Polluting, in a biblical context, refers to the act of defiling or contaminating something that is considered sacred or pure. This concept is often associated with moral, spiritual, and physical impurity, and it is addressed in various passages throughout the Bible. The term can apply to individuals, communities, or objects that have been tainted by sin or unclean practices.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the concept of pollution is frequently linked to the ceremonial laws given to the Israelites. These laws were designed to maintain the holiness and purity of the people and their worship practices. Pollution could occur through various means, including idolatry, immoral behavior, and contact with unclean things.

1. Idolatry and False Worship: The Israelites were repeatedly warned against polluting themselves through the worship of false gods. In Ezekiel 20:18, God admonishes the Israelites, saying, "Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols."

2. Moral and Ritual Impurity: The Levitical laws provided detailed instructions on how to avoid pollution through contact with unclean animals, diseases, and bodily discharges. Leviticus 18:24-25 warns, "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. The land has become defiled, so I am punishing it for its sin, and the land will vomit out its inhabitants."

3. Sabbath and Holy Days: The profanation of the Sabbath and holy days was considered a form of pollution. In Ezekiel 22:8, God accuses the people of Israel, "You have despised My holy things and profaned My Sabbaths."

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the focus shifts from ceremonial laws to the purity of the heart and spirit. Jesus and the apostles emphasize that true defilement comes from within, rather than from external sources.

1. Inner Purity: Jesus teaches that moral pollution originates from the heart. In Mark 7:20-23, He states, "What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man."

2. Spiritual Adultery: The New Testament also addresses the concept of spiritual pollution through unfaithfulness to God. James 4:4 warns, "You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God."

3. The Church and Believers: The early church was instructed to maintain purity and avoid pollution through false teachings and immoral behavior. In 2 Corinthians 7:1, Paul exhorts believers, "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."

Symbolism and Imagery

The Bible often uses vivid imagery to describe pollution and its effects. The prophets frequently depicted Israel's unfaithfulness as spiritual adultery, likening the nation to an unfaithful spouse. This imagery underscores the seriousness of polluting what is sacred and the need for repentance and restoration.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of polluting serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining holiness and purity in one's relationship with God. It calls believers to be vigilant against the influences of sin and to seek cleansing through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Pollute.

2. (a.) Adapted or tending to pollute; causing defilement or pollution.

3392. miaino -- to stain, defile
... 3392 -- properly, to (with paint or dye); (figuratively) to (defile) the soul, ie
like when sin taints by its polluting effects ("moral, spiritual stains"). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3392.htm - 7k

A Work of Reform
... Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that
keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any ...
//christianbookshelf.org/white/the great controversy/chapter 26 a work of.htm

A Work of Reform.
... Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that
keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /26 a work of reform.htm

Porphyry's Emendations and Modifications of Platonism.
... put the soul into the world that it might recognize the evils of matter, and return
to the Father, and be for ever emancipated from the polluting contact of ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 30 porphyrys emendations and modifications.htm

Obadiah
... Even if a man 'sobers down' after 'sowing his wild oats,' which is a very problematical
'if,' what bitter memories of wasted days, what polluting memories of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/obadiah.htm

Easter Wednesday Also Suited to Easter Tuesday.
... They are termed spiritual sins not simply because of their spirit-polluting character,
for all vices pollute the spirit, the carnal vices among them; but ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/easter wednesday also suited to.htm

On the Holy Martyr, S. Babylas.
... abomination. But if one must say something startling, the bodies of the living
full of evil, are more polluting than those of the dead. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/on the holy martyr s.htm

But Even this is Nothing. ...
... every revolution in which they mingle; they defile every thing that they touch;
they dishonor every truth which they profess, by polluting or perverting it. ...
/.../lamartine/atheism among the people/xi but even this is.htm

Of Dyeing the Hair.
... Ill, ay, most ill, do they augur for themselves with their flame-coloured head,
[186] and think that graceful which (in fact) they are polluting! ...
/.../tertullian/on the apparel of women/chapter vi of dyeing the hair.htm

Having Sufficiently Established the Charge of Idolatry, which ...
... you have as a specific class the "shows." But we have spoken already of how it is
with the places of exhibition, that they are not polluting in themselves, but ...
/.../the shows or de spectaculis/chapter xiv having sufficiently established.htm

The Heathen, who have not a Full Revelation of the Truth...
... as if bent on exposing himself before everybody; the father who carefully protects
and guards his virgin daughter's ears from every polluting word, takes her ...
/.../tertullian/the shows or de spectaculis/chapter xxi the heathen who.htm

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

Pollution (5 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of polluting, or the state of being polluted
(in any sense of the verb); defilement; uncleanness; impurity. ...
/p/pollution.htm - 8k

Polluteth (2 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 21:9 And a daughter of any priest when she polluteth herself by going
a-whoring -- her father she is polluting; with fire she is burnt. (YLT). ...
/p/polluteth.htm - 7k

Keepeth (60 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 56:2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold
on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand ...
/k/keepeth.htm - 23k

Freemen (17 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 13:17 And I strive with the freemen of Judah, and say to them, 'What 'is'
this evil thing that ye are doing, and polluting the sabbath-day? (YLT). ...
/f/freemen.htm - 12k

Recompensed (20 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 16:18 And I have recompensed a first -- A second time -- their iniquity
and their sin, Because of their polluting My land, With the carcase of their ...
/r/recompensed.htm - 12k

Despicable (5 Occurrences)
... Malachi 1:12 And ye are polluting it in your saying, 'The table of Jehovah -- it
is polluted, As to its fruit -- despicable is its food.' (YLT). ...
/d/despicable.htm - 8k

Desecrate (9 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 24:21 Say to the house of Israel: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Lo, I am
polluting My sanctuary, The excellency of your strength, The desire of your eyes ...
/d/desecrate.htm - 9k

Pitied (19 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 24:21 Say to the house of Israel: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Lo, I am
polluting My sanctuary, The excellency of your strength, The desire of your eyes ...
/p/pitied.htm - 12k

A-whoring (35 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Leviticus 21:9 And a daughter of any priest when she polluteth herself by
going a-whoring -- her father she is polluting; with fire she is burnt. (YLT). ...
/a/a-whoring.htm - 17k

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