In the context of the Bible, the term "unclean" refers to a state of ritual impurity that could affect individuals, objects, or places, rendering them unsuitable for worship or contact with the holy. The concept of uncleanness is primarily found in the Old Testament, particularly within the Mosaic Law, where it is extensively detailed in the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Biblical Context and Definition

The Hebrew word for "unclean" is "טָמֵא" (tamei), which signifies a state of impurity or defilement. This condition could arise from various sources, including contact with certain animals, bodily discharges, skin diseases, and contact with the dead. The New Testament Greek equivalent is "ἀκάθαρτος" (akathartos), which also denotes impurity or defilement.

Sources of Uncleanness

1. Dietary Laws: Leviticus 11 outlines the dietary laws, specifying which animals are considered clean and unclean. For example, Leviticus 11:4-8 lists animals such as camels, rabbits, and pigs as unclean, prohibiting their consumption.

2. Bodily Discharges: Leviticus 15 addresses various bodily discharges that render a person unclean, requiring specific purification rituals. For instance, Leviticus 15:2-3 states, "When any man has a bodily discharge, the discharge is unclean."

3. Skin Diseases: Leviticus 13-14 provides detailed instructions on diagnosing and purifying skin diseases, often translated as "leprosy." Those afflicted were considered unclean and were required to live outside the camp until declared clean by a priest.

4. Contact with the Dead: Numbers 19:11-13 explains that touching a dead body results in uncleanness for seven days, necessitating purification with water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer.

Ritual Purification

The process of becoming clean again often involved washing, waiting periods, and sometimes sacrifices. Leviticus 14:1-32 describes the elaborate ritual for cleansing a leper, which includes offerings and the sprinkling of blood and water.

Theological Significance

Uncleanness in the Old Testament is not merely a physical or hygienic issue but a spiritual one, symbolizing the separation between the holy and the profane. It underscores the holiness of God and the need for His people to be pure in His presence. Leviticus 11:44-45 emphasizes this, stating, "For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, because I am holy."

New Testament Perspective

In the New Testament, Jesus challenges the traditional understanding of uncleanness, emphasizing the condition of the heart over ritual purity. In Mark 7:18-23, Jesus declares, "Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him." This teaching shifts the focus from external observance to internal righteousness.

The Apostle Paul further develops this theme, teaching that believers are cleansed through faith in Christ. In 1 Corinthians 6:11, he writes, "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Conclusion

The concept of uncleanness serves as a profound reminder of the holiness of God and the need for purity among His people. While the New Testament reinterprets these laws in light of Christ's redemptive work, the underlying principle of holiness remains central to the Christian faith.2930. tame -- to be or become unclean
... defiles (5), defiling (2), made unclean (3), make himself unclean (1), make yourselves
unclean (1), make...unclean (1), pronounce him unclean (9), pronounced ...
/hebrew/2930.htm - 6k

Jesus Tells what it Means to be Clean
... It is what comes from him that makes him unclean, for from within, from the heart
of man, come evil thoughts, acts of theft, murder, greed, wickedness, deceit ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/jesus tells what it means.htm

Thus Has the Question Been on Both Sides Considered and Treated...
... and if by no sins of his own he ought to avoid them, therefore not by a lie: but
those which by being committed upon a man do make him unclean, these we are ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on lying/section 12 thus has the.htm

1 Cor. x. 25
... anxiety. For such is the nature of those things which are not in their essence
evil, but through the man's intention make him unclean. ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxv 1 cor x.htm

Jesus' Feet Anointed in the House of a Pharisee.
... Kings i.1-3; v.26). Comp. John 2:25. He would have repelled her because, according
to the Pharisaic tradition, her very touch would have rendered him unclean. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xlvi jesus feet anointed in.htm

The Lord's Supper
... wants sight. Under the law, when the plague of leprosy was in a man's head,
the priest was to pronounce him unclean. The ignorant ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/4 5 the lords supper.htm

A Description of Heart-Purity
... In the law, when the plague of leprosy was in a man's head the priest was to
pronounce him unclean. This is the case of an ignorant man. ...
/.../16 a description of heart-purity.htm

Matt. xxvi. 67, 68
... Why dost thou insult thy Lord, offering Him unclean things? It is better to leave
men to pine with hunger, than to feed them from these sources. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lxxxv matt xxvi 67.htm

The Last Supper.
... cleansed by the blood of Christ only needs, after this, to come to Christ for partial
cleansing; for the forgiveness of the special sins that make him unclean. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the last supper.htm

Christ in the Covenant
... "I can hold fast here," he says, "my black hands will not black Christ, my filthiness
will not make him unclean." So the saint holds hard by Christ, as hard as ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/christ in the covenant.htm

Light for them that Sit in Darkness;
... For instance, it was written in their law, 'If he that hath an issue spit upon him
that is clean,' that spittle should make him unclean (Leviticus 15:8). Now ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/light for them that sit.htm

Him'unclean (3 Occurrences)
Him'unclean. Himself, Him'unclean. Hin . Multi-Version Concordance
Him'unclean (3 Occurrences). Matthew 15:11 It is not what goes ...
/h/him'unclean.htm - 7k

Infectious (19 Occurrences)
... white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body's skin, it is the
plague of leprosy; and the priest shall examine him, and pronounce himunclean...
/i/infectious.htm - 12k

Infection (24 Occurrences)
... white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body's skin, it is the
plague of leprosy; and the priest shall examine him, and pronounce himunclean...
/i/infection.htm - 14k

Unclean (393 Occurrences)
... Mark 7:15 There is nothing outside a man which entering him can make himunclean;
but it is the things which come out of a man that make himunclean." (WEY BBE ...
/u/unclean.htm - 39k

Leprous (27 Occurrences)
... and the appearance of the plague be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is the
plague of leprosy; and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce himunclean...
/l/leprous.htm - 15k

Examine (48 Occurrences)
... white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body's skin, it is the
plague of leprosy; and the priest shall examine him, and pronounce himunclean...
/e/examine.htm - 23k

Pronounce (47 Occurrences)
... white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body's skin, it is the
plague of leprosy; and the priest shall examine him, and pronounce himunclean...
/p/pronounce.htm - 22k

Deeper (18 Occurrences)
... white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body's skin, it is the
plague of leprosy; and the priest shall examine him, and pronounce himunclean...
/d/deeper.htm - 12k

Appears (38 Occurrences)
... and the appearance of the plague be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is the
plague of leprosy; and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce himunclean...
/a/appears.htm - 17k

Spreads (31 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS RSV). Leviticus 13:22 If it spreads in the skin, then the priest
shall pronounce himunclean. It is a plague. (WEB NAS RSV). ...
/s/spreads.htm - 14k

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