In the Bible, menstruation is not only addressed in its literal sense but also carries significant figurative meaning. The physical process of menstruation, described in Leviticus 15:19-30, is associated with ritual impurity under the Mosaic Law. This impurity required specific purification rituals, symbolizing the need for spiritual cleansing and separation from sin.

Figuratively, menstruation is used to depict uncleanness and rejection. In Isaiah 64:6, the prophet laments the spiritual state of Israel, saying, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." The term "filthy rags" is often understood to refer to menstrual cloths, emphasizing the depth of human sinfulness and the inadequacy of self-righteousness before a holy God. This imagery underscores the need for divine intervention and redemption.

Moreover, menstruation is used metaphorically to describe the rejection and desolation of a nation. In Lamentations 1:17, Jerusalem is personified as a woman in her impurity: "Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her. The LORD has decreed for Jacob that his neighbors become his foes; Jerusalem has become an unclean thing among them." Here, the imagery of menstruation conveys the city's state of abandonment and the consequences of turning away from God.

The prophetic literature also employs this metaphor to illustrate the consequences of idolatry and spiritual adultery. In Ezekiel 36:17, God compares the house of Israel to a woman in her menstrual impurity due to their defilement through idolatry: "Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds. Their conduct before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman’s impurity." This comparison highlights the severity of Israel's unfaithfulness and the need for repentance and restoration.

In the New Testament, the concept of impurity is transformed through the redemptive work of Christ. The cleansing power of Jesus' sacrifice is emphasized in passages such as Hebrews 9:13-14, which contrasts the temporary purification of the Old Covenant with the eternal cleansing offered through Christ's blood. This shift from ritual impurity to spiritual purity through faith in Christ reflects the fulfillment of the Law and the establishment of a new covenant of grace.

Thus, the figurative use of menstruation in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol of impurity, rejection, and the need for divine cleansing. It points to the broader theological themes of sin, repentance, and redemption, ultimately finding resolution in the person and work of Jesus Christ.Isaiah 30:22
You shall defile also the covering of your graven images of silver, and the ornament of your molten images of gold: you shall cast them away as a menstruous cloth; you shall say to it, Get you hence.
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Lamentations 1:17
Zion spreads forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the LORD has commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them.
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Ezekiel 36:17
Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelled in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.
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Is it acceptable to God for a husband and wife to have sex while the wife is menstruating / having her period? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of impurity in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

How can I maintain a good attitude when I am struggling with PMS? | GotQuestions.org

Menstruation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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