King James Bible Dictionary

The various forms of uncleanness according to the Mosaic law are enumerated in Leviticus 11-15; Numbers 19. The division of animals into clean and unclean was probably founded on the practice of sacrifice. It existed before the Flood (Genesis 7:2). The regulations regarding such animals are recorded in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14:1-21.

The Hebrews were prohibited from using as food certain animal substances, such as (1) blood; (2) the fat covering the intestines, termed the caul; (3) the fat on the intestines, called the mesentery; (4) the fat of the kidneys; and (5) the fat tail of certain sheep (Exodus 29:13, 22; Leviticus 3:4-9; 9:19; 17:10; 19:26).

The chief design of these regulations seems to have been to establish a system of regimen which would distinguish the Jews from all other nations. Regarding the design and the abolition of these regulations the reader will find all the details in Leviticus 20:24-26; Acts 10:9-16; 11:1-10; Hebrews 9:9-14.

CLEAN, adjective In a general sense, free from extraneous matter, or whatever is injurious or offensive; hence its signification depends on the nature and qualities of the substances to which it is applied.

1. Free from dirt, or other foul matter; as clean water; a clean cup; a clean floor.

2. Free from weeds or stones; as clean land; a clean garden or field.

3. Free from knots or branches; as clean timber. In America, clear is generally used.

4. Free from moral impurity; innocent.

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Job 14:4. Acts 18:6.

5. Free from ceremonial defilement. Leviticus 10:10; Numbers 19:9.

6. Free from guilt; sanctified; holy. John 13:10. Psalms 51:7.

7. That might be eaten by the Hebrews. Genesis 7:2; Genesis 8:20.

8. That might be used. Luke 11:39.

9. Free from a foul disease; cured of leprosy. 2 Kings 5:10. Math. 8.

10. Dextrous; adroit; not bungling; free from awkwardness; as a clean feat; a clean boxer.

11. Free from infection; as a clean ship. A clean bill of health is a certificate that a ship is clean or free from infection.

CLEAN, adverb

1. Quite; perfectly; wholly; entirely; fully; indicating separation or complete removal of every part. The people passed clean over Jordan. Joshua 3:17. Is his mercy clean gone forever? Psalms 77:8. This use of clean is not now elegant, and not used except in vulgar language.

2. Without miscarriage; dextrously.

Pope came off clean with Homer.

CLEAN, verb transitive To remove all foreign matter from; to separate from any thing whatever is extraneous to it, or whatever is foul, noxious, or offensive, as dirt or filth from the hands, body or clothes, foul matter from a vessel, weeds, shrubs and stones from a meadow; to purify. Thus, a house is cleaned by sweeping and washing; a field is cleaned by plowing and hoeing.

See Animals; Birds; Fish; Insects
Animals; Birds; Fish; Insects

Taught by frequent ablutions
Ablution; Purification

Regulation relating to, in camp
Deuteronomy 23:12-14

Figurative
Psalms 51:7; Psalms 51:10; Psalms 73:1; Proverbs 20:9; Isaiah 1:16; Ezekiel 36:25; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 1:5

CLEANLINESS, noun

1. Freedom from dirt, filth, or any foul, extraneous matter.

2. Neatness of person or dress; purity.

CLEANLY, adjective clenly. [from clean.]

1. Free rom dirt, filth, or any foul matter; neat; carefully avoiding filth.

2. Pure; free from mixture; innocent; as cleanly joys.

3. Cleansing; making clean; as cleanly powder.

4. Nice; artful; dextrous; adroit; as a cleanly play; a cleanly evasion.

CLEANLY, adverb In a clean manner; neatly; without filth.

CLEANNESS, noun

1. Freedom from dirt, filth, and foreign matter; neatness.

2. Freedom from infection or a foul disease.

3. Exactness; purity; justness; correctness; used of language or style; as, cleanness of expression.

4. Purity; innocence.

In scripture, cleanness of hands denotes innocence. cleanness of teeth denotes want of provisions. Amos 4:6.

CLEANSABLE, adjective That may be lleansed.

CLEANSE, verb transitive

1. To purify; to make clean; to remove filth, or foul matter of any kind, or by any process whateve, as by washing, rubbing, scouring, scraping, purging, ventilation, etc.; as, to cleanse the hands or face to cleanse a garment; to cleanse the bowels; to cleanse a ship; to cleanse an infected house.

2. To free from a foul or infectious disease; to heal. Leviticus 14:4, 8; Mark 1:42.

3. To free from ceremonial pollution, and consecrate to a holy use. Numbers 8:15; Ezek. 43:20.

4. To purify from guilt. 1 John 1:7.

5. To remove; as, to cleanse a crime.

CLEANSED, participle passive Purified; made clean; purged; healed.

CLEANSER, noun He or that which cleanses; in medicine, a detergent.

See Ablution
Ablution

CLEANSING, participle passive Purifying; making clean; purging; removing foul or noxious matter from; freeing from guilt.

CLEANSING, noun The act of purifying, or purging. Mark 1:44; Luke 5:14.

CLEAN-TIMBERED, adjective Well-proportioned.