What does the Bible say about ablution?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that ceremonial washings served God’s purposes of outward purification and preparation, but they could not cleanse the heart or justify sinners before him. Israel washed in preparation to meet the Lord at Sinai, and priests were washed for their holy service (Exodus 19:10, 14; Exodus 29:4). Yet Jesus rebuked traditions that elevated ritual handwashing above God’s commands, exposing the danger of external religion without inward faith (Matthew 15:2; Mark 7:2-9; Luke 11:38). Hebrews 9:10 calls such washings temporary regulations until Christ’s coming. They point beyond themselves to the true cleansing God provides through Christ, received by faith and evidenced in a life of obedient holiness.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- General scriptures concerning Exodus 19:10; Exodus 19:14; Matthew 15:2; Mark 7:2-5; Mark 7:8; Mark 7:9; Luke 11:38; Hebrews 9:10
- Of priests Exodus 29:4; Exodus 36:18-21; Exodus 40:12; Exodus 40:31; Exodus 40:32; Leviticus 8:6; Leviticus 16:4; Leviticus 16:24; Leviticus 16:26; Leviticus 16:28; Numbers 19:7-10; Numbers 19:19
- Of burnt offerings Leviticus 1:9; Leviticus 1:13; Leviticus 9:14; 2 Chronicles 4:6
- Of the dead Acts 9:37
- Of infants Ezekiel 16:4
- Of the face Matthew 6:17
- Of the feet Genesis 18:4; Genesis 19:2; Genesis 24:32; Genesis 43:24; Exodus 30:19; Exodus 30:21; Exodus 40:31; Judges 19:21; 2 Samuel 11:8; Song of Solomon 5:3; Luke 7:38; Luke 7:44
- Of the hands Exodus 30:18-21; Exodus 40:30-32
- Of the hands, as a token of innocency Deuteronomy 21:6; Psalms 26:6; Matthew 27:24
- For defilement
- Of lepers Leviticus 14:8; Leviticus 14:9
- Those having bloody issue Leviticus 15:5-13
- Those having eaten that which died Leviticus 17:15; Leviticus 17:16
- Traditional forms of, not observed by Jesus Luke 11:38; Luke 11:39
- See PURIFICATION
- See DEFILEMENT
- FIGURATIVE Psalms 51:2; Psalms 51:7; Psalms 65:3; Psalms 73:13; Psalms 79:9; Proverbs 16:6; Proverbs 20:9; Isaiah 1:16; Isaiah 1:18; Isaiah 4:3; Isaiah 4:4; Daniel 12:10
- See REGENERATION
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