Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, the concept of "filth" is often used metaphorically to describe moral and spiritual impurity. It is associated with sin, idolatry, and behaviors that are contrary to the holiness of God. The term is used to convey the idea of uncleanness and defilement, both in a physical and spiritual sense.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, filth is frequently linked to idolatry and the worship of false gods. The prophets often used vivid imagery to describe the spiritual corruption of Israel and Judah. For example, in
Ezekiel 24:13 , God speaks of Jerusalem's impurity: "Because of the indecency of your uncleanness, since I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your filth, you will not be clean again until My wrath against you has subsided."
The concept of filth is also connected to the ceremonial laws given to Israel. Leviticus outlines various laws regarding cleanliness and uncleanliness, emphasizing the importance of purity in approaching God. These laws served as a constant reminder of the need for holiness and separation from sin.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the focus shifts from ceremonial cleanliness to moral and spiritual purity. Filth is often used to describe the sinful nature and actions that separate individuals from God.
James 1:21 advises believers: "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly receive the word planted in you, which can save your souls."
The Apostle Paul also addresses the issue of filth in his letters. In
2 Corinthians 7:1 , he urges the church: "Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
Spiritual ImplicationsThe biblical concept of filth underscores the need for repentance and the transformative power of God's grace. It highlights the contrast between the holiness of God and the sinful nature of humanity. The call to cleanse oneself from filth is a call to pursue righteousness and live a life that reflects the character of Christ.
The imagery of filth also serves as a warning against complacency in one's spiritual life. Believers are encouraged to examine their hearts and lives continually, seeking to remove anything that hinders their relationship with God. The process of sanctification involves a continual cleansing, made possible through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Practical ApplicationFor Christians, the call to rid oneself of filth is a call to live a life of holiness and purity. This involves both an internal transformation and external actions. Believers are encouraged to immerse themselves in Scripture, prayer, and fellowship with other believers to grow in their faith and resist the temptations of the world.
The metaphor of filth also serves as a reminder of the grace and mercy of God, who offers forgiveness and cleansing to all who repent and turn to Him. Through Christ, believers are made clean and are empowered to live lives that honor God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) Foul matter; anything that soils or defiles; dirt; nastiness.
2. (n.) Anything that sullies or defiles the moral character; corruption; pollution.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
FILTH; FILTHINESS; FILTHYfilth, 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 translated "dung" (Isaiah 4:4, used figuratively of evil doings, sin, "the filth of the daughters of Zion"; compareProverbs 30:12); in the New Testament we have perikatharma "cleansings" "sweepings," offscourings (1 Corinthians 4:13, "We are made as the filth of the world," the Revised Version, margin "or refuse"); rhupos, "filth," "dirt," Septuagint for tso'ah inIsaiah 4:4 (1 Peter 3:21, "the filth of the flesh").
"Filthiness" is the translation of tum'ah, "uncleanness" (ritual,Leviticus 5:3;Leviticus 7:20, etc.), used figuratively of moral impurity, translated "filthiness" (Ezra 6:21Lamentations 1:9Ezekiel 22:15;Ezekiel 24:11, 13; 36:25); niddah, "impurity" (2 Chronicles 29:5); figuratively (Ezra 9:11); the Revised Version (British and American) has "uncleanness," but "filthiness" for uncleanness at close of verse (niddah); nechosheth, "brass," figuratively (for "impurity" or "impudence") (Ezekiel 16:36); aischrotes, primarily "ugliness," tropical for unbecomingness, indecency (onlyEphesians 5:4, "nor filthiness, nor foolish talking"; Alford has "obscenity," Weymouth, "shameful"); akathartes, "uncleanness" (Revelation 17:4 the King James Version), corrected text, ta akatharta, "the unclean things," so the Revised Version (British and American).
