Pollution, in a biblical context, refers to the defilement or corruption of the natural world, human society, or spiritual purity. The concept of pollution is addressed in various forms throughout the Scriptures, often highlighting the consequences of sin and the importance of maintaining purity in accordance with God's commandments.

Environmental Pollution

While the Bible does not explicitly mention modern environmental pollution, it emphasizes the stewardship of God's creation. Genesis 1:28 states, "God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.'" This mandate implies a responsibility to care for the earth, suggesting that pollution, as a form of neglect or harm to creation, is contrary to God's will.

The Old Testament laws also reflect a concern for the land and its health. Leviticus 25:4 commands, "But in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for the land—a Sabbath to the LORD. You are not to sow your field or prune your vineyard." This sabbatical year for the land indicates an early understanding of sustainable practices and the importance of allowing the earth to rejuvenate.

Moral and Spiritual Pollution

The Bible frequently addresses the concept of moral and spiritual pollution, often equating it with sin and idolatry. In the New Testament, James 1:27 defines pure religion as "to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." Here, pollution is associated with the moral corruption that comes from worldly influences, urging believers to maintain spiritual purity.

In the Old Testament, idolatry is a significant form of spiritual pollution. Ezekiel 20:7 recounts God's command to the Israelites: "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.'" The worship of idols is seen as a defilement that separates the people from God, illustrating the severe consequences of spiritual pollution.

Social and Communal Pollution

The Bible also addresses social pollution, which can manifest through injustice, oppression, and the breakdown of community values. Isaiah 1:16-17 calls for repentance and social justice: "Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil! Learn to do right; seek justice and correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow." This passage highlights the need for societal purity through righteous actions and justice.

In the New Testament, Jesus emphasizes the importance of internal purity over external rituals. In Mark 7:20-23 , He states, "What comes out of a man, that is what defiles him. For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man." This teaching underscores the idea that true pollution is rooted in the heart and manifests in actions that harm oneself and others.

Conclusion

The biblical perspective on pollution encompasses environmental, moral, spiritual, and social dimensions. It calls for a holistic approach to purity and stewardship, urging believers to honor God through the care of creation, the pursuit of righteousness, and the maintenance of spiritual and communal integrity.1. (n.) The act of polluting, or the state of being polluted (in any sense of the verb); defilement; uncleanness; impurity.

2. (n.) The emission of semen, or sperm, at other times than in sexual intercourse.

POLLUTION

po-lu'-shun (ga'al, "to pollute"; alisgema, "contamination"): In Malachi 1:7, "Ye offer polluted bread," i.e. not actually unclean, but worthless, common (compare Ezra 2:62), bread here being used metonymically for sacrificial offerings generally (compare Leviticus 21:6 Matthew 6:11). The phrase in Acts 15:20, "the pollutions of idols," is explained in 15:29 by "things sacrificed (the King James Version "meats offered") to idols."

234. alisgema -- pollution
... pollution. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: alisgema Phonetic Spelling:
(al-is'-ghem-ah) Short Definition: pollution, perhaps a polluted thing ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/234.htm - 6k

3393. miasma -- a stain, defilement
... a stain, defilement. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: miasma Phonetic
Spelling: (mee'-as-mah) Short Definition: pollution, defilement Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3393.htm - 6k

3394. miasmos -- the act of defiling
... defiling. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: miasmos Phonetic Spelling:
(mee-as-mos') Short Definition: the act of pollution, defilement Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3394.htm - 6k

4507. rhuparia -- to make filthy
... make filthy. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: rhuparia Phonetic Spelling:
(hroo-par-ee'-ah) Short Definition: filth, pollution Definition: filth ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4507.htm - 6k

3436. molusmos -- defilement
... of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: molusmos Phonetic Spelling:
(mol-oos-mos') Short Definition: staining, defilement, pollution Definition: staining ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3436.htm - 6k

2613. chanuppah -- profaneness, pollution
... 2612, 2613. chanuppah. 2614 . profaneness, pollution. Transliteration: chanuppah
Phonetic Spelling: (khan-oo-faw') Short Definition: pollution. ...
/hebrew/2613.htm - 6k

6675. tsoah -- filth
... dung, filthiness. Or tsovah {tso-aw'}: feminine of tsow'; excrement; generally,
dirt; figuratively, pollution -- dung, filth(-iness). Marg. For chere'. ...
/hebrew/6675.htm - 6k

Whether Nocturnal Pollution is a Mortal Sin?
... OF THE PARTS OF LUST (TWELVE ARTICLES) Whether nocturnal pollution is a mortal sin?
Objection 1: It would seem that nocturnal pollution is a sin. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether nocturnal pollution is a.htm

And what Pollution or Abomination could have Flowed from This...
... Book VII. 42 And what pollution or abomination could have flowed from
this? [4973] And what pollution or abomination could have ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/42 and what pollution or.htm

But Perhaps this Foul Pollution May be Less Apparent in the Rest. ...
... Book IV. 21 But perhaps this foul pollution may be less apparent in the rest.? But
perhaps this foul pollution may be less apparent in the rest. ...
/.../the seven books of arnobius against the heathen/21 but perhaps this foul.htm

Whether it is Reasonable in the Platonists to Determine that the ...
... the gods; and therefore the demons are appointed to mediate and carry men's utterances
to the gods, who keep themselves remote through fear of pollution? ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 16 whether it is reasonable.htm

Entire Sanctification in Prophecy.
... Such a vision turns us towards our inner selves, and enables us to behold by contrast
the darkness and sinfulness and pollution of our own souls, and in such a ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter v entire sanctification in.htm

Therefore, if we Compare the Things Themselves, we May no Way ...
... in it there hath taken place through carnal intercourse aught which exceeds necessity
of begetting, although in a way that deserves pardon, there is pollution. ...
/.../augustine/on the good of marriage/section 28 therefore if we.htm

1 Cor. x. 25
... For His grace is so great, as to render my soul unstained and above all
pollution. For as the sun sending down his beams upon many ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxv 1 cor x.htm

On the Holy Martyr, S. Babylas.
... For the dead, he says, are a pollution. The dead are not a pollution, a most
wicked demon, but a wicked intention is an abomination. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chrysostom/on the priesthood/on the holy martyr s.htm

Christian Stewardship.
... to destroy"a veil of superstition forty centuries thick to rend"a horrible darkness
to dispel"hearts of stone to break"a gulf of pollution to purify ...
/.../dibble/thoughts on missions/chapter ii christian stewardship.htm

Baptism.
... "None," says he, "is free from pollution, though his life upon the earth be but
the length of one day, and for this reason even infants are baptized, because ...
//christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter ii baptism.htm

Pollution (5 Occurrences)
... intercourse. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. POLLUTION. po-lu ... idols.".
Multi-Version Concordance Pollution (5 Occurrences). Acts 15 ...
/p/pollution.htm - 8k

Innocent (97 Occurrences)
... In all the other places the Hebrew is niqqayon, and the innocence expressed is the
absence of pollution, Hosea having reference to the pollution of idolatry ...
/i/innocent.htm - 37k

Innocence (10 Occurrences)
... In all the other places the Hebrew is niqqayon, and the innocence expressed is the
absence of pollution, Hosea having reference to the pollution of idolatry ...
/i/innocence.htm - 12k

Innocency (5 Occurrences)
... In all the other places the Hebrew is niqqayon, and the innocence expressed is the
absence of pollution, Hosea having reference to the pollution of idolatry ...
/i/innocency.htm - 10k

Polluting (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Pollute. 2. (a.) Adapted or tending to pollute; causing
defilement or pollution. Multi-Version Concordance Polluting (8 Occurrences). ...
/p/polluting.htm - 9k

Godless (31 Occurrences)
... 10:6 Psalm 35:16 this same Hebrew word chaneph is translated "profane." The principal
idea lying at the root of the word is that of pollution and profanity; a ...
/g/godless.htm - 16k

Purification (25 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The act or operation of cleansing ceremonially, by removing any
pollution or defilement. 3. (n.) A cleansing from guilt ...
/p/purification.htm - 18k

Abomination (78 Occurrences)
... Anything hateful, wicked, or shamefully vile; a detestable behavior; an object or
state that excites disgust and hatred; a hateful or shameful vice; pollution. ...
/a/abomination.htm - 55k

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

Unchastity (5 Occurrences)
... Acts 15:20 but that we write to them that they abstain from the pollution of idols,
from sexual immorality, from what is strangled, and from blood. (See RSV). ...
/u/unchastity.htm - 8k

What does the Bible say about corruption? | GotQuestions.org

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What does the Bible say about purity? | GotQuestions.org

Pollution: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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