Lexical Summary borith: Soap, Lye, Cleansing Agent Original Word: בֹּרִית Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sope Feminine of bor; vegetable alkali -- sope. see HEBREW bor NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfem. of bor Definition lye, alkali, potash, soap NASB Translation soap (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs בֹּרִית noun feminine lye, alkali, potash, soap, used in washing Jeremiah 2:22; Malachi 3:2. Topical Lexicon Overview בֹּרִית (borit) denotes an alkaline cleansing agent—commonly rendered “lye,” “soap,” or “launderer’s soap.” In its two canonical occurrences the term becomes a vivid metaphor for moral purification, contrasting human attempts at self-cleansing with the Lord’s sovereign work of refining His people. Ancient Manufacturing and Use Alkaline soaps in the Ancient Near East were produced by leaching plant ashes (especially from salt-tolerant shrubs) or collecting natural mineral deposits such as natron. Mixed with water, the resulting solution cut through grease and stains on cloth and skin. Launderers and fullers trampled garments in vats of such lye before drying them in the sun. The harshness of the substance made it a fitting image for forceful, penetrating cleansing. Occurrences in Scripture Jeremiah 2:22—Addressing Judah’s idolatry, the Lord says, “Although you wash yourself with lye and use an abundance of soap, the stain of your guilt remains before Me”. Human ingenuity, even with the strongest detergent, cannot erase covenant unfaithfulness. Malachi 3:2—Foretelling the advent of the Messenger of the covenant, the prophet declares, “For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like launderer’s soap”. Here borit pictures the Messiah’s purifying ministry among His people, removing defilement so that offerings become acceptable (Malachi 3:3). Themes of Cleansing and Judgment 1. Inefficacy of External Rituals: Jeremiah links borit with futile religious acts that fail to reach the heart (cf. Isaiah 1:16-17). Prophetic and Messianic Implications Malachi’s picture anticipates the purifying work of Jesus Christ, who “gave Himself for us to redeem us… and to purify for Himself a people” (Titus 2:14). The launderer’s soap motif thus bridges Old Testament expectation with New Testament fulfillment, highlighting the Messiah’s dual role of judge and sanctifier (John 15:3; Ephesians 5:26-27). Related Old and New Testament Parallels Psalm 51:7—“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean.” Isaiah 1:18—“Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow.” Hebrews 9:14—Christ’s blood “will cleanse our consciences from dead works.” 1 John 1:7—“The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” These passages echo the borit imagery by linking cleansing with divine provision rather than human effort. Contemporary Ministry Application • Preaching: Borit illustrates the inadequacy of moralism; only Christ’s atonement truly washes away sin. Conclusion בֹּרִית functions as more than an ancient detergent; it is a Spirit-breathed emblem of God’s unwavering demand for holiness and His gracious provision to achieve it. From the prophetic warnings of Jeremiah to the messianic hope of Malachi, the metaphor points unerringly to the One who alone can remove the deepest stains of the human heart. Forms and Transliterations בֹּרִ֑ית ברית וּכְבֹרִ֖ית וכברית bō·rîṯ boRit bōrîṯ ū·ḵə·ḇō·rîṯ uchevoRit ūḵəḇōrîṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 2:22 HEB: וְתַרְבִּי־ לָ֖ךְ בֹּרִ֑ית נִכְתָּ֤ם עֲוֹנֵךְ֙ NAS: And use much soap, The stain KJV: and take thee much soap, [yet] thine iniquity INT: lye and use soap the stain of your iniquity Malachi 3:2 2 Occurrences |
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