Various ceremonial washings were enjoined in the Mosaic law, both upon priests, Exodus 30:19-21, and upon others, Leviticus 12:1; 15:33 Hebrews 9:10.

These were significant of spiritual purification through the Savior’s blood, Titus 3:5 Revelation 1:5, as well as of that holiness without which none can see God. To these the Jews added other traditional ablutions, Mark 7:2-4; and regarded it as an act of impiety to neglect them, as Christ frequently did, Luke 11:38. The washing of the hands before and after meals, Matthew 15:2, called for by their custom of feeding themselves with their fingers, is still practiced in Syria. See cut in BED.

Where there is a servant in attendance, he pours water from a pitcher over his master’s hands, holding also a broad vessel underneath them, 2 Kings 3:11 Psalms 60:8. See FOOT and SANDALS. "Washing the hands" was a protestation of innocence, Deuteronomy 21:6 Matthew 27:24; and has given rise to the proverbial saying common among us, "I wash my hands of that."

(Mark 7:1-9). The Jews, like other Orientals, used their fingers when taking food, and therefore washed their hands before doing so, for the sake of cleanliness. Here the reference is to the ablutions prescribed by tradition, according to which "the disciples ought to have gone down to the side of the lake, washed their hands thoroughly, 'rubbing the fist of one hand in the hollow of the other, then placed the ten finger-tips together, holding the hands up, so that any surplus water might flow down to the elbow, and thence to the ground.'" To neglect to do this had come to be regarded as a great sin, a sin equal to the breach of any of the ten commandments. Moses had commanded washings oft, but always for some definite cause; but the Jews multiplied the legal observance till they formed a large body of precepts. To such precepts about ceremonial washing Mark here refers. (See ABLUTION .)

WASHING, ppr. Cleansing with water; purifying; overflowing; overspreading.

WASHING, n.

1. The act of cleansing with water; ablution. Hebrews 9.

2. A wash; or the clothes washed.