ABLUTION

ABLU'TION, noun [Latin ablutio, from ab and luo or lavo to wash.]1. In a general sense, the act of washing; a cleansing or purification by water.2. Appropriately, the washing of the body as a preparation for religious duties, enjoined by Moses and still practiced in many countries.3. In chimistry, the purification of bodies by the affusion of a proper liquor, as water to dissolve salts.4. In medicine, the washing of the body externally as by baths; or internally, by diluting fluids.5. Pope has used ablution for the water used in cleansing.6. The cup given to the laity without consecration, in popish churches.

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Ablution. Ablution
Or washing, was practised, (1.) When a person was initiated into a higher state: e.g., when Aaron and his sons were set apart to the priest’s office, they were washed with water previous to their investiture with the priestly robes (Lev. 8:6).

(2.) Before the priests approached the altar of God, they were required, on pain of death, to wash their hands and their feet to cleanse them from the soil of common life (Ex. 30:17-21). To this practice the Psalmist alludes, Ps. 26:6.

(3.) There were washings prescribed for the purpose of cleansing from positive defilement contracted by particular acts. Of such washings eleven different species are prescribed in the Levitical law (Lev. 12-15).

(4.) A fourth class of ablutions is mentioned, by which a person purified or absolved himself from the guilt of some particular act. For example, the elders of the nearest village where some murder was committed were required, when the murderer was unknown, to wash their hands over the expiatory heifer which was beheaded, and in doing so to say, “Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it” (Deut. 21:1-9). So also Pilate declared himself innocent of the blood of Jesus by washing his hands (Matt. 27:24). This act of Pilate may not, however, have been borrowed from the custom of the Jews. The same practice was common among the Greeks and Romans.

The Pharisees carried the practice of ablution to great excess, thereby claiming extraordinary purity (Matt. 23:25). Mark (7:1-5) refers to the ceremonial ablutions. The Pharisees washed their hands “oft,” more correctly, “with the fist” (R.V., “diligently”), or as an old father, Theophylact, explains it, “up to the elbow.” (Compare also Mark 7:4; Lev. 6:28; 11: 32-36; 15:22) (See WASHING.)

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ABLUTION. → General scriptures concerning Ex 19:10,14; Mt 15:2; Mr 7:2-5,8,9; Lu 11:38; Heb 9:10 → Of priests Ex 29:4; 36:18-21; 40:12,31,32; Le 8:6; 16:4,24,26,28; Nu 19:7-10,19; 2Ch 4:6 → Of burnt offerings Le 1:9,13; 9:14; 2Ch 4:6 → Of the dead Ac 9:37 → Of infants Eze 16:4 → Of the face Mt 6:17 → Of the feet Ge 18:4; 19:2; 24:32; 43:24; Ex 30:19,21; 40:31; Jud 19:21; 2Sa 11:8; So 5:3; Lu 7:38,44; Joh 13:5 → Of the hands Ex 30:18-21; 40:30-32 → Of the hands, as a token of innocency De 21:6; Ps 26:6; Mt 27:24 → For defilement
* Of lepers Le 14:8,9
* Those having bloody issue Le 15:5-13
* Those having eaten that which died Le 17:15,16

→ Traditional forms of, not observed by Jesus Lu 11:38,39 → See PURIFICATION → See DEFILEMENT → FIGURATIVE Ps 51:2,7; 65:3; 73:13; 79:9; Pr 16:6; 20:9; Isa 1:16,18; 4:3,4; Da 12:10; Zec 13:1; Joh 13:8; Ac 22:16; 1Co 5:7; 6:11; 2Co 7:1; Eph 5:26; Tit 3:5,6; Heb 1:3; 9:14; 10:22; Jas 4:8; 2Pe 1:9; 1Jo 1:7,9; Re 1:5; 7:14; 22:14
* See REGENERATION

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[PURIFICATION]

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ablution. Ablution, n. the act of cleansing or washing

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Ab‐lu′tion (�), n. [[L. ablutio, fr. abluere: cf. F. ablution. See Abluent.]] 1. 1. The act of washing or cleansing; specifically, the washing of the body, or some part of it, as a religious rite.
2. 2. The water used in cleansing. “Cast the ablutions in the main.” Pope.
3. 3. (R. C. Ch.) A small quantity of wine and water, which is used to wash the priest's thumb and index finger after the communion, and which then, as perhaps containing portions of the consecrated elements, is drunk by the priest.