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What the Bible Says About Ablution

Overview

The Bible addresses ablution across 52 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Exodus, Leviticus and Mark. Closely related themes include Purification, Purifications, Water and Commandments. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David.

Key Bible verses about ablution

Old Testament

Exodus

Exodus 19:10

And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,

Exodus 19:14

And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.

Exodus 29:4

And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.

Exodus 30:18

Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.

Exodus 30:19

For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:

Exodus 30:20

When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:

Exodus 30:21

So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.

Exodus 40:12

And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.

Exodus 40:30

And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.

Exodus 40:31

And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:

Exodus 40:32

When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Leviticus

Leviticus 1:9

But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Leviticus 1:13

But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Leviticus 8:6

And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.

Leviticus 9:14

And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.

Leviticus 16:4

He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.

Leviticus 16:24

And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering, and the burnt offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people.

Leviticus 16:26

And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp.

Leviticus 16:28

And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.

Numbers

Numbers 19:7

Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.

Numbers 19:8

And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.

Numbers 19:9

And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.

Numbers 19:10

And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever.

Numbers 19:19

And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.

New Testament

Mark

Mark 7:2

And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. defiled: or, common

Mark 7:3

For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. oft: or, diligently: in the original, with the fist: Theophylact, up to the elbow

Mark 7:4

And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots brasen vessels, and of tables. pots: sextarius is about a pint and an half tables: or, beds

Mark 7:5

Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

Mark 7:8

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

Mark 7:9

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. reject: or, frustrate

People in the Bible and ablution

Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.

In the Bible dictionary

Studying ablution for yourself

  • Begin with Genesis 18:4, then read the passages below in canonical order.
  • Compare how Exodus, Leviticus and Mark each treat the theme.
  • Consider the lives of Moses, Aaron and Joseph and how their stories intersect with it.
  • Widen the study to related themes: Purification, Purifications, Water and Commandments.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about ablution?

The Bible addresses ablution across 52 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Exodus, Leviticus and Mark. Closely related themes include Purification, Purifications, Water and Commandments. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Moses, Aaron, Joseph and David.

How many Bible verses are about ablution?

The Bible references ablution in 52 verses (King James Version).

Where does the Bible first mention ablution?

In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 18:4: “Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:”

Which people in the Bible are associated with ablution?

Moses, Aaron, Joseph, David and Pontius Pilate.

Preach & teach

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