Editing Ablution in Christianity (section)

== Ablution in the Bible ==
[[Image:Lavabo2.jpg|thumb|A 14th-century [[lavabo]] as a [[niche (architecture)|niche]] recessed into the side wall of a sanctuary in [[Amblie]], [[Normandy]]]]
The [[Bible]] has many rituals of purification relating to [[menstruation]], [[childbirth]], [[religion and sexuality|sexual relations]], [[keri|nocturnal emission]], [[Zav|unusual bodily fluids]], [[Tzaraath|skin disease]], [[death]], and [[korban|animal sacrifice]]s. In the [[Old Testament]], ablution was considered a prerequisite to approaching God, whether by means of sacrifice, prayer, or entering a holy place.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

The Bible includes various regulations about [[bathing]]:
:And whoever he that hath issue (a ''[[zav]]'', ejaculant with an unusual discharge) touches without having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.({{bibleverse||Leviticus|15:11|}})
A subsequent seven clean days are then required, culminating in a ritual and temple offering before the ''zav'' is clean of his malady:
:Now in case the one having a running discharge would become clean from his running discharge, he must then count for himself seven days for his purification, and he must wash his garments and bathe his flesh in running water; and he must be clean. And on the eighth day he should take for himself two turtledoves or two young pigeons, and he must come to the entrance of the tent of meeting and give them to the priest.({{bibleverse||Leviticus|15:13–14|}})

And also references to hand-washing:
:I will wash my hands in innocence; so will I compass Thine altar, O LORD ({{bibleverse||Psalms|26:6|}})
[[Image:Fuente de Poblet 2.jpg|thumb|[[Lavabo]] in the [[Poblet Monastery]] in [[Spain]]]]
The [[Mikveh]] in the [[Bible]] is a [[bathing|bath]] used for the purpose of ritual immersion. The word is employed in its broader sense but generally means a collection of water.<ref name="Jewish Encyclopedia">{{Cite Jewish Encyclopedia|title=MIḲWEH|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/10827-mikweh|first1=Cyrus|last1=Adler|author-link1=Cyrus Adler|first2=Julius H.|last2=Greenstone|volume=8|page=588|access-date=Feb 23, 2016}}</ref> Several biblical regulations specify that full immersion in water is required to regain [[ritual impurity|ritual purity]] after ritually impure incidents have occurred.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.religiousrules.com/Judaismpurity02general.htm|title=Laws of Religion, Judaism and Islam|website=www.religiousrules.com}}</ref> A person was required to be ritually pure in order to enter the Temple. In this context, "purity" and "impurity" are imperfect translations of the Hebrew [[Tumah and taharah|"tahara" and "tumah"]], respectively, in that the negative connotation of the word impurity is not intended; rather being "impure" is indicative of being in a state in which certain things are prohibited until one has become "pure" again by immersion in a mikveh.

After the [[destruction of the Temple]], the mikveh's main uses remained as follows:
* by women to achieve [[Niddah|ritual purity after menstruation or childbirth]] before she and her husband may resume marital relations;
* by men to achieve ritual purity;
* to immerse newly acquired utensils used in serving and eating food.