Bible Encyclopedia: Sprinkle

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

SPRINKLE; SPRINKLING

sprin'-k'-l, sprin'-kling (zaraq, nazah; rhantizein): The first word means "to toss" or "scatter abundantly," e.g. in handfuls, as dust on the head (Job 2:12) or blood from a bowl (Exodus 9:8). The other Hebrew word is used of sprinkling with the finger (Leviticus 14:7; Leviticus 16:14, etc.). In the account of Jezebel's death the word is used in its literal meaning of "spurt" (2 Kings 9:33).

Sprinkling (blood, water, oil) formed an important-if not the essential-part of the act of sacrifice. A consideration of the chief passages in the Old Testament will reveal the prominence and the significance of sprinkling as a feature of the sacrificial act. The significance of the sprinkling of blood is seen in the account of the establishment of the covenant between Yahweh and Israel (Exodus 24:6-8). Half the blood was sprinkled on the altar as representing the Deity, while the remainder was put into a basin and then sprinkled on the people. This ceremony is a survival in a modified form of the communal meal in which the tribal god and his worshippers sat together and participated in the same food, and in this way came to possess the same life. The two-fold sprinkling of blood resulted in the establishment of an inviolable bond (Numbers 18:17 2 Kings 16:15). In the account of the consecration of Aaron and his sons (Exodus 29:16, 20, 21) the blood of the ram of the burnt offering was sprinkled on the altar, while the blood of the ram of consecration was put on the altar and sprinkled on Aaron and his sons and on their garments. Water of purifying was sprinkled on the Levites at their ordination (Numbers 8:7). Leviticus gives detailed information in regard to sacrificial sprinkling. In the case of burnt offering the blood was sprinkled round about upon the altar (Leviticus 1:5, 11). The same practice obtained in the case of peace offerings, whether ox, lamb or goat (Leviticus 3:2, 8, 13). When a sin offering for sins inadvertently committed was made, the priest dipped his fingers in the blood and sprinkled it seven times before Yahweh, before the veil of the Holy Place (Leviticus 4:6). Elsewhere (Leviticus 16:11, 15) we read that Aaron took the blood of the sin offering and sprinkled it with his finger upon the mercy-seat, eastward, 7 times (see also Numbers 19:4). Sprinkling constituted part of the process of purification. But it is obvious that the sprinkling, even in this case, was a religious act, and not part of the actual physical cleaning. A simple kind of sprinkler was made by fastening a bunch of hyssop to a cedar rod by a piece of scarlet thread or wool and then the patient was besprinkled 7 times (Leviticus 14:7), while oil was sprinkled with the finger, also 7 times, before Yahweh (Leviticus 14:16; see also Exodus 12:22 Numbers 19:18 Psalm 51:7). The house in which the leper lived was disinfected in the same thorough manner (Leviticus 14:51).

In the case of persons who had contracted uncleanness through contact with a corpse, sprinkling with the "water of separation" was part of the process of cleansing. The water of separation consisted of the ashes of a red heifer (slain for the purpose) mixed with running water (Numbers 19). A sprinkler was used as in the case of the leper (Numbers 19:18). The final sprinkling-on the 7th day-was followed by a bath (Numbers 19:19). The "tent" in which the corpse lay, together with all the contents, were thoroughly disinfected.

See HEIFER, RED.

According to Exodus (9:8, 10) the plague of "boils and blains" was caused through the sprinkling of ashes ("soot" the Revised Version margin) in the air toward heaven, which settled on man and beast and produced the eruption. The narrative gives no clue in reference to the connection between the ashes and the eruption, but the religious character of the act is obvious. By means of it, the assistance of the Deity was invoked. According to primitive thought, there was no necessary connection between the religious act and the consummation devoutly wished for. The purpose of the religious observance was to influence, or bring pressure to bear upon, the Deity so that He might exert Himself on behalf of the worshipper. It is evident that sprinkling as part of the act of worship was believed to be religiously effectual. It was not symbolical nor morally significant. It was a religious act. It is not denied that in some passages sprinkling is symbolical. According to Ezