Emission
Jump to: Webster'sConcordanceThesaurusHebrewLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "emission" primarily refers to bodily discharges, particularly those related to seminal emissions. The concept is addressed within the Mosaic Law, which provided guidelines for maintaining ritual purity among the Israelites. These laws are found in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Leviticus.

Levitical Law and Ritual Purity

The book of Leviticus outlines various laws concerning bodily emissions, emphasizing the importance of ritual cleanliness. Leviticus 15:16-18 states: "When a man has a seminal emission, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean until evening. Any clothing or leather on which there is a seminal emission must be washed with water, and it will be unclean until evening. If a man has sexual relations with a woman and there is a seminal emission, both must bathe with water, and they will be unclean until evening."

These regulations were part of a broader system of laws designed to teach the Israelites about holiness and the separation from impurity. The laws served as a constant reminder of the need for cleanliness and the distinction between the sacred and the profane.

Symbolism and Spiritual Lessons

From a conservative Christian perspective, the laws concerning emissions can be seen as symbolic of the need for spiritual purity. The physical act of washing and the period of uncleanness underscore the importance of being cleansed from sin and impurity. The New Testament reinforces this concept by emphasizing the need for spiritual cleansing through faith in Jesus Christ.

In 1 John 1:9 , the apostle John writes, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This verse highlights the transition from the ritualistic cleansing of the Old Testament to the spiritual cleansing available through Christ.

Cultural and Historical Context

Understanding the cultural and historical context of these laws is crucial. In ancient Israel, the community's health and well-being were closely tied to adherence to these purity laws. The regulations concerning emissions were not only about personal hygiene but also about maintaining the sanctity of the community and the tabernacle, where God's presence dwelled.

Application in Contemporary Christian Life

While Christians today are not bound by the Old Testament ceremonial laws, the principles behind them continue to hold spiritual significance. The call to purity and holiness remains central to Christian living. Believers are encouraged to pursue a life that reflects the holiness of God, as stated 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.'"

In summary, the biblical concept of emission, as outlined in Leviticus, serves as a reminder of the importance of purity and the need for spiritual cleansing, which is ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The act of sending or throwing out; the act of sending forth or putting into circulation; issue; as, the emission of light from the sun; the emission of heat from a fire; the emission of bank notes.

2. (n.) That which is sent out, issued, or put in circulation at one time; issue; as, the emission was mostly blood.

Strong's Hebrew
7137. qareh -- chance, accident
... 7136b, 7137. qareh. 7138 . chance, accident. Transliteration: qareh Phonetic
Spelling: (kaw-reh') Short Definition: emission. Word ...
/hebrew/7137.htm - 6k

7902. shekabah -- (act of) lying, a layer
... 7901, 7902. shekabah. 7903 . (act of) lying, a layer. Transliteration: shekabah
Phonetic Spelling: (shek-aw-baw') Short Definition: emission. ...
/hebrew/7902.htm - 6k

Library

Whether the Lust that is About Venereal Acts Can be a Sin?
... For the venereal act consists in the emission of semen which is the surplus from
food, according to the Philosopher (De Gener. Anim. i, 18). ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the lust that is.htm

The First Order of Production Maintained by the Heretics is ...
... If then, even in the case of human beings, understanding itself does not arise from
emission, nor is that intelligence which produces other things separated ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xiii the first order of.htm

How There is no Reason which Can be Shown for the Selection of ...
... bestows an entrance, and, as it were, a door [252] for the seed; the select Saturn
bestows the seed itself; the select Liber bestows on men the emission of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 3 how there is no.htm

Augustin not the Deviser of Original Sin.
... "This sexual connection of bodies," he says, "together with the ardour, with the
pleasure, with the emission of seed, was made by God, and is praiseworthy on ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 25 xii augustin not the.htm

Whether Six Daughters are Fittingly Assigned to Gluttony?
... On the part of the body, mention is made of "uncleanness," which may refer either
to the inordinate emission of any kind of superfluities, or especially to the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether six daughters are fittingly.htm

Concerning the Holy Spirit, a Reasoned Proof.
... spiritu oris ejus omnis virtus eorum), spoke of the Holy Ghost as proceeding from
the Father like the breath of His mouth in the utterance or emission of His ...
/.../exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter vii concerning the holy spirit.htm

Nor, in that the Law Orders a Man to be Purified Even after ...
... forasmuch as it behoves that man be cleansed by form and teaching of learning; as
a sign of this, that purification was ordered after the emission of seed. ...
/.../augustine/on the good of marriage/section 23 nor in that.htm

The Teaching of the Apostles in Opposition to Jewish and Gentile ...
... Now if any persons keep to the Jewish customs and observances concerning the natural
emission and nocturnal pollutions, and the lawful conjugal acts, [3313 ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec v the teaching of the.htm

