Defile: Bible Verses about Defilement – The Bible has a great deal to say about defilement and its spiritual implications. According to the Old Testament, defilement is a serious sin that can bring both physical and spiritual consequences. In Leviticus, God commands the Israelites to be careful to not defile themselves and their land by engaging in immoral acts.
Defilement is also mentioned in the New Testament, where Jesus taught that it is not what we eat that defiles us, but what comes out of our hearts through our words and deeds. The Bible also speaks of defilement in terms of our relationships with others, teaching that we must guard against any form of defilement that could break our fellowship with God and one another. Ultimately, the Bible emphasizes that we are to remain pure and undefiled in the sight of God.
- Mark 7:15 – “There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.”
- James 3:8 – “But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
- Romans 1:28-29 – “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity.”
- Proverbs 4:23 – “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
- Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
- 1 John 3:15 – “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
- 1 Corinthians 5:11 – “But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.”
- Galatians 5:19-21 – “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
- Colossians 3:5-10 – “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
- Proverbs 4:14-15 – “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it; do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:22 – “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
- 1 Peter 4:3-4 – “For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.”
- Philippians 4:8 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
- Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”