Deuteronomy 21:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley:

Wash their hands

Bible References

Wash their hands

“If I were to wash myself with snow
And cleanse my hands with lye,

Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults.

I will wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go about Your altar, O Lord,

Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness and guilt
And cleanse me from my sin.

Surely then in vain I have cleansed my heart
And washed my hands in innocence.

“For though you wash yourself with lye
And use much soap,
The stain of your guilt is [still] before Me [and you are soiled and dirty],” says the Lord God.

So when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but rather that a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands [to ceremonially cleanse himself of guilt] in the presence of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this [righteous] Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.”

For they [the gifts, sacrifices, and ceremonies] deal only with [clean and unclean] food and drink and various ritual washings, [mere] external regulations for the body imposed [to help the worshipers] until the time of reformation [that is, the time of the new order when Christ will establish the reality of what these things foreshadow—a better covenant].