Topical Bible: Pollute

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical terms, the concept of "pollute" often refers to the defilement or corruption of something that is considered sacred or pure. This can apply to physical objects, places, or even moral and spiritual states. The Bible frequently addresses the issue of pollution in the context of maintaining holiness and purity before God.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, pollution is often associated with the defilement of the land, the sanctuary, or the people of Israel. The Israelites were commanded to keep themselves and their worship practices pure, as seen in Leviticus 18:24-28 : "Do not defile yourselves by any of these practices, for by all these things the nations I am driving out before you have defiled themselves. Even the land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its iniquity, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants."

The pollution of the sanctuary is another significant theme. In Ezekiel 5:11 , God declares, "Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and abominations, I will withdraw, and I will not look on you with pity, nor will I spare you."

Moral and Spiritual Pollution

Moral and spiritual pollution is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures. The prophets often rebuked Israel for their idolatry and moral corruption, which were seen as polluting their relationship with God. In Jeremiah 3:1-2 , the prophet laments, "If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, should he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers—and would you return to Me? declares the LORD."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the concept of pollution extends to the moral and spiritual realm, emphasizing the purity of the believer's life. James 1:27 states, "Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

The Apostle Paul also addresses the issue of spiritual pollution in 2 Corinthians 7:1 : "Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

Cultural and Ritual Pollution

The Bible also addresses cultural and ritual pollution, particularly in the context of dietary laws and interactions with Gentiles. In Acts 10:14-15 , Peter is challenged by a vision from God: "Surely not, Lord! Peter replied. I have never eaten anything impure or unclean. The voice spoke to him a second time: Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."

This passage highlights the transition from the Old Covenant's emphasis on ritual purity to the New Covenant's focus on spiritual purity and the inclusion of Gentiles into the faith community.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of pollution underscores the importance of maintaining holiness and purity in one's relationship with God. Whether through moral conduct, worship practices, or spiritual devotion, believers are called to avoid defilement and to live in a manner that honors God.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. t.) To make foul, impure, or unclean; to defile; to contaminate; to soil; to desecrate; -- used of physical or moral defilement.

2. (v. t.) To violate sexually; to debauch; to dishonor.

3. (v. t.) To render ceremonially unclean; to disqualify or unfit for sacred use or service, or for social intercourse.

4. (a.) Polluted.

Greek

4510. rhupoo -- pollute, defile
... pollute, defile. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: rhupoo Phonetic Spelling:
(rhoo-po'-o) Short Definition: I am filthy Definition: I am filthy; hence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4510.htm - 6k

2840. koinoo -- to make common
... Transliteration: koinoo Phonetic Spelling: (koy-no'-o) Short Definition: I make
unclean, regard as unclean Definition: I make unclean, pollute, desecrate, mid ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2840.htm - 7k

3435. moluno -- to stain, defile
... to stain, defile. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: moluno Phonetic Spelling:
(mol-oo'-no) Short Definition: I soil, stain, pollute, defile Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3435.htm - 7k

3392. miaino -- to stain, defile
... to stain, defile. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: miaino Phonetic Spelling:
(me-ah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I stain, pollute, defile Definition: I stain ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3392.htm - 7k

953. bebeloo -- to profane
... to profane. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: bebeloo Phonetic Spelling:
(beb-ay-lo'-o) Short Definition: I profane Definition: I profane, pollute, violate. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/953.htm - 6k

234. alisgema -- pollution
... of food). Word Origin from alisgeo (to pollute) Definition pollution NASB
Word Usage things contaminated (1). pollution. From alisgeo ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/234.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

2490c. chalal -- to pollute, defile, profane
... 2490b, 2490c. chalal. 2491 . to pollute, defile, profane. Transliteration:
chalal Short Definition: began. Word Origin a prim. root ...
/hebrew/2490c.htm - 6k

2610. chaneph -- to be polluted or profane
... root Definition to be polluted or profane NASB Word Usage completely polluted (1),
pollute (1), polluted (6), pollutes (1), turn to godlessness (1). ...
/hebrew/2610.htm - 6k

2930. tame -- to be or become unclean
... defile self, pollute self, be make, make self, pronounce unclean, utterly.
A primitive root; to be foul, especially in a ceremial ...
/hebrew/2930.htm - 6k

1351. gaal -- to defile
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to defile NASB Word Usage defile (2), defiled
(6), stained (1), unclean (2). defile, pollute, stain. ...
/hebrew/1351.htm - 6k

2490. chalal -- to bore, pierce
... defile, X break, defile, X eat (as common things), X first, X gather the grape thereof,
X take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as ...
/hebrew/2490.htm - 6k

8262. shaqats -- to detest, make detestable
... A primitive root; to be filthy, ie (intensively) to loathe, pollute -- abhor, make
abominable, have in abomination, detest, X utterly. 8261, 8262. ...
/hebrew/8262.htm - 6k

Library

The Garments Unspotted.
... any one think otherwise than worthily of the substance of the Godhead, which excels
all things;"these are the things which even fatally pollute the garment ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xxxvi the garments unspotted.htm

Of the violence which May be done to the Body by Another's Lust ...
... But is there a fear that even another's lust may pollute the violated?
It will not pollute, if it be another's: if it pollute, it ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 18 of the violence which.htm

The Excellence of the Abiding Glory of virginity; the Soul
... Thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed;" [2662] speaking of
her who prostituted herself to the powers which came against her to pollute her ...
/.../chapter i the excellence of the.htm

The True and Chaste virgins Few; Chastity a Contest; Thekla
... Nor is it right, on the one hand, by the use of chastity to keep virginity, and,
on the other hand, to pollute the soul by evil deeds and lust; nor here to ...
/.../chapter i the true and chaste.htm

Castus of Sicca Said: He who Presumes to Follow Custom in Despite ...
... heretics coming to the Church should be received with the baptism which they already
had, either this was done rightly, or the evil do not pollute the good in ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 35 67 castus.htm

Concerning the Mythic, that Is, the Fabulous, Theology, and the ...
... Does the society of wicked men pollute our life if they insinuate themselves
into our affections, and win our assent? and does not ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 6 concerning the mythic that.htm

Letter Xlvi. (AD 398. )
... to his part of the engagement about watching the crops, by the same oath which he
himself has taken, involving mortal sin, does the oath pollute only that ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter xlvi a d 398.htm

Festal Letters.
... the blessed Paul accuses those who dishonour God; Transgressors of the law dishonour
God [3907] .' So then, to make a separation from those who pollute the fast ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/i festal letters.htm

The Testament of Levi Concerning the Priesthood and Arrogance.
... And he said to me, Take heed, my child, of the spirit of fornication; for this
shall continue, and shall by thy seed pollute the holy things. ...
/.../iii the testament of levi concerning.htm

How the Zealots when they were Freed from the Idumeans, Slew a ...
... both the laws of their country and the laws of nature, and, at the same time that
they defiled men with their wicked actions, they would pollute the Divinity ...
/.../chapter 6 how the zealots.htm

Thesaurus

Pollute (42 Occurrences)
... social intercourse. 4. (a.) Polluted. Multi-Version Concordance Pollute
(42 Occurrences). Jude 1:8 Yet in just the same way these ...
/p/pollute.htm - 19k

Sanctifying (22 Occurrences)
... you. (YLT). Leviticus 21:15 and he doth not pollute his seed among his people;
for I 'am' Jehovah, sanctifying him.' (YLT). Leviticus ...
/s/sanctifying.htm - 13k

Defilement (12 Occurrences)
... de-fil', de-fil'-ment (Anglo-Saxon, afylau, etc.; Middle English, defoulen, "make
foul," "pollute," render (the King James Version) 9 Hebrew roots (the Revised ...
/d/defilement.htm - 21k

Profane (69 Occurrences)
... 5. (v.) To violate, as anything sacred; to treat with abuse, irreverence, obloquy,
or contempt; to desecrate; to pollute; as, to profane the name of God; to ...
/p/profane.htm - 30k

Purposeth (3 Occurrences)
... Daniel 1:8 And Daniel purposeth in his heart that he will not pollute himself with
the king's portion of food, and with the wine of his drinking, and he ...
/p/purposeth.htm - 7k

Defile (63 Occurrences)
... See Defilade. 5. (vt) To make foul or impure; to make filthy; to dirty; to befoul;
to pollute. ... 9. (vt) To make ceremonially unclean; to pollute. Int. ...
/d/defile.htm - 38k

Delicate (32 Occurrences)
... Daniel 1:8 And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not pollute himself with
the king's delicate food, nor with the wine which he drank; and he requested ...
/d/delicate.htm - 19k

Polluting (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Pollute. 2. (a.) Adapted or tending to pollute; causing
defilement or pollution. Multi-Version Concordance Polluting (8 Occurrences). ...
/p/polluting.htm - 9k

Separation (50 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 21:12 nor from the sanctuary doth he go out, nor doth he pollute the
sanctuary of his God, for the separation of the anointing oil of his God 'is' on ...
/s/separation.htm - 23k

Seeketh (60 Occurrences)
... Daniel 1:8 And Daniel purposeth in his heart that he will not pollute himself with
the king's portion of food, and with the wine of his drinking, and he ...
/s/seeketh.htm - 24k

Resources

Who was Jonah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who / what were the Nephilim? | GotQuestions.org

Is there any evidence for the giants mentioned in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Pollute: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Pollute (42 Occurrences)

Jude 1:8
Yet in just the same way these dreamers also pollute the body, while they set authority at naught and speak evil of dignities.
(WEY NIV)

Exodus 20:25
If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of cut stones; for if you lift up your tool on it, you have polluted it.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Leviticus 18:21
And of thy seed thou dost not give to pass over to the Molech; nor dost thou pollute the name of thy God; I 'am' Jehovah.
(YLT)

Leviticus 19:29
Thou dost not pollute thy daughter to cause her to go a-whoring, that the land go not a-whoring, and the land hath been full of wickedness.
(YLT)

