Thematic Bible: Washing hands in water, symbolical of innocency
Thematic Bible
Purification » Washing hands in water, symbolical of innocency
All the elders of that city nearest to the dead man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley;
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.”