Did you know there are many Bible verses on cleanliness? The topic of cleanliness covers many areas of our lives – not just the parts covered with literal dirt!
Do you have a clean heart or mind? Are your motives clean?
Cleanliness in the Bible helps us to learn how to fully cleanse ourselves and get our entire life clean and right with God.
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Bible Verses About Cleanliness
From a biblical perspective, cleanliness includes getting not just our physical body clean, but also our hearts, our thoughts, our motives, and much more.
Isaiah 1:16
Wash and make yourselves clean.
Isaiah 1:16 NIV
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
This verse reminds us that cleanliness is about cleaning up our bad actions. When we are washed in the blood of Christ, we are to turn away from our old selves and leave behind the desire to do things that go against God.
Psalm 51:7
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:7 NIV
As a new creation in Christ, we are purified. All the stains of our past are removed just like the stains on a white towel might be removed after being washed.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Corinthians 7:1 NIV
This Bible verse about cleanliness helps us to understand that biblical cleanliness means ridding ourselves of anything that contaminates or makes us “dirty” in the eyes of God.
Ezekiel 36:25
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.
Ezekiel 36:25 NIV
Cleanliness from a biblical perspective means that we rid our minds and thoughts of anything that goes against God. Many of us are dirty from the idols here on earth that we prioritize. To be clean means to turn away from those things and put God first.
Matthew 23:26
Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
Matthew 23:26 NIV
This Bible verse about cleanliness is a great reminder that outward cleanliness isn’t equal to inward cleanliness. You can wash the outside of a coffee mug but if you don’t also wash the inside, the cup is still dirty.
As followers of Christ, sure – we can be baptized and outwardly portray a Godly image. But if we don’t cleanse our hearts and thoughts, we aren’t truly clean in God’s eyes.
Deuteronomy 23:12-14
Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. 13 As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement. 14 For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.
Deuteronomy 23:1-4 NIV
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 NIV
The confession of our sins enables us to truly cleanse our hearts. When we turn to God and outright ask for His forgiveness, this makes us clean.
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10 NIV
Biblical cleanliness is a cleansing of our entire self. It isn’t just about washing the literal dirt off our hands. It is about ridding our hearts and mind of anything unclean.
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Phillipians 4:8 NIV
James 4:17
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
James 4:17 NIV
Cleanliness of action is also an important part of biblical cleanliness. This Bible verse about cleanliness is telling us that we are not clean if we know we should do good and we choose not to do it.
John 7:24
Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”
John 7:24 NIV
God doesn’t judge us based on our outward appearance. We can have on the best clean clothes and present ourselves as followers of Christ. He doesn’t care about any of that.
God judges us based on the cleanliness of our hearts.
This is why meditating on these Bible verses about cleanliness is so important! The verses of scripture teach us the way to become clean in hearts and minds so that we can truly walk close with God!
