21 Bible Verses about Washing

Most Relevant Verses

John 2:6

There were standing there six stone water-jars, in accordance with the Jewish rule of 'purification,' each holding twenty or thirty gallons.

Matthew 15:17-20

"Do not you see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is afterwards expelled? But the things that come out from the mouth proceed from the heart, and it is these that defile a man; For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts--murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander.read more.
These are the things that defile a man; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

Mark 7:20-23

"It is what comes out from a man," he added, "that defiles him, For it is from within, out of the hearts of men, that there come evil thoughts--unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, Greed, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, haughtiness, folly;read more.
All these wicked things come from within, and do defile a man."

Mark 7:1-9

One day the Pharisees and some of the Teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus. They had noticed that some of his disciples ate their food with their hands 'defiled,' by which they meant unwashed. (For the Pharisees, and indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors.read more.
When they come from market, they will not eat without first sprinkling themselves; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans). So the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law asked Jesus this question--"How is it that your disciples do not follow the traditions of our ancestors, but eat their food with defiled hands?" His answer was: "It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words--'This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me; But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.' You neglect God's commandments and hold to the traditions of men. Wisely do you set aside God's commandments," he exclaimed, "to keep your own traditions!

Matthew 15:1-3

Then some Pharisees and Teachers of the Law came to Jesus, and said: "How is it that your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors? For they do not wash their hands when they eat food." His reply was: "How is it that you on your side break God's commandments out of respect for your own traditions?

Mark 7:14-15

Then Jesus called the people to him again, and said: "Listen to me, all of you, and mark my words. There is nothing external to a man, which by going into him can 'defile' him; but the things that come out from a man are the things that defile him."

Matthew 15:10-11

Then Jesus called the people to him, and said: "Listen, and mark my words. It is not what enters a man's mouth that 'defiles' him, but what comes out from his mouth--that does defile him!"

Luke 11:37-41

As Jesus finished speaking, a Pharisee asked him to breakfast with him, and Jesus went in and took his place at table. The Pharisee noticed, to his astonishment, that Jesus omitted the ceremonial washing before breakfast. But the Master said to him: "You Pharisees do, it is true, clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you yourselves are filled with greed and wickedness.read more.
Fools! did not the maker of the outside make the inside too? Only give away what is in them in charity, and at once you have the whole clean.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Do not you know that wrong-doers will have no share in God's Kingdom? Do not be deceived. No one who is immoral, or an idolater, or an adulterer, or licentious, or a sodomite, Or a thief, or covetous, or a drunkard, or abusive, or grasping, will have any share in God's Kingdom. Such some of you used to be; but you washed yourselves clean. You became Christ's People! you were pronounced righteous through the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and through the Spirit of our God!

Ephesians 5:25-27

Husbands, love your wives, just as the Christ loved the Church, and gave himself for her, To make her holy, after purifying her by the Washing with the Water, according to his promise; So that he might himself bring the Church, in all her beauty, into his own presence, with no spot or wrinkle or blemish of any kind, but that she might be holy and faultless.

Matthew 27:24

When Pilate saw that his efforts were unavailing, but that, on the contrary, a riot was beginning, he took some water, and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying as he did so: "I am not answerable for this bloodshed; you must see to it yourselves."

From Thematic Bible


Washing » Of feet

Washing » Ceremonial

More verses: Numbers 31:24

Washing » Figurative » Of regeneration

Washing » Of hands

Matthew 27:24

When Pilate saw that his efforts were unavailing, but that, on the contrary, a riot was beginning, he took some water, and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying as he did so: "I am not answerable for this bloodshed; you must see to it yourselves."

Washing » Of hands, a token of innocence

Matthew 27:24

When Pilate saw that his efforts were unavailing, but that, on the contrary, a riot was beginning, he took some water, and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying as he did so: "I am not answerable for this bloodshed; you must see to it yourselves."

Topics on Washing

Feet Washing

Luke 7:44

And then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon: "Do you see this woman? I came into your house--you gave me no water for my feet, but she has made my feet wet with her tears and dried them with her hair.

Foot washing

Luke 7:44

And then, turning to the woman, he said to Simon: "Do you see this woman? I came into your house--you gave me no water for my feet, but she has made my feet wet with her tears and dried them with her hair.

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Theasaurus: Washing