Purification
“Cleansing, purification, ritual cleanness”
Summary
Purification refers to the ceremonial observances prescribed in the Mosaic law by which an Israelite was formally absolved from ritual uncleanness, symbolizing the soul's need for moral cleansing before approaching God.
☩Nature and Purpose
Purification in its legal and technical sense was applied to the ritual observances whereby an Israelite was formally absolved from the taint of uncleanness, whether from overt acts, natural conditions, or contact with defiling objects. The ceremonies arose from the mystery of God's holiness and man's unfitness to approach Him. Men instinctively felt that the mysterious divine presence was dangerous to the impure, requiring careful ritual before and after approaching the Deity. The Hebrew word toharah (טָהַרָה) and Greek katharismos express this concept of ceremonial cleansing. The essence of purification in all cases consisted in the use of water, whether by ablution or aspersion, but in major cases of uncleanness, sacrifices were added and the ceremonies bore an expiatory character.
☩Degrees of Uncleanness
The Mosaic law distinguished various degrees of uncleanness requiring different purifications. Simple ablution of person and clothes was required after sexual intercourse or contact with carcasses of unclean animals. A higher degree resulted from prolonged bodily discharges: after a seven-day probationary period, the candidate performed ablutions and on the eighth day offered two turtledoves or pigeons, one for sin-offering and one for burnt-offering. Childbirth required forty days of purification for a son, eighty for a daughter, concluding with a lamb and dove, or for the poor, two doves (as Mary offered, Luke 2:22-24). Contact with the dead represented the highest uncleanness, requiring the 'water of separation' mixed with ashes of the red heifer.
☩The Red Heifer Ceremony
For purification from contact with death, a unique ceremony was prescribed. An unblemished red heifer, never yoked, was slain outside the camp by the high priest's eldest son. Its blood was sprinkled seven times toward the sanctuary, then the entire carcass including dung was burned with cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet. The ashes were collected and stored; when needed, they were mixed with spring water to create 'water of uncleanness.' The defiled person was sprinkled on the third and seventh days after contamination. Every element was symbolic: the female heifer (life-giving), red color (blood, seat of life), cedar (incorruption), hyssop (purity), and scarlet (again blood) all symbolized life in its fullness as antidote to death.
☩Purification of Leprosy
The purification of the leper was the most elaborate ceremony, indicating the highest pitch of uncleanness. After the priest pronounced the leper healed, two living clean birds were taken. One was killed over a vessel of spring water into which its blood fell; the other was dipped with cedar, scarlet, and hyssop into this mixture, the leper was sprinkled seven times, and the living bird released into the open field—symbolically carrying away the disease. After seven days of probation outside his tent, the leper shaved completely, washed again, and on the eighth day offered a trespass-offering of lambs (or doves for the poor) with oil applied to ear, thumb, and toe. Jesus did not interfere with these ceremonies but directed healed lepers to show themselves to priests and offer what Moses commanded.
☩Pharisaic Additions
The scribes and Pharisees extended purification requirements far beyond Scripture to include washing hands before meals, cleansing cups and vessels, and numerous other observances. The Mishna devotes its longest book to purification regulations, with thirty chapters on cleansing vessels alone. Water for ceremonial washing was kept in large stone jars (John 2:6) to prevent defilement. If hands were merely ceremonially clean, one washing sufficed; if unclean, two were required—first with fingers elevated, then depressed, to carry off contaminated water. Jesus denounced this external formalism while neglecting inner purity, calling the Pharisees 'whitewashed sepulchres' clean outside but full of uncleanness within.
☩Christian Fulfillment
In Christianity, the purification required extends to heart, soul, and conscience through Christ's blood. Jesus made 'purification of sins' (Hebrews 1:3) by fulfilling what the old ceremonies merely symbolized. He accomplishes what vague human cravings for guilt-offerings expressed throughout history; His death exhibits divine justice, purging the moral sense; and personal identification with His suffering cleanses spiritually. The distinctive feature of Mosaic purification—its expiatory character requiring sacrifices rather than mere washing—pointed to Christ. Where other nations had only ablution, Israel was taught through expiatory offerings to discern the connection between outward sign and inward impurity, preparing the way for the gospel of cleansing by blood.
Related Verses65 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Purification," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Purification," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 3.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Purification," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Purification," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 5.George Morrish, "Purification," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).