"Filthy" is the translation of 'alach, "to be turbid," to become foul or corrupt in a moral sense (Job 15:16 the King James Version;Psalm 14:3;Psalm 53:3); `iddim, plural of `iddah, from `adhadh, "to number or compute (monthly courses)";Isaiah 64:6, "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags," the Revised Version (British and American) "as a polluted garment"; compareEzekiel 36:17; aischros, "ugly," tropical for unbecoming, shameful (Titus 1:11, "for filthy lucre's sake"; compareTitus 1:7); shameful discourse aischrologia (Colossians 3:8 the King James Version); rhupoo, "filthy," in a moral sense polluted (Revelation 22:11, "He that is filthy, let him be filthy still," the Revised Version (British and American) "let him be made filthy still" (corrected text), margin "yet more"; Alford, "Let the filthy (morally polluted) pollute himself still" (in the constant middle sense of passive verbs when the act depends on the man's self)).
In Apocrypha we have (Ecclesiasticus 22:1): "A slothful man is compared to a filthy (ardaloo) stone," the Revised Version (British and American) "a stone that is defiled," 22:2 "A slothful man is compared to the filth (bolbiton) of a dunghill"; 27:4 "So the filth (skubalon) of a man in his talk (the Revised Version (British and American) "of man in his reasoning") remaineth."
SeeUNCLEANNESS.
W. L. Walker
Greek
4509. rhupos --filth...filth. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: rhupos Phonetic Spelling:
(hroo'-pos) Short Definition:
filth, dirt Definition:
filth, filthiness, dirt
...1004. borboros -- mud,filth
... mud,filth. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: borboros Phonetic Spelling:
(bor'-bor-os) Short Definition: mud, mire,filth Definition: mud, mire...
4507. rhuparia -- to make filthy
... to make filthy. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: rhuparia Phonetic
Spelling: (hroo-par-ee'-ah) Short Definition:filth, pollution Definition...
4027. perikatharma -- that which is cleaned off, refuse
... refuse. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: perikatharma Phonetic Spelling:
(per-ee-kath'-ar-mah) Short Definition: refuse,filth Definition: refuse...
3075. lumainomai -- to outrage, to corrupt
... to ravage, destroy. Middle voice from a probably derivative of luo (meaningfilth);
properly, to soil, ie (figuratively) insult (maltreat) -- make havock of....
2946. kulismos -- a rolling
... wallowing, rolling. From kulioo; a wallow (the effect of rolling), ieFilth --
wallowing. see GREEK kulioo. (kulismon) -- 1 Occurrence. 2945, 2946....
766. aselgeia -- licentiousness, wantonness
... Word Usage licentiousness (1), sensual (1), sensuality (8).filth,
lasciviousness, debauchery. From a compound of a (as a negative...
2511. katharizo -- to cleanse
... according to context. Cognate: 2511 -- make pure ("clean"), removing all
admixture (intermingling offilth). See 2513 (). Word Origin...
4508. rhuparos -- filthy
... dirty. Cognate: 4508 (an adjective, derived from 4509 , "moralfilth") --
filthy, foul (used only in Js 2:2). See 4509 (). Word...
850. auchmeros -- to boast
... 850 -- properly, dry ("dried out") from strong heat, producing dust (parched dirt);
(figuratively) , filled with extraneousfilth () which impede vision...
Strong's Hebrew
6675. tsoah --filth... 6674, 6675. tsoah or tsoah(844b). 6676 .
filth. Transliteration: tsoah or
tsoah(844b) Phonetic Spelling: (tso-aw') Short Definition:
filth.
...6627. tseah --filth, human excrement
... 6626, 6627. tseah. 6628 .filth, human excrement. Transliteration: tseah
Phonetic Spelling: (tsaw-aw') Short Definition: dung. Word...
8251. shiqquts -- detested thing
... idols (1), abomination (4), abominations (5), detestable (1), detestable idol (3),
detestable idols (2), detestable things (10), detested things (1),filth (1...
8263. sheqets -- detestation, detestable thing
... abomination. From shaqats;filth, ie (figuratively and specifically) an idolatrous
object -- abominable(-tion). see HEBREW shaqats. 8262, 8263. sheqets. 8264...
5478. suchah -- offal
... torn. From the same as Cuwach; something swept away, ieFilth -- torn. see HEBREW
Cuwach. 5477, 5478. suchah. 5479 . Strong's Numbers.
2612. choneph -- profaneness
... hypocrisy. From chaneph; moralfilth, ie Wickedness -- hypocrisy. see HEBREW
chaneph. 2611, 2612. choneph. 2613 . Strong's Numbers.
830. ashpoth -- an ash heap, refuse heap, dunghill
... shphoth {shef-ohth'}; plural of a noun of the same form as 'ashpah, from shaphah
(in the sense of scraping); a heap of rubbish orfilth -- dung (hill)....
Library
That no one is WithoutFilth and Without Sin.
... Third Book. 54. That no one is withoutfilth and without sin. In Job:
"For who is pure fromfilth? Not one; even if his life be...
"Now the End of the Commandment," &C.
... And he hath come likewise with water, to wash and cleanse us from the
spots, andfilth, and power of sin. The first removes the...
Of Tribulation
... steps of Christ; despising this present world; loving and seeking only the things
unseen; taking perfect penance; and purging himself from allfilth of mind...
How to Make Use of Christ for Cleansing of us from Our Daily Spots...
... See Titus 3:5. Now, in speaking to this, we shall observe the same method; and first
shew, what Christ has done to take away thisfilth; and next, what way we...
That Perfect Love Mingles Nothing with God: and Why. And that it...
... OF FLESHLY LOVE. If we perfectly forsake thefilth of sins and the vices
of this world, we love nothing but God. How truly should...
Cyprian's Testimonies Concerning the Imperfection of Our Own...
... his letter to Quirinus his own most absolute judgment on this subject, to which
he subjoined the divine testimonies, "That no one is withoutfilth and without...
That Perfect Love Binds to God Without Loosing and Makes Man...
... The soul that receives it is purged with blessed fire and in it bides no rust nor
filth, but it is altogether thirled with heavenly joy, so that our inward...
Dilemma and Deliverance
... schools to this day there are books put into the hands of our youth that are by
no means fit for them to read"books which contain all kinds offilth, and if...
Holy Baptism...
... with pure water, into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ,
thereby signifying to us, that as water washes away thefilth of the body...
Of the Despising of the World
... Therefore these rich misers bind themselves thrall in most foulfilth and stink,
and joy to be called lords of men, though they be servants of sin....
Thesaurus
Filth (21 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) Anything that sullies or defiles the moral character; corruption; pollution.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
FILTH; FILTHINESS; FILTHY.
...Filthy (22 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (superl.) Defiled withfilth, whether material or moral;
nasty; dirty; polluted; foul; impure; obscene....FILTH; FILTHINESS; FILTHY....
Filthiness (16 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) That which is filthy, or makes filthy; foulness; nastiness; corruption;
pollution; impurity. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.FILTH; FILTHINESS; FILTHY...
Offscouring (2 Occurrences)
... 1 Corinthians 4:13 the greatest of the apostles reminds the prosperous and
self-satisfied Corinthinns that they, the apostles, were "made as thefilth of the...
Dirt (9 Occurrences)
... Dirt (9 Occurrences). 1 Corinthians 4:13 Being defamed, we entreat. We are made
as thefilth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now. (WEB WEY)....
Fills (20 Occurrences)
Vomited (5 Occurrences)
... true proverb, "A dog returns to what he has vomited," and also in the other proverb,
"The sow has washed itself and now goes back to roll in itsfilth." (WEY)....
Universe (19 Occurrences)
... conciliate. We have come to be regarded as the mere dirt andfilth of the
world--the refuse of the universe, even to this hour. (WEY)....
Gehenna (12 Occurrences)
... city. Here the dead bodies of animals and of criminals, and all kinds of
filth, were cast and consumed by fire kept always burning....
Gazing-stock (2 Occurrences)
... used. (WBS). Nahum 3:6 And I will cast abominablefilth upon thee, and make
thee vile, and will set thee as a gazing-stock. (ASV WBS)....
Resources
Does 1 Peter 3:21 teach that baptism is necessary for salvation? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Beelzebub? | GotQuestions.orgWhy does God hate sin? | GotQuestions.orgFilth: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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