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
Genesis
Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.
And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.
Exodus
And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes,
And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes.
And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.
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.
For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:
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:
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.
And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and wash them with water.
And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.
And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat:
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
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.
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.
And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.
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.
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.
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.
And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.
Numbers
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.
And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.
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.
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.
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.
Song of Solomon
New Testament
Matthew
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.
Mark
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
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
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
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?
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.
And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. reject: or, frustrate
Luke
And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
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.
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