30 Bible Verses About Cleanliness

Cleanliness is often associated with physical hygiene, but in the Bible, it also carries spiritual significance. From Old Testament laws on purification to New Testament teachings on inner holiness, cleanliness is emphasized as a reflection of godliness. Here are 30 Bible verses about cleanliness that highlight its importance in both the physical and spiritual realms.

The Importance of Cleanliness in the Bible

Before going into specific verses, it’s essential to understand why cleanliness matters in Scripture. In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to observe purity laws, which not only helped maintain hygiene but also symbolized holiness. In the New Testament, cleanliness extends beyond physical purity to include moral and spiritual purity, emphasizing the need for a clean heart and righteous living.

Bible Verses About Physical Cleanliness

Leviticus 11:32 – “Anything on which one of them falls when they are dead will be unclean, whether it is an article of wood, clothing, skin, or sackcloth. Put it in water; it will be unclean till evening, and then it will be clean.”
Leviticus 14:8 – “The person to be cleansed must wash their clothes, shave off all their hair and bathe with water; then they will be ceremonially clean.”
Leviticus 15:13 – “When a man is cleansed from his discharge, he is to count off seven days for his ceremonial cleansing; he must wash his clothes and bathe himself with fresh water, and he will be clean.”
Numbers 19:12 – “They must purify themselves with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then they will be clean. But if they do not purify themselves on the third and seventh days, they will not be clean.”
Deuteronomy 23:14 – “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.”
2 Samuel 22:21 – “The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.”
Psalm 24:4 – “The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.”
Isaiah 1:16 – “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.”
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.”
Matthew 23:26 – “Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.”

Bible Verses About Spiritual Cleanliness

Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Proverbs 20:9 – “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin’?”
Isaiah 52:11 – “Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the articles of the Lord’s house.”
John 15:3 – “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”
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.”
Ephesians 5:26 – “To make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.”
James 4:8 – “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
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.”
Revelation 7:14 – “They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Revelation 22:14 – “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.”

Bible Verses About Keeping a Clean Heart and Mind

Psalm 119:9 – “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.”
Matthew 5:8 – “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Mark 7:15 – “Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”
Luke 11:39 – “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.’”
1 Corinthians 6:11 – “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
Hebrews 10:22 – “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
1 Peter 1:22 – “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.”
1 Peter 3:21 – “And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God.”
Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
2 Timothy 2:21 – “Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”

Conclusion

These Bible verses about cleanliness remind us that God values both physical hygiene and spiritual purity. Maintaining cleanliness in our daily lives is a reflection of our commitment to holiness. More importantly, true cleanliness begins in the heart, through faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to God’s word. May these verses inspire you to seek both outward and inward purity in your walk with God.