the need for spiritual cleanliness and the transformative power of God's presence among His people.1. (n.) Matter excreted and ejected; that which is excreted or cast out of the animal body by any of the natural emunctories; especially, alvine, discharges; dung; ordure.

2. (n.) An excrescence or appendage; an outgrowth.

6627. tseah -- filth, human excrement
... 6626, 6627. tseah. 6628 . filth, human excrement. Transliteration: tseah
Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-aw') Short Definition: dung. ... excrement. ...
/hebrew/6627.htm - 6k

2716. chere -- dung
... excrement, dung. From an unused (and vulgar) root probably meaning to evacuate the
bowels: excrement; -dung. Also chariy {khar-ee'}. 2715, 2716. chere. 2717 ...
/hebrew/2716.htm - 5k

6832. tsephua -- dung (of cattle)
... dung. From the same as tsepha'; excrement (as protruded) -- dung. see HEBREW tsepha'.
6831, 6832. tsephua or tsaphia. 6833 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6832.htm - 6k

6569. peresh -- fecal matter
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition fecal matter NASB Word Usage refuse
(7). dung. From parash; excrement (as eliminated) -- dung. see HEBREW parash. ...
/hebrew/6569.htm - 6k

6675. tsoah -- filth
... dung, filthiness. Or tsovah {tso-aw'}: feminine of tsow'; excrement; generally,
dirt; figuratively, pollution -- dung, filth(-iness). Marg. For chere'. ...
/hebrew/6675.htm - 6k

Moreover, if the Law of Moses had Contained Nothing which was to ...
... who is there that, on reading of the dragon that lives in the Egyptian river, [3919]
and of the fishes which lurk in his scales, or of the excrement of Pharaoh ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter l moreover if the.htm

Disclosure of the Monstrous Tenets of the Manich??ans.
... do you regard with pleasure in a violet the same color which you turn away from
in cases of cholera, or of people with jaundice, or in the excrement of infants ...
/.../chapter 16 name of the 2.htm

Some Helps to Mourning
... I know not what name to give it bad enough. One calls it the devil's excrement.
Sin is a complication of all evils. It is the spirits of mischief distilled. ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/10 some helps to mourning.htm

The Tenets of the Esseni Concluded.
... But after they have performed this operation, immediately they undergo ablution,
as if the excrement pollutes them. Footnotes: [1028] [Query, unnecessarily? ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter xx the tenets of the.htm

Should Wish, Therefore, to See Jupiter, the Father of the Gods...
... his feet contracted into hoofs, chewing green grass, and having behind him [4413]
a tail, hams, [4414] and ankles smeared over with soft excrement, [4415] and ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/23 i should wish therefore.htm

The Epistle of St. Athanasius to the Monk Ammus.
... the exact words of the Saint. "For what sin or uncleanness can any natural
excrement have in itself? Think of the absurdity of making ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/iv the epistle of st.htm

Against Embellishing the Body.
... Thrice, I say, not once, do they deserve to perish, who use crocodiles' excrement,
and anoint themselves with the froth of putrid humours, and stain their ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter ii against embellishing the body.htm

The Disputation of Nebridius against the Manich??ans, on the ...
... declare that Christ is liberated in this way,--not, however, entirely; for you hold
that some tiny particles of no value still remain in the excrement, to be ...
/.../the confessions and letters of st/chapter ii the disputation of nebridius.htm

Of the Intestines in Man, and their Use.
... entwine themselves around and encompass the bladder; and when the meat and the drink
have arrived at these parts in a mixed state, the excrement becomes more ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap xi of the intestines in.htm

Faustus Claims to Believe the Gospel, yet Refuses to Accept the ...
... declare that Christ is liberated in this way"not, however, entirely; for you hold
that some tiny particles of no value still remain in the excrement, to be ...
/.../faustus claims to believe the.htm

Excrement (3 Occurrences)
...Excrement (3 Occurrences). ... Ezekiel 4:12 And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and
thou shalt bake it with human excrement in their sight. (WBS NIV). ...
/e/excrement.htm - 7k

Dung (27 Occurrences)
... 1. (pp) of Ding. 2. (n.) The excrement of an animal. 3. (vt) To manure with dung. ...
5. (vi) To void excrement. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DUNG; DUNG GATE. ...
/d/dung.htm - 20k

Dejection (1 Occurrence)
... 4. (n.) A low condition; weakness; inability. 5. (n.) The discharge of excrement.
6. (n.) Feces; excrement. Multi-Version Concordance Dejection (1 Occurrence). ...
/d/dejection.htm - 7k

Excommunication

/e/excommunication.htm - 15k

Filth (21 Occurrences)
... filth, fil'-thi-nes, fil'-thi (tso'ah, Tum'ah; rhupoo): The word once translated
"filth" in the Old Testament is tso'ah, "excrement" or "dung," elsewhere ...
/f/filth.htm - 17k

Filthiness (16 Occurrences)
... filth, fil'-thi-nes, fil'-thi (tso'ah, Tum'ah; rhupoo): The word once translated
"filth" in the Old Testament is tso'ah, "excrement" or "dung," elsewhere ...
/f/filthiness.htm - 16k

Filthy (22 Occurrences)
... filth, fil'-thi-nes, fil'-thi (tso'ah, Tum'ah; rhupoo): The word once translated
"filth" in the Old Testament is tso'ah, "excrement" or "dung," elsewhere ...
/f/filthy.htm - 16k

Excretions (2 Occurrences)

/e/excretions.htm - 7k

Dirt (9 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Any foul of filthy substance, as excrement, mud, dust, etc.; whatever, adhering
to anything, renders it foul or unclean; earth; as, a wagonload of dirt ...
/d/dirt.htm - 9k

Dropping (33 Occurrences)
... & vb. n.) of Drop. 2. (n.) The action of causing to drop or of letting drop; falling.
3. (n.) That which falls in drops; the excrement or dung of animals. Int. ...
/d/dropping.htm - 17k

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