Leviticus 20:3
and I -- I set My face against that man, and have cut him off from the midst of his people, for of his seed he hath given to the Molech, so as to defile My sanctuary, and to pollute My holy name.
(YLT)

Leviticus 21:4
A master 'priest' doth not defile himself among his people -- to pollute himself;
(YLT)

Leviticus 21:6
they are holy to their God, and they pollute not the name of their God, for the fire-offerings of Jehovah, bread of their God, they are bringing near, and have been holy.
(YLT)

Leviticus 21:12
nor from the sanctuary doth he go out, nor doth he pollute the sanctuary of his God, for the separation of the anointing oil of his God 'is' on him; I 'am' Jehovah.
(YLT)

Leviticus 21:15
and he doth not pollute his seed among his people; for I 'am' Jehovah, sanctifying him.'
(YLT)

Leviticus 21:23
only, unto the vail he doth not enter, and unto the altar he doth not draw nigh; for blemish 'is' in him; and he doth not pollute My sanctuaries; for I 'am' Jehovah, sanctifying them.'
(YLT)

Leviticus 22:2
Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and they are separated from the holy things of the sons of Israel, and they pollute not My holy name in what they are hallowing to Me; I 'am' Jehovah.
(YLT)

Leviticus 22:9
And they have kept My charge, and bear no sin for it, that they have died for it when they pollute it; I 'am' Jehovah sanctifying them.
(YLT)

Leviticus 22:15
and they do not pollute the holy things of the sons of Israel -- that which they lift up to Jehovah,
(YLT)

Leviticus 22:32
and ye do not pollute My holy name, and I have been hallowed in the midst of the sons of Israel; I 'am' Jehovah, sanctifying you,
(YLT)

Numbers 18:32
And ye shall bear no sin by reason of it, when ye have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall ye pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest ye die.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Numbers 30:2
When a man voweth a vow to Jehovah, or hath sworn an oath to bind a bond on his soul, he doth not pollute his word; according to all that is going out from his mouth he doth.
(YLT)

Numbers 35:33
"'So you shall not pollute the land in which you are: for blood, it pollutes the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him who shed it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Nehemiah 13:18
Thus did not your fathers do? and our God bringeth in on us all this evil, and on this city, and ye are adding fierceness on Israel, to pollute the sabbath.'
(YLT)

Psalms 89:31
If My statutes they pollute, And My commands do not keep,
(YLT)

Song of Songs 5:3
I have put off my tunic, how should I put it on? I have washed my feet, how should I pollute them? --
(DBY)

Isaiah 23:9
Jehovah of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.
(See JPS YLT)

Isaiah 43:28
And I pollute princes of the sanctuary, And I give Jacob to destruction, and Israel to revilings!
(YLT NAS)

Jeremiah 7:30
For the children of Judah have done evil in my sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by my name, to pollute it.
(KJV WBS)

Jeremiah 34:16
But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom he had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids.
(Root in KJV YLT)

Ezekiel 7:21
And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 7:22
My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Ezekiel 13:19
And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?
(KJV)

Ezekiel 20:9
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
(Root in KJV YLT)

Ezekiel 20:14
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
(Root in KJV YLT)

Ezekiel 20:22
Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
(Root in KJV YLT)

Ezekiel 20:30
Therefore tell the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Do you pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers? and do you play the prostitute after their abominations?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Ezekiel 20:31
and when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons to pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? and shall I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Ezekiel 20:39
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
(KJV YLT)

Ezekiel 22:26
Its priests have wronged My law, And they pollute My holy things, Between holy and common they have not made separation, And between the unclean and the clean they have not made known, And from my sabbaths they have hidden their eyes, And I am pierced in their midst.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 23:39
And in their slaughtering their sons to their idols They also come in unto My sanctuary in that day to pollute it, And lo, thus they have done in the midst of My house,
(YLT)

Ezekiel 36:20
And one goeth in unto the nations whither they have gone, And they pollute My holy name by saying to them, The people of Jehovah 'are' these, And from His land they have gone forth.
(YLT)

Ezekiel 39:7
So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
(KJV YLT)

Ezekiel 44:7
In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Daniel 1:8
And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not pollute himself with the king's delicate food, nor with the wine which he drank; and he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not have to pollute himself.
(DBY YLT)

Daniel 11:31
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Amos 2:7
Who are panting for the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, And the way of the humble they turn aside, And a man and his father go unto the damsel, So as to pollute My holy name.
(YLT)

Malachi 2:10
Have we not all one father? Hath not our God prepared us? Wherefore do we deal treacherously, Each against his brother, To pollute the covenant of our fathers?
(YLT)

Subtopics

Pollute

Related Terms

Desecrated (17 Occurrences)

Filthy (22 Occurrences)

Pollute (42 Occurrences)

Filth (21 Occurrences)

Filthiness (16 Occurrences)

Despicable (5 Occurrences)

Desecrate (9 Occurrences)

Contemptible (14 Occurrences)

Consciences (12 Occurrences)