In biblical literature, the term "whitened" often carries symbolic meaning, representing purity, righteousness, or, conversely, hypocrisy and deceit. The imagery of whiteness is used throughout Scripture to convey various spiritual truths and moral lessons.

1. Symbol of Purity and Righteousness: Whiteness is frequently associated with purity and holiness. In the book of Revelation, the saints are described as wearing white robes, symbolizing their righteousness and purity before God. Revelation 7:14 states, "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Here, the whiteness of the robes signifies the cleansing power of Christ's sacrifice and the sanctification of believers.

2. Hypocrisy and Deceit: Conversely, the term "whitened" is used by Jesus to describe hypocrisy, particularly in the context of the religious leaders of His time. In Matthew 23:27 , Jesus rebukes the scribes and Pharisees, saying, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity." Here, "whitened" or "whitewashed" tombs serve as a metaphor for outward appearances that mask inner corruption and moral decay.

3. Cleansing and Forgiveness: The concept of being "whitened" is also linked to the idea of divine forgiveness and cleansing from sin. In Isaiah 1:18 , the Lord invites His people to reason together with Him, promising, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall become like wool." This passage highlights God's willingness to forgive and purify those who repent, transforming their sinful state into one of purity.

4. Transformation and Renewal: The process of becoming "whitened" can also symbolize spiritual transformation and renewal. In Daniel 12:10 , it is prophesied, "Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand." This verse suggests a process of purification and refinement for the righteous, contrasting with the continued wickedness of those who reject wisdom.

In summary, the concept of "whitened" in the Bible encompasses a range of meanings, from the purity and righteousness of the saints to the hypocrisy of those who maintain an outward appearance of holiness while harboring inner corruption. It also speaks to the transformative power of God's forgiveness and the ongoing process of spiritual renewal for believers.(imp. & p. p.) of Whiten.

The Burning of Athens.
... Under these circumstances, a body of the Phocaeans, six hundred in number, one day
whitened their faces, their arms and hands, their clothes, and all their ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter x the burning of.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Mark viii. 5, Etc. , Where the Miracle ...
... He might make His Spouse fair to whom it is said, "O thou beauteous among women,"
[3149] of whom it is said, "Who is this that cometh up, whitened" [3150] with ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xlv on the words.htm

Psalm LXVIII.
... or by these which follow, so that the order is, "If ye sleep in the midst of the
lots, the wings of a dove silvered with snow shall be whitened in Selmon ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxviii.htm

Appendix 1 Massecheth Middoth
... And they whitened them twice in the year, once at the Passover, and once at the
Feast of Tabernacles; and the Sanctuary once at the Passover. ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/appendix 1 massecheth middoth.htm

A New Year's Benediction
... established. It is one thing to have the hair whitened with years, but
I fear it is another thing for us to obtain wisdom. There ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/a new years benediction.htm

Let us Now Consider the Category of Relation, to which all the ...
... illustration, In Cat. (Migne, PL lxiv. 217). [21] ie which is external to
the master. [22] ie which is external to the whitened thing. ...
/.../boethius/the trinity is one god not three gods/v let us now consider.htm

The Glory of the Goal, --Face to Face
... The scars where the thorns tore His great, patient face; the grief-whitened hair,
draped above those deep, tender, unspeakable eyes; that strangely rough place ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/the glory of the goalface.htm

The Names of the Gods and their Images are but of Recent Date.
... appeared, when drawing in outline was invented by Saurias, who sketched a horse
in the sun, and painting by Crato, who painted in oil on a whitened tablet the ...
/.../athenagoras/a plea for the christians/chapter xvii the names of the.htm

At the Well
... the only evidences of the lentil and garlic gardens in happier days, and the location
of pastures might be guessed by the skeletons that whitened the uplands. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxxvii at the well.htm

Ter Steegen's Golden Timepiece
... Smite the Face of God; I shall stand in shining raiment,. Whitened in Thy Blood".
Stand before Thy Throne of judgment. Faultless, glad, and free; ...
/.../hymns of ter steegen and others second series/ter steegens golden timepiece.htm

Whitened (1 Occurrence)
...Whitened (1 Occurrence). ... For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear
beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. ...
/w/whitened.htm - 6k

Unclean (393 Occurrences)
... For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly
are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. ...
/u/unclean.htm - 39k

Outward (17 Occurrences)
... For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly
are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. ...
/o/outward.htm - 13k

Outwardly (7 Occurrences)
... For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly
are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. (WEB ASV DBY YLT RSV). ...
/o/outwardly.htm - 8k

Gray (16 Occurrences)
... 1. (superl.) White mixed with black, as the color of pepper and salt, or of ashes,
or of hair whitened by age; sometimes, a dark mixed color; as, the soft gray ...
/g/gray.htm - 11k

Whiten (1 Occurrence)

/w/whiten.htm - 7k

Wax (32 Occurrences)
... is first excreted, from a row of pouches along their sides, in the form of scales,
which, being masticated and mixed with saliva, become whitened and tenacious ...
/w/wax.htm - 18k

Whiteness (1 Occurrence)

/w/whiteness.htm - 7k

Woe (102 Occurrences)
... For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly
are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. ...
/w/woe.htm - 37k

Wo (92 Occurrences)
... For you are like whitened tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly
are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. ...
/w/wo.htm - 33k

Whitened: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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