Bible Dictionary
Purification
Purification was the ritual restoration of a person or object considered ceremonially unclean. It commonly involved washing or sprinkling with water and, in serious cases, prescribed sacrifices, especially under the Levitical law.
Definition
Purification was the ritual process by which a person or object considered ceremonially unclean was restored to participation in the sanctuary, festivals, and religious life. It generally involved water through bathing, washing, or sprinkling; serious cases also required prescribed sacrifices with an expiatory character.
Biblical Usage
The Levitical law provided purification for conditions including leprosy, contact with a dead body, childbirth, and other forms of ceremonial uncleanness. The Day of Atonement was the great annual purification. The New Testament refers to ritual washings, purification before Passover, and the purification of those under a Nazarite vow.
Historical Background
Purification involved washing the person and clothing, washing hands and feet, or sprinkling with blood and water. The purification of a leper was especially formal, and sacrifices were added in major cases. The supplied material emphasizes that Mosaic purification taught a connection between outward uncleanness and inward impurity.
Scripture References
Leviticus 13
Leviticus 14
Matthew 8:2-4
Numbers 19:11
Hosea 9:4
Haggai 2:13
Matthew 23:27
Luke 11:44
Leviticus 21:1-4
Leviticus 21:10
Leviticus 21:11
Numbers 6:6
Numbers 6:7
Ezekiel 44:25
Leviticus 14:8
Leviticus 14:9
Deuteronomy 21:6
Matthew 27:24
Exodus 30:18-21
Hebrews 6:2
Exodus 24:5-8
Hebrews 9:19
Psalms 26:6
Psalms 51:7
Ezekiel 36:25
Hebrews 10:22
Leviticus 15:18
Leviticus 11:25
Leviticus 11:40
Leviticus 15:17
Leviticus 12:8
Numbers 19:1
Leviticus 14:4-32
Mark 7:4
Mark 7:3
John 11:55
Acts 21:24
Acts 21:26
Historical Bible Dictionaries
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 (Lev. 13, 14), and of the house defiled by leprosy (14:49-53; see also Matt. 8:2-4). Uncleanness from touching a dead body (Num. 19:11; Hos. 9:4; Hag. 2:13; Matt. 23:27; Luke 11:44). The case of the high priest and of the Nazarite (Lev. 21:1-4, 10, 11; Num. 6:6, 7; Ezek. 44:25). Purification was effected by bathing and washing the clothes (Lev. 14:8, 9); by washing the hands (Deut. 21:6; Matt. 27:24); washing the hands and feet (Ex. 30:18-21; Heb. 6:2, “baptisms”, R.V. marg., “washings;” 9:10); sprinkling with blood and water (Ex. 24:5-8; Heb. 9:19), etc. Allusions to this rite are found in Ps. 26:6; 51:7; Ezek. 36:25; Heb. 10:22.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
in 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 the majora 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.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>pu-ri-fi-ka'-shun.</p><p>See PURGE; PURITY; UNCLEANNESS.</p>