40 Bible Verses about Ritual Washing

And the LORD said unto Moses, "Go unto the people and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes: that they may be ready against the third day. For the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

And Moses went down from the mount unto the people and sanctified them, and they washed their clothes.

"Then bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of witness, and wash them with water. And put upon Aaron the holy vestments. And anoint him and sanctify him that he may minister unto me,read more.
that their anointing may be an everlasting priesthood unto them throughout their generations."

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. And this do unto them when thou cleansest them: sprinkle water of purifying upon them and make a razor to run along upon all the flesh of them, and let them wash their clothes, and then they shall be clean.

And whatsoever soul it be that eateth that which died alone or that which was torn with wild beasts: whether it be one of yourselves or a stranger, he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and shall be unclean unto the even, and then is he clean.

And let the priest look on him again the seventh day. Then if the sore be waxed blackish, and is not grown abroad in the skin, let the priest make him clean, for it is but a scurf. And let him wash his clothes, and then he is clean.

"'If any man's seed depart from him in his sleep, he shall wash his flesh in water and be unclean until evening. And all the clothes or furs whereon such seed chanceth shall be washed with water and be unclean unto the evening. And if a woman lie with such a one, they shall wash themselves with water and be unclean until even.

And let him that gathereth the ashes of the cow, wash his clothes, and remain unclean until evening. And this shall be unto the children of Israel and unto the stranger that dwelleth among them, a manner forever.

And wash your clothes the seventh day, and then ye are clean. And afterward come into the host."

No man shall touch the flesh thereof, save he that is hallowed. And if any raiment be sprinkled therewith, it shall be washed in a holy place,

In such ye shall be unclean: whosoever touch the carcass of them shall be unclean unto the even, and whosoever beareth the carcass of them, shall wash his clothes and shall be unclean until even. "'Among all manner beasts, they that have hoofs and divide them not into two claws or that chew not the cud, shall be unclean unto you: and all that toucheth them shall be unclean.read more.
And all that goeth upon his hands among all manner beasts that go on all fours, are unclean unto you: and as many as touch their carcasses, shall be unclean until the evening. And he that beareth the carcass of them, shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the even, for such are unclean unto you.

Moreover, the cloth, either warp or woof or whatsoever thing of skin it be which thou hast washed and the plague be departed from it, shall be washed once again: and then it is clean.

If now the plague come again and break out in the house, after that they have taken away the stones and scraped the house, and after that the house is plastered anew: let the priest come and see it. And if then he perceive that the plague hath eaten further in the house, then it is a fretting leprosy that is in the house, and it is unclean. Then they shall break down the house: both stones, timber and all the mortar of the house, and carry it out of the city unto a foul place.read more.
Moreover, he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up, shall be unclean until night. And he that sleepeth in the house shall wash his clothes, and he also that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes.

And he that toucheth the sprinkling water, shall be unclean until even.

And I said unto him, "Lord, thou knowest." And he said unto me, "These are they which came out of great tribulation and made their garments large, and made them white in the blood of the lamb:

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that their power may be in the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

"And he that is cleansed shall wash his clothes and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, and then he is clean. And after that he shall come into the host, but shall tarry without his tent seven days. When the seventh day is come, he shall shave off all his hair both upon his head and his beard and on his brows: and even all the hair that is on him, shall be shaven off. And he shall wash his clothes and his flesh in water, and then he shall be clean.

Every couch whereon he lieth and every thing whereon he sitteth shall be unclean. He that toucheth his couch, shall wash his clothes and bathe himself with water, and be unclean until the even. He that sitteth on that whereon he sat, shall wash his clothes and bathe himself with water and be unclean until the evening.read more.
And he that toucheth his flesh shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean unto the evening. If any such spit upon him that is clean, he must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until even. "'And whatsoever saddle that he rideth upon, shall be unclean. And whosoever toucheth anything that was under him, shall be unclean unto the evening. And he that beareth any such things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water and be unclean unto the even, and whosoever he toucheth - if he have not first washed his hands in water - must wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean unto the evening. And if he touch a vessel of earth, it shall be broken: and all vessels of wood shall be rinsed in the water. "'When he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue, let him number seven days after he is clean, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and then he is clean.

And let him that carried forth the scapegoat wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water, and then come into the host again. "And the ox of the sin offering and the goat of the sin offering - whose blood was brought in to make an atonement in the holy place - let one carry out without the host and burn with fire: both their skins, their flesh and their dung. And let him that burneth them, wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water, and then come into the host again.

And let the priest wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in water, and then come into the host, and the priest shall be unclean unto the evening. And he that burneth her, shall wash his clothes in water and bathe his flesh also in water, and be unclean until evening.

When thou goest out with the host against thine enemies, keep thee from all wickedness; for the Lord is among you. If there be any man that is unclean by the reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, let him go out of the host and not come in again, until he have washed himself with water before the evening: and then when the sun is down, let him come into the host again.

And Naaman came with his horses and his chariot, and stood at the door of Elisha. Then Elisha sent a messenger, saying, "Go and wash thee in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee as before, and thou shalt be clean." And Naaman was wroth and went away, and said, "Behold, I thought in myself, he would have come out, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and put his hand on the place of the disease, and so take away the leprosy.read more.
Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Might I not rather wash in them and be clean?" And so he turned and departed in an anger. Then came his servants and communed with him, and said, "Father if the prophet had bid thee done some great thing, oughtest thou not to have done it? How much rather then shouldest thou do it, while he sayeth to thee only, 'Wash and be clean?'" Then he went down and washed seven times in Jordan, as the man of God bade, and his flesh changed, like unto the flesh of a little boy, and he was clean.

Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Seeing, brethren, that by the means of the blood of Jesus, we may be bold to enter into that holy place, by the new and living way, which he hath prepared for us, through the veil, that is to say by his flesh. And seeing also that we have a high priest which is ruler over the house of God,read more.
let us draw nigh with a true heart in a full faith sprinkled in our hearts, from an evil conscience, and washed in our bodies with pure water,

And they shall take for an unclean person, of the burnt ashes of the sin offering, and put running water thereto into a vessel. And a clean person shall take Hyssop and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent and upon all the vessels and on the souls that were there, and upon him that touched a bone or a slain person or a dead body or a grave. And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean the third day and the seventh day. And the seventh day he shall purify himself and wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at evening.

Whosoever toucheth any person that dieth and sprinkleth not himself, defileth the dwelling of the LORD: and therefore that soul shall be rooted out of Israel, because he hath not sprinkled the sprinkling water upon him, he shall be unclean, and his uncleanness shall remain upon him.

And I will take you from the heathen, and will gather you out from all lands and will bring you out of your own country. And I will pour pure water upon you, and ye shall be cleansed from all uncleanness, and from all your idols. I will cleanse you.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, "Thou shalt make a laver of brass and his foot also of brass to wash withal, and shalt put it between the tabernacle of witness and the altar and put water therein: that Aaron and his sons may wash both their hands and their feet thereout,read more.
when they go into the tabernacle of witness, or when they go unto the altar to minister and to burn the LORD's offering, lest they die. And it shall be an ordinance forever unto him and his seed among your children after you."

And he set the laver between the tabernacle of witness and the altar, and poured water therein to wash with all. And both Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat: both when they went into the tabernacle of witness, or when they went to the altar, as the LORD commanded Moses.

And all the elders of the city that is next to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the plain, and shall answer and say, 'Our hands have not shed this blood neither have our eyes seen it. Be merciful LORD unto thy people Israel which thou hast delivered and put not innocent blood unto thy people Israel: and the blood shall be forgiven them.'read more.
And so shalt thou put innocent blood from thee, when thou shalt have done that which is right in the sight of the LORD.

After that, poured he water into a basin, and began to wash his disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was gird. Then came he to Simon Peter. And Peter said to him, "Lord shalt thou wash my feet?" Jesus answered and said unto him, "What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter."read more.
Peter said unto him, "Thou shalt not wash my feet while the world standeth." Jesus answered him, "If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me." Simon Peter said unto him, "Lord not my feet only: but also my hands and my head." Jesus said to him, "He that is washed needeth not, save to wash his feet, and is clean every whit. And ye are clean: but not all."

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purge your hearts ye wavering minded.

"'If any be unclean and sprinkle not himself, the same soul shall be destroyed from among the congregation: for he hath defiled the holy place of the LORD. And he that sprinkleth the sprinkling water, shall wash his clothes.

And whatsoever soul it be that eateth that which died alone or that which was torn with wild beasts: whether it be one of yourselves or a stranger, he shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and shall be unclean unto the even, and then is he clean. But and if he wash them not, nor wash his flesh, he shall bear his sin.'"

And there were standing there, six waterpots of stone after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

And there arose a question between John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem, saying, "Why do thy disciples transgress the traditions of the elders? For they wash not their hands, when they eat bread." He answered, and said unto them, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God, through your traditions?read more.
For God commanded, saying, 'Honour thy father and mother,' and, 'He that curseth father or mother, shall suffer death.' But ye say, 'Every man shall say to his father or mother: That which thou desirest of me to help thee with, is given God.' And so shall he not honour his father or his mother. And thus have ye made, that the commandment of God is without effect, through your traditions. Hypocrites; well prophesied of you Isaiah, saying, 'This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouths, and honoureth me with their lips, howbeit their hearts are far from me: But in vain they worship me, teaching doctrines which are nothing but men's precepts.'" And he called the people unto him, and said to them, "Hear and understand. That which goeth into the mouth, defileth not the man: but that which cometh out of the mouth, defileth the man."

And the Pharisees came together unto him, and divers of the scribes which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw certain of his disciples eat bread with common hands, that is to say, with unwashen hands, they complained. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands often, eat not; observing the traditions of the elders.read more.
And when they come from the market, except they wash themselves they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have taken upon them to observe, as the washing of cups and cruses, and of brazen vessels, and of tables. Then asked him the Pharisees and scribes, "Why walk not thy disciples according to the traditions of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?" He answered and said unto them, "Well prophesied hath Isaiah of you hypocrites as it is written, 'This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.' In vain they worship me, teaching doctrines which are nothing but the commandments of men, for ye lay the commandment of God apart, and ye observe the traditions of men as the washing of cruses and of cups, and many other such like things ye do." And he said unto them, "Well, ye cast aside the commandment of God, to maintain your own traditions. For Moses said, 'Honour thy father and thy mother,' and, 'Whosoever curseth father or mother, let him die for it.' But ye say, 'A man shall say to his father or mother, Corban; which is, that thou desirest of me, to help thee with, is given to God.' And so ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother, making the word of God of none effect through your own traditions which ye have ordained. And many such things ye do." And he called all the people unto him, and said unto them, "Hearken unto me every one of you and understand: There is nothing without a man that can defile him when it entereth into him, but those things which proceed out of him are those which defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." And when he came into a house away from the people, his disciples asked him of the similitude, and he said unto them, "Are ye so without understanding? Do ye not yet perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into a man, it cannot defile him, because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly: and goeth out into the draught that purgeth out all meats." And he said, "That defileth a man which cometh out of a man. For from within even out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts: adultery, fornication, murder, theft, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, uncleanness, and a wicked eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile a man."

And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. When the Pharisee saw that, he marveled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said to him, "Now do ye, O Pharisees, make clean the outside of the cup, and of the platter: but your inward parts are full of ravening and wickedness.read more.
Ye fools: did not he that made that which is without, make that which is within also? Nevertheless, ye give alms of that ye have, and behold: all is clean to you.

When these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle and executed the service of God: But into the second went the high priest alone, once every year: and not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the ignorance of the people. Wherewith the holy ghost this signifying, that the way of holy things was not yet opened, while as yet the first tabernacle was standing,read more.
which was a similitude for the time then present, and in which were offered gifts and sacrifices that could not make them that minister perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; with meats only and drinks, and divers washings, and justifyings of the flesh, which were ordained until the time of reformation. But Christ being a high priest of good things to come, came by a greater, and a more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands: that is to say, not of this manner building, neither by the blood of goats, and calves: but by his own blood, we entered once for all into the holy place, and found eternal redemption. For if the blood of oxen, and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer, when it was sprinkled, purified the unclean, as touching the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ - which through the eternal spirit, offered himself without spot to God - purge your consciences from dead works, for to serve the living God?