The Third Theological Oration.
... The Son is the Begotten, and the Holy Ghost the Emission; for I know not how this
could be expressed in terms altogether excluding visible things. ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxix the third theological.htm

"But if we Walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have ...
... xxvii.1, Micah 7:8, Isaiah 42:6, 7. Now, it is this emission of light from him that
first drives away that gross darkness that is over souls, for till then, in ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xiv but if we.htm

Thesaurus
Emission (7 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The act of sending or throwing out; the act of sending forth or putting
into circulation; issue; as, the emission of light from the sun; the emission...
/e/emission.htm - 8k

Seminal (5 Occurrences)
... Seminal (5 Occurrences). Leviticus 15:16 "'If any man has an emission of semen,
then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening. ...
/s/seminal.htm - 8k

Semen (6 Occurrences)
... (See RSV NIV). Leviticus 15:16 "'If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall
bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening. ...
/s/semen.htm - 8k

Expiration (1 Occurrence)
... opposed to inspiration. 3. (n.) Emission of volatile matter; exhalation.
4. (n.) The last emission of breath; death. 5. (n.) A coming ...
/e/expiration.htm - 7k

Bathe (35 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 15:16 "'If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall bathe
all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening. ...
/b/bathe.htm - 18k

Discharge (30 Occurrences)
... 22. (n.) A flowing or issuing out; emission; vent; evacuation; also, that which
is discharged or emitted; as, a rapid discharge of water from the pipe. ...
/d/discharge.htm - 18k

Evening (163 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 15:16 "'If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall bathe
all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening. ...
/e/evening.htm - 41k

Vent (8 Occurrences)
... confinement or privacy; outlet. 10. (n.) Emission; escape; passage to notice
or expression; publication; utterance. 11. (vt) To let ...
/v/vent.htm - 9k

Laugh (23 Occurrences)
... of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of
the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or ...
/l/laugh.htm - 13k

Gush (7 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A sudden and violent issue of a fluid from an enclosed place; an emission
of a liquid in a large quantity, and with force; the fluid thus emitted; a ...
/g/gush.htm - 9k

Resources
Is a wet dream / nocturnal emission a sin? | GotQuestions.org

Why were a husband and wife considered unclean after they had sexual relations? | GotQuestions.org

What is onanism? Is onanism a sin? | GotQuestions.org

Emission: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Emission (7 Occurrences)

Leviticus 15:16
"'If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 15:17
Every garment, and every skin, whereon the semen is, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.
(See NAS)

Leviticus 15:18
If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the evening.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 15:32
This is the law of him who has a discharge, and of him who has an emission of semen, so that he is unclean thereby;
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 22:4
"'Whoever of the seed of Aaron is a leper or has an issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goes from him;
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 23:10
If there is among you any man who is not clean by reason of that which happens him by night, then shall he go outside of the camp. He shall not come within the camp:
(See NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 23:20
She doted on their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Emission

Related Terms

Expire (14 Occurrences)

Sparkle (1 Occurrence)

Onycha (1 Occurrence)

Fling (5 Occurrences)

Discharge (30 Occurrences)

Beam (17 Occurrences)

Breathe (17 Occurrences)

Spat (7 Occurrences)

Sweat (3 Occurrences)

Emission (7 Occurrences)

Vapor (6 Occurrences)

Vomit (12 Occurrences)

Void (64 Occurrences)

Outlet (3 Occurrences)

Lighten (19 Occurrences)

Glisten (1 Occurrence)

Glance (5 Occurrences)

Gasp (5 Occurrences)

Give (13501 Occurrences)

Whistle (3 Occurrences)

Flare (2 Occurrences)

Thunder (48 Occurrences)

Emites (2 Occurrences)

Exert (4 Occurrences)

Dart (9 Occurrences)

Moan (13 Occurrences)

Pipe (13 Occurrences)

Perspire (1 Occurrence)

Pour (137 Occurrences)

Bleeding (9 Occurrences)

Bellow (2 Occurrences)

Belch (1 Occurrence)

Cast (640 Occurrences)

Avoid (31 Occurrences)

Send (3254 Occurrences)

Secrete (1 Occurrence)

Stream (96 Occurrences)

Shine (62 Occurrences)

Stench (12 Occurrences)

Sound (1245 Occurrences)

Stink (11 Occurrences)

Sneeze

Sluice

Smoke (98 Occurrences)

Shed (73 Occurrences)

Shoot (51 Occurrences)

Spread (257 Occurrences)

Pass (1172 Occurrences)

Run (147 Occurrences)

Hurl (14 Occurrences)

Divination (25 Occurrences)

Emissaries
Top of Page
Top of Page