Definition and Overview:
Defiling, in biblical terms, refers to the act of making something unclean, impure, or unholy. This concept is prevalent throughout the Scriptures, where it is often associated with moral, ceremonial, and spiritual impurity. Defilement can occur through various means, including sinful actions, contact with unclean things, or violations of God's commandments.

Old Testament Context:
In the Old Testament, defilement is frequently discussed in the context of the Mosaic Law. The Israelites were given specific instructions on what constituted defilement and how to avoid it. Leviticus 11-15 outlines various laws regarding clean and unclean animals, skin diseases, bodily discharges, and other sources of impurity. For example, Leviticus 11:44-45 states, "For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming creature that moves on the ground."

Defilement could also occur through idolatry and immoral behavior. The prophets often warned Israel against defiling themselves with the practices of surrounding nations. Ezekiel 20:7 admonishes, "And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’"

New Testament Context:
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ redefines the concept of defilement, emphasizing the condition of the heart over external rituals. In Mark 7:15 , Jesus teaches, "Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him." This shift highlights the importance of inner purity and righteousness.

The Apostle Paul also addresses defilement in his epistles, urging believers to maintain purity in their conduct and relationships. In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 , Paul writes, "Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple."

Spiritual Implications:
Defilement in the Bible is not merely a physical or ceremonial issue but has deep spiritual implications. It represents a breach in the relationship between God and His people. The call to holiness and purity is a recurring theme, as seen in 1 Peter 1:15-16 : "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to live lives that reflect the holiness of God, avoiding actions and influences that lead to spiritual defilement. This includes abstaining from sinful behaviors, maintaining moral integrity, and seeking forgiveness and cleansing through Jesus Christ. The pursuit of holiness is a lifelong journey, empowered by the Holy Spirit, as believers strive to honor God in all aspects of their lives.(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Defile.3394. miasmos -- the act of defiling
... the act of defiling. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: miasmos Phonetic
Spelling: (mee-as-mos') Short Definition: the act of pollution ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3394.htm - 6k1352. goel -- defiling, defilement
... 1351, 1352. goel. 1353 . defiling, defilement. Transliteration: goel
Phonetic Spelling: (go'-el) Short Definition: defiled. Word ...
/hebrew/1352.htm - 6k

2930. tame -- to be or become unclean
... become unclean (6), becomes unclean (13), becoming unclean (1), been defiled (2),
defile (25), defiled (38), defilement (1), defiles (5), defiling (2), made ...
/hebrew/2930.htm - 6k

July the Twentieth Defiling the Holy Place
... JULY The Twentieth DEFILING THE HOLY PLACE. MARK xi.11-19. It was a teaching
of the old Rabbis that no one should make a thoroughfare ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/july the twentieth defiling the.htm

Sin.
... The following texts will acquaint the reader with the characteristics or nature
of sin. 1. Sin is defiling. ... Here we see the defiling nature of sin. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter iii sin.htm

The Scripture Passage: "To the Pure all Things are Pure, but to ...
... Up to this time I have thought only of adulteries and frauds and murders as defiling
the conscience of Moses and the prophets; but now, from what this verse ...
/.../the scripture passage to the.htm

Jesus Before Pilate.
... Roman army. The Jews and the priests did not enter the Praetorium, for fear
of defiling themselves, but remained outside. When Pilate ...
/.../chapter xvii jesus before pilate.htm

Moab is My Washpot
... Thus it is clear that Moab of old was foremost in polluting and defiling Israel. ...
The defiling world may be made helpful to us in the following ways. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/moab is my washpot.htm

A Description of Heart-Purity
... 2:22), to the infants tumbling in blood' (Ezekiel 16:6), and to a menstruous cloth'
(Isaiah 30:22), which (as Jerome says) was the most defiling thing under ...
/.../16 a description of heart-purity.htm

Separation to God.
... These verses teach us that mere contact with death is defiling: how vain then is
the imagination of the unconverted that by dead works"the best efforts of ...
/.../taylor/separation and service/part i separation to god.htm

Temptations.
... 1. Dreadful accusations from Satan.2. Grievous, defiling, and infectious
thoughts.3. A strange readiness in our nature to fall in with both. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xv temptations.htm

Maintain Union with the Bishop.
... Wherefore, as children of light and truth, avoid the dividing of your unity, and
the wicked doctrine of the heretics, from whom "a defiling influence has gone ...
/.../chapter ii maintain union with the.htm

But I First Say a Word Also About the Crown Itself. ...
... made with Neptune. In these respects, the superstition of the military garland
will be everywhere defiled and all-defiling. And it ...
/.../tertullian/the chaplet or de corona/chapter xii but i first.htm

Defiling (10 Occurrences)
...Defiling (10 Occurrences). Matthew 15:20 these are the things defiling the man;
but to eat with unwashen hands doth not defile the man.' (YLT). ...
/d/defiling.htm - 9k

Defilement (12 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The act of defiling, or state of being defiled, whether physically
or morally; pollution; foulness; dirtiness; uncleanness. Int. ...
/d/defilement.htm - 21k

Defileth (12 Occurrences)

/d/defileth.htm - 10k

Latchet (4 Occurrences)
... The stooping to untie the dusty shoe-latchet was esteemed by Orientals a service
that was at once petty and defiling, and was usually assigned to menials. ...
/l/latchet.htm - 8k

Wallow (5 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) To wither; to fade. 4. (vt) To roll; esp., to roll in anything defiling
or unclean. 5. (n.) A kind of rolling walk. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/w/wallow.htm - 8k

Define (2 Occurrences)

/d/define.htm - 7k

Defile (63 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 12:2-5); by contact with unclean persons (Leviticus 5:3), or unclean things
(Leviticus 22:6), or with leprosy (especially defiling; Leviticus 13:14 ...
/d/defile.htm - 38k

Corpse (18 Occurrences)
... is ptoma, literally, "a fallen body," "a ruin" (from pipto, "to fall"), in Mark
6:29 Revelation 11:8, 9. Corpses were considered as unclean and defiling in the ...
/c/corpse.htm - 14k

Athaliah (17 Occurrences)
... Treason!" she fled. Some were for cutting her down as she did so, but this
was objected to as defiling the temple with human blood. ...
/a/athaliah.htm - 19k

Dies (71 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS RSV). Leviticus 22:8 That which dies of itself, or is torn by animals,
he shall not eat, defiling himself by it. I am Yahweh. (WEB NAS RSV). ...
/d/dies.htm - 26k

What does it mean that the marriage bed is undefiled (Hebrews 13:4)? | GotQuestions.org

What are the bodily discharges mentioned in Leviticus 15, and why did they make a person unclean? | GotQuestions.org

Why does God hate sin? | GotQuestions.org

Defiling: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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