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Bible Dictionaries
Clean and Unclean
American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
or Terms often used in the Bible in a ceremonial sense; assigned to certain animals, and to men in certain cases, by the law of Moses, Leviticus 11:1-15:33 Numbers 19:1-22 Deuteronomy 14:1-29 . A distinction between clean and unclean animals existed before the deluge, Genesis 7:2 . The Mosaic law was not merely arbitrary, but grounded on reasons connected with animal sacrifices, with health, with the separation of the Jews from other nations, and their practice of moral purity, Leviticus 11:43-45 20:24-26 Deuteronomy 14:2,3,21 . The ritual law was still observed in the time of Christ, but under the gospel is annulled, Acts 10:9-16 .
Ceremonial uncleanness was contracted by the Jews in various ways, voluntarily and involuntarily. It was removed, usually at the evening of the same day, by bathing. In other cases a week, or even forty or fifty days, and some sacrificial offerings, were required.
These files are public domain and are a derivative of the topics are from American Tract Society Bible Dictionary published in 1859.
Rand, W. W. Entry for 'Clean and Unclean'. American Tract Society Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ats/c/clean-and-unclean.html. 1859.
