defile, defiled, desecrate

Definition

The terms “defile” and “be defiled” refer to becoming polluted or dirty. Something can be defiled in a physical, moral, or ritual sense.

• God warned the Israelites to not defile themselves by eating or touching things that he had declared as “unclean” and “unholy.”
• Certain things such as dead bodies and contagious diseases were declared by God to be unclean and would defile a person if they touched them.
• God commanded the Israelites to avoid sexual sins. These would defile them and make them unacceptable to God.
• There were also certain kinds of bodily processes that defiled a person temporarily until he could become ritually pure again.
• In the New Testament, Jesus taught that sinful thoughts and actions are what truly defile a person.

Translation Suggestions

• The term “defile” can also be translated as “cause to be unclean” or “cause to be unrighteous” or “cause to be ritually unacceptable.”
• To “be defiled” could be translated as “become unclean” or “be caused to be morally unacceptable (to God)” or “become ritually unacceptable.”

(See also: profane, clean)

Bible References

• 2 Kings 23:8
• Exodus 20:24-26
• Genesis 34:27
• Genesis 49:4
• Isaiah 43:27-28
• Leviticus 11:43-45
• Mark 7:14-16
• Matthew 15:10

Word Data

• Strong’s: H1351, H1352, H1602, H2490, H2491, H2610, H2930, H2931, G28390, G28400, G33920, G34350