What does the Bible say about defilement?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that defilement is uncleanness before God, arising both from contact with death, disease, and bodily discharges under the old covenant, and from sin that corrupts people and nations. Leviticus 11:44-45 calls God’s people to holiness because the Lord is holy, while Leviticus 5:3, 13:59, and 15:9-10 describe ceremonial uncleanness and the need for careful distinction. Numbers 19:14-15 shows that death brought defilement into a household, underscoring sin’s curse. Leviticus 14:44 and 18:25 also show that persistent corruption could defile a house or land. These laws taught Israel that God is pure and sin is serious, preparing us to seek the cleansing Christ provides.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- Laws relating to Leviticus 7:18-21; Leviticus 11:43; Leviticus 22:2-7
- Caused by
- Leprosy Leviticus 13:3; Leviticus 13:44-46; Leviticus 14; Leviticus 22:4-7
- Gonorrhea Leviticus 15:1-15; Leviticus 22:4
- Copulation Leviticus 15:17
- Spermatorrhea Leviticus 15:16; Leviticus 15:17
- Childbirth Leviticus 12:2-8; Luke 2:22
- Menses Leviticus 15:19-33; 2 Samuel 11:4
- Touching the dead Numbers 19:11-22; Numbers 31:19; Numbers 31:20
- Touching the carcass of any ceremonially unclean animal Leviticus 11:39; Leviticus 11:40; Leviticus 17:15; Leviticus 17:16; Leviticus 22:8
- Touching carcass of an unclean thing Leviticus 5:2-13; Leviticus 11:8; Leviticus 11:24-28; Leviticus 11:31-38; Leviticus 14:46-57; Leviticus 15:5-11; Deuteronomy 23:10; Deuteronomy 23:11
- Killing in battle Numbers 31:19; Numbers 31:20
- Contact with sinners falsely supposed to cause John 18:28
- Of priests Leviticus 16:26; Leviticus 16:28; Numbers 19:7-10; Ezekiel 44:25; Ezekiel 44:26
- Egyptian usage, concerning Genesis 43:32
- See ABLUTION
- See PURIFICATION
- See UNCLEANNESS
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- Forbidden to the Jews Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 11:45
- Things liable to ceremonial
- The person Leviticus 5:3
- Garments Leviticus 13:59
- Furniture, &c Leviticus 15:9; Leviticus 15:10; Numbers 19:14; Numbers 19:15
- Houses Leviticus 14:44
- The land Leviticus 18:25; Deuteronomy 21:23
- The sanctuary Leviticus 20:3; Zephaniah 3:4
- Ceremonial caused by
- Eating unclean things Leviticus 11:8; Acts 10:11; Acts 10:14
- Eating things that died Leviticus 17:15
- Touching a dead body or a bone Numbers 9:6; Numbers 9:7; Numbers 19:11; Numbers 19:16
- Touching a grave Numbers 19:16
- Touching a dead beast Leviticus 5:2; Leviticus 11:24-28
- Being alone with a dead body Numbers 19:14
- Mourning for the dead Leviticus 21:1-3
- Having a leprosy Leviticus 13:3; Leviticus 13:11; Numbers 5:2; Numbers 5:3
- Having an issue, &c Leviticus 15:2; Numbers 5:2
- Touching anything defiled by an issue, &c Leviticus 15:5-11
- Going into a leprous house Leviticus 14:46
- Sacrificing the red heifer Numbers 19:7
- Burning the red heifer Numbers 19:8
- Gathering the ashes of the red heifer Numbers 19:10
- Touching an unclean person Numbers 19:22
- Child bearing Leviticus 12:2
- Causes of, improperly enlarged by tradition Mark 7:2; Matthew 15:20
- Moral, caused by
- Following the sins of the heathen Leviticus 18:24
- Seeking after wizards Leviticus 19:31
- Giving children to Molech Leviticus 20:3
- Making and serving idols Ezekiel 20:17; Ezekiel 20:18; Ezekiel 22:3; Ezekiel 22:4; Ezekiel 23:7
- Blood shedding Isaiah 59:3
- Moral, punished Leviticus 18:24; Leviticus 18:25; Leviticus 18:28; Leviticus 18:29
- Those under, removed from the camp Numbers 5:3; Numbers 5:4; Deuteronomy 23:14
- Priests
- To decide in all cases of Leviticus 10:10; Leviticus 13:3
- Specially required to avoid Leviticus 21:1-6; Leviticus 21:11; Leviticus 21:12
- Not to eat holy things while under Leviticus 22:2; Leviticus 22:4-6
- Punished for eating of the holy things while under Leviticus 22:3
- Cleansed by legal offerings Numbers 19:18; Numbers 19:19; Hebrews 9:13
Showing the first 40 headings of this outline.
See also
Go deeper
Ask Explain Bible AI about defilement and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.
Ask what the Bible says about defilement