The term “clean” generally refers either to removing dirt or stains from someone/something or to not having any dirt or stain in the first place. The term “wash” refers specifically to action of removing dirt or stains from someone/something.
* “Cleanse” is the process of making something “clean.” It could also be translated as “wash” or “purify.”
* In the Old Testament, God told the Israelites which animals he had specified as ritually “clean” and which ones were “unclean.” Only the clean animals were permitted to be used for eating or for sacrifice. In this context, the term “clean” means that the animal was acceptable to God for use as a sacrifice.
* A person who had certain skin diseases would be unclean until the skin was healed enough to no longer be contagious. Instructions for cleansing the skin had to be obeyed in order for that person to be declared “clean” again.
* God gave the Israelites instructions about which animals were “clean” and which ones were “unclean.” The unclean animals were not permitted to be used for eating or for sacrifice.
* People with certain skin diseases were said to be “unclean” until they were healed.
* If the Israelites touched something “unclean,” they themselves would be considered unclean for a certain period of time.
* Obeying God’s commands about not touching or eating unclean things kept the Israelites set apart for God’s service.
* This physical and ritual uncleanness was also symbolic of moral uncleanness.
* The translation of this term should allow for spiritual uncleanness. It should be able to refer to anything that God declared as unfit for touching, eating, or sacrifice.