Topical Encyclopedia
Purification in the biblical context refers to the process of making someone or something ceremonially clean and free from impurities, both physical and spiritual. This concept is deeply rooted in the Old and New Testaments, reflecting the holiness and sanctity required by God from His people.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, purification is often associated with the laws given to the Israelites through Moses. These laws are detailed in the books of Leviticus and Numbers, where various rituals and sacrifices are prescribed to cleanse individuals from ceremonial uncleanness. For instance,
Leviticus 12 outlines the purification process for a woman after childbirth, while
Leviticus 14 describes the cleansing of a person healed from leprosy.
The purification rituals often involved offerings and sacrifices, such as sin offerings and burnt offerings, as well as the use of water for washing.
Numbers 19 introduces the "water of purification," made from the ashes of a red heifer, which was used to cleanse those who had come into contact with a dead body. This underscores the importance of ritual purity in maintaining a right relationship with God and the community.
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, the concept of purification takes on a more spiritual dimension, emphasizing inner cleansing and moral purity. The coming of Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross fulfilled the Old Testament purification laws, offering a once-for-all cleansing from sin.
Hebrews 9:13-14 states, "For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their flesh is clean, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?"
The New Testament also highlights the role of baptism as a symbol of purification and new life in Christ.
Acts 22:16 records Ananias instructing Paul, "And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name."
Spiritual and Moral PurityBeyond ceremonial practices, the Bible emphasizes the importance of spiritual and moral purity.
Psalm 51:10 reflects King David's plea for inner cleansing: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." This verse underscores the need for a pure heart and spirit, aligning with Jesus' teaching in
Matthew 5:8 , "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."
The apostle Paul also addresses purification in the context of the Christian life, urging believers to live holy and blameless lives. In
2 Corinthians 7:1 , he writes, "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."
ConclusionPurification in the Bible encompasses both the ceremonial practices of the Old Testament and the spiritual cleansing offered through Jesus Christ in the New Testament. It calls believers to pursue holiness, reflecting God's purity in their lives and relationships.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Purificationin its legal and technical sense, is applied to the ritual observances whereby an Israelite was formally absolved from the taint of uncleanness. The essence of purification, in all eases, consisted in the use of water, whether by way of ablution or aspersion; but in themajora delicta of legal uncleanness, sacrifices of various kinds were added and the ceremonies throughout bore an expiatory character. Ablution of the person and of the clothes was required in the cases mentioned in (Leviticus 15:18;11:25,40;15:18,17) In cases of childbirth the sacrifice was increased to a lamb of the first year, with a pigeon or turtle-dove. (Leviticus 12:8) The ceremonies of purification required in cases of contact with a corpse or a grave are detailed in (Numbers 19:1) ... The purification of the leper was a yet more formal proceeding, and indicated the highest pitch of uncleanness. The rites are described in (Leviticus 14:4-32) The necessity of purification was extended in the post-Babylonian Period to a variety of unauthorized cases. Cups and pots and brazen vessels were washed as a matter of ritual observance. (Mark 7:4) The washing of the hands before meals was conducted in a formal manner. (Mark 7:3) What play have been the specific causes of uncleanness in those who came up to purify themselves before the Passover, (John 11:55) or in those who had taken upon themselves the Nazarites' vow, (Acts 21:24,26) we are not informed. In conclusion it may he observed that the distinctive feature. In the Mosaic rites of purification is their expiatory character. The idea of uncleanness was not peculiar to the Jew; but with all other nations simple ablution sufficed: no sacrifices were demanded. The Jew alone was taught by the use of expiatory offerings to discern to its fullest extent the connection between the outward sign and the inward fount of impurity.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The process by which a person unclean, according to the Levitical law, and thereby cut off from the sanctuary and the festivals, was restored to the enjoyment of all these privileges.
The great annual purification of the people was on the Day of Atonement (q.v.).
But in the details of daily life there were special causes of cermonial uncleanness which were severally provided for by ceremonial laws enacted for each separate case. For example, the case of the leper (Leviticus 13, 14), and of the house defiled by leprosy (14:49-53; see alsoMatthew 8:2-4). Uncleanness from touching a dead body (Numbers 19:11;Hosea 9:4;Haggai 2:13;Matthew 23:27;Luke 11:44). The case of the high priest and of the Nazarite (Leviticus 21:1-4, 10, 11;Numbers 6:6, 7;Ezek. 44:25). Purification was effected by bathing and washing the clothes (Leviticus 14:8, 9); by washing the hands (Deuteronomy 21:6;Matthew 27:24); washing the hands and feet (Exodus 30:18-21;Hebrews 6:2, "baptisms", R.V. marg., "washings;9:10); sprinkling with blood and water (Exodus 24:5-8;Hebrews 9:19), etc. Allusions to this rite are found inPsalm 26:6; 51:7;Ezek. 36:25;Hebrews 10:22.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of purifying; the act or operation of separating and removing from anything that which is impure or noxious, or heterogeneous or foreign to it; as, the purification of liquors, or of metals.
2. (n.) The act or operation of cleansing ceremonially, by removing any pollution or defilement.
3. (n.) A cleansing from guilt or the pollution of sin; the extinction of sinful desires, appetites, and inclinations.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PURIFICATIONpu-ri-fi-ka'-shun.
SeePURGE;PURITY; UNCLEANNESS.
Greek
49. hagnismos --purification...purification. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: hagnismos Phonetic
Spelling: (hag-nis-mos') Short Definition:
purification Definition: (ceremonial
...2512. katharismos -- a cleansing
... Noun, Masculine Transliteration: katharismos Phonetic Spelling: (kath-ar-is-mos')
Short Definition: cleansing, purifying,purification Definition: cleansing...
2514. katharotes -- cleanness
... Cognate: 2514 (a noun) --purification, particularly a type resulting from
(making acceptable offerings). See 2513 ()....purification....
4473. rhantismos -- sprinkling
... Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: rhantismos Phonetic Spelling:
(hran-tis-mos') Short Definition: sprinkling,purification Definition: sprinkling...
38. hagiasmos -- consecration, sanctification
... holiness, sanctification. From hagiazo; properly,purification, ie (the state) purity;
concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier -- holiness, sanctification....
Strong's Hebrew
2893. tahorah -- purifying, cleansing... Word Origin from taher Definition purifying, cleansing NASB Word Usage becomes clean
(1), cleansed (1), cleansing (6),
purification (4), purifying (1).
...2892a. tohar -- purity, purifying
... 2892, 2892a. tohar. 2892b . purity, purifying. Transliteration: tohar Short
Definition:purification. Word Origin from taher Definition...
8562. tamruq -- a scraping, rubbing
... cosmetics. Word Origin from maraq Definition a scraping, rubbing NASB Word
Usage cosmetics (3). cleanse, thing forpurification. Or...
4795. maruq -- a scraping, rubbing
...purification. From maraq; properly, rubbed; but used abstractly, a rubbing (with
perfumery) --purification. see HEBREW maraq. 4794, 4795. maruq. 4796 ....
2892. tohar -- purity, purifying
... clearness, glory, purifying From taher; literally brightness; ceremoniallypurification
-- clearness, glory, purifying. see HEBREW taher. 2891, 2892....
2403b. chattath -- sin, sin offering
... Word Origin from chata Definition sin, sin offering NASB Word Usage offering for
the sin (1), punishment (3),purification from sin (2), sin (93), sin offering...
2403. chatta'ah -- sinful thing, sin
... sinful thing, sin. Transliteration: chatta'ah Phonetic Spelling: (khat-taw-aw')
Short Definition: sin. punishment of sin,purification for sin, offering...
Library
ThePurification
... The Treasury of Sacred Song. Book First CCLXXXII THEPURIFICATION. Bless'd are the
pure in heart, For they shall see our GOD; The secret of the LORD is theirs,....
ThePurification of Mary
... XVI. THEPURIFICATION OF MARY.... Footnotes: [142] Luke 2.. 22-39. (SB). [143] The laws
aboutPurification' and offerings after childbirth are in Lev. 12....
Purification.
... Homily XI. Chapter XXVIII."Purification.... I meanpurification, not approaching to
a man's own wife when she is in separation, for so the law of God commands....
The Sacrifice ofPurification, and the Ransom of the First-Born...
... THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. Section 17. The Sacrifice ofPurification, and the Ransom of
the First-born; their Weight as Proof against the Mythical Theory....
November the Fourteenth thePurification of Love
... NOVEMBER The Fourteenth THEPURIFICATION OF LOVE. JOHN xxi.15-25. "Lovest
thou Me?" There was a day, only a little while back, when...
ThePurification of the virgin and the Presentation in the Temple
... CHAPTER VII. THEPURIFICATION OF THE VIRGIN AND THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE.
(Luke 2:21-38.)... It was otherwise with thepurification' of the mother....
WhetherPurification of the Heart is an Effect of Faith
... Article Two WhetherPurification of the Heart is an Effect of Faith. Whether
Purification of the Heart is an Effect of Faith We proceed...
The Presentation of Christ, orPurification of St. Mary
... II. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR The Presentation of Christ, orPurification of St. Mary.
[1026]273 In his temple now behold him [1027]274 Hail to the Lord who comes....
Letter iv. --Purification of the Heart.
... THE FRUIT THEREOF. Letter IV."Purification of the Heart. From the bottom of my heart
I bless God, my dear Sister, for carrying on His work in you....
In his Temple Now Behold Him
... II. THE CHRISTIAN YEAR Holy Days: The Presentation of Christ, orPurification of
St. Mary 273. In his temple now behold him. 8.7.8.7.8.7 [1029]St....
Thesaurus
Purification (25 Occurrences)... The great annual
purification of the people was on the Day of Atonement (qv).
... Int.
Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
PURIFICATION. pu-ri-fi-ka'-shun.
...Purification-offering (1 Occurrence)
Purification-offering.Purification,Purification-offering. Purifications .
Multi-Version ConcordancePurification-offering (1 Occurrence)....
Uncleanness (56 Occurrences)
... in training Israel to a realization of a higher conception-the real difference between
sin and holiness, ie between moral defilement and moralpurification?...
Purified (44 Occurrences)
... Then Paul took the men, and the next day, purified himself and went with them into
the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days ofpurification, until the...
Nonimmersionist
... The verb is used to denote the ceremonialpurification of the Jews before eating,
by pouring water on the hands (Luke 11:38 Mark 7:4); to signify the...
Non-immersionist
... The verb is used to denote the ceremonialpurification of the Jews before eating,
by pouring water on the hands (Luke 11:38 Mark 7:4); to signify the...
Ablution
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. 1. (n.) A washing or cleansing of the body as
a religious ritual;purification; as, water of ablution....
View (86 Occurrences)
... The verb is used to denote the ceremonialpurification of the Jews before eating,
by pouring water on the hands (Luke 11:38 Mark 7:4); to signify the...
Appointed (385 Occurrences)
... Mark 1:44 and saying, "Be careful not to tell any one, but go and show yourself
to the Priest, and for yourpurification present the offerings that Moses...
Offering (850 Occurrences)
... Mark 1:44 and saying, "Be careful not to tell any one, but go and show yourself
to the Priest, and for yourpurification present the offerings that Moses...
Resources
What are indulgences and plenary indulgences and is the concept biblical? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the significance of a red heifer in the Bible? Is a red heifer a sign of the end times? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Candlemas? | GotQuestions.orgPurification: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
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