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, And be ready by 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 the people; and they washed their clothes.

And you shall bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and wash them with water. And you shall put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. And you shall bring his sons, and clothe them with coats:read more.
And you shall anoint them, as you did anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.

And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. And thus shall you do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.

And every soul that eats that which died of itself, or that which was torn by animals, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening: then shall he be clean.

And the priest shall look on him again the seventh day: and, behold, if the disease is somewhat dark, and the disease spreads not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean: it is but a scab: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.

And if any man's semen go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening. And every garment, and every skin, on which is the semen, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening. The woman also with whom man shall lie and have an emission of semen, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening.

And he that gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourns among them, for a statute forever.

And you shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and you shall be clean, and afterward you shall come into the camp

Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, you shall wash that on which it was sprinkled in the holy place.

And for these you shall be unclean: whosoever touches the carcass of them shall be unclean until the evening. And whosoever bears any part of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening. The carcasses of every animal which divides the hoof, and is not cloven footed, nor chews the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that touches them shall be unclean.read more.
And whatsoever goes upon its paws, among all manner of animals that go on all fours, those are unclean unto you: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the evening. And he that bears the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the evening: they are unclean unto you.

And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which you shall wash, if the disease is departed from it, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean.

And if the disease comes again, and breaks out in the house, after that he has taken away the stones, and after he has scraped the house, and after it is plastered; Then the priest shall come and look, and, behold, if the disease is spread in the house, it is an active leprosy in the house: it is unclean. And he shall break down the house, the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the mortar of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place.read more.
Moreover he that goes into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the evening. And he that lies in the house shall wash his clothes; and he that eats in the house shall wash his clothes.

And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkles the water of purification shall wash his clothes; and he that touches the water of purification shall be unclean until evening.

And I said unto him, Sir, you know. And he said to me, These are they who came out of the great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, but shall stay outside of his tent seven days. But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off: and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean.

Every bed, whereon he lies that has the discharge, is unclean: and everything, whereon he sits, shall be unclean. And whosoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. And he that sits on any thing on which he sat that has the discharge shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.read more.
And he that touches the flesh of him that has the discharge shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. And if he that has the discharge spits upon him that is clean; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. And whatsoever saddle which he rides upon that has the discharge shall be unclean. And whosoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean until the evening: and he that bears any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. And whomsoever he touches that has the discharge, and has not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening. And the vessel of earth, that he touches which has the discharge, shall be broken: and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water. And when he that has a discharge is cleansed of his discharge; then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing, and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean.

And he that let go the goat for the scapegoat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward come into the camp. And the bullock for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall one carry forth outside the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung. And he that burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.

Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the evening. And he that burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the evening.

When the army goes forth against your enemies, then keep yourself from every wicked thing. If there be among you any man, that is unclean by reason of some occurrence in the night, then shall he go outside the camp, he shall not come inside the camp: But it shall be, when evening comes on, he shall wash himself with water: and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again.

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean. But Naaman was angry, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and cure the leprosy.read more.
Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. And his servants came near, and spoke unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid you do some great thing, would you not have done it? how much rather then, when he says to you, Wash, and be clean? Then he went down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh was restored again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having a high priest over the house of God;read more.
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

And for an unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put on them in 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 upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave: And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at evening.

Whosoever touches the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifies not himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of purification was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.

For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, You shall also make a laver of bronze, and its base also of bronze, for washing: and you shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet there:read more.
When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD: So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his descendants throughout their generations.

And he set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar, and put water there, for washing. And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet there: When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as the LORD commanded Moses.

And all the elders of that city, that are nearest unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley: And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Be merciful, O LORD, unto your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto the charge of your people Israel. And the blood shall be forgiven them.read more.
So shall you put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when you shall do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.

After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. Then came he to Simon Peter: and Peter said unto him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter.read more.
Peter said unto him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash you not, you 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 needs not except to wash his feet, but is clean completely: and you are clean, but not all.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of purification has not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.

And every soul that eats that which died of itself, or that which was torn by animals, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening: then shall he be clean. But if he washes them not, nor bathes his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity.

And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons each.

Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, who were from Jerusalem, saying, Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?read more.
For God commanded, saying, Honor your father and mother: and, He that curses father or mother, let him die the death. But you say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift devoted to God, whatsoever you might have received from me; And honors not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God void by your tradition. You hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, These people draw near unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goes into the mouth defiles a man; but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.

Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, who came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashed, hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands often, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.read more.
And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, bronze vessels, and of tables. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not your disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands? He answered and said unto them, Well has Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such things you do. And he said unto them, Full well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother; and, Whoever curses father or mother, let him die the death: But you say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift devoted to God, whatsoever you might have received from me; he shall be free. And you allow him no more to do anything for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of no effect through your tradition, which you have delivered: and many such things do you. And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from outside a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. And he said unto them, Are you so without understanding also? Do you not perceive, that whatsoever thing from outside enters into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it enters not into his heart, but into the belly, and goes out into the drain, purging all foods? And he said, That which came out of the man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

And as he spoke, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to eat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him, Now do you Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.read more.
You fools, did not he that made that which is outside make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as you have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.

Now when these things were thus prepared, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: The Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while the first tabernacle was yet standing:read more.
Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in foods and drinks, and various washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?