Defilement
Summary
Ceremonial or moral impurity that rendered a person unclean before God, requiring purification rituals under the old covenant or spiritual cleansing through Christ.
☩Ceremonial Defilement
The Mosaic law specified many sources of ceremonial defilement: contact with dead bodies, certain diseases, bodily discharges, eating unclean animals, and touching unclean things. The defiled person was excluded from the camp or congregation until purified through prescribed rituals, often involving water, time, and sacrifice.
☩Moral Defilement
Beyond ceremonial concerns, Scripture addresses the deeper reality of moral defilement. Jesus taught that it is not what enters a man that defiles him, but what comes from within—evil thoughts, murder, adultery, and the like. The prophets declared that sin defiles the land and brings judgment.
☩Cleansing
Under the new covenant, Jesus' blood cleanses from all sin and defilement. Believers are to cleanse themselves 'from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.' The pure in heart shall see God.
Related Verses34 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Defilement," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Defile; Defilement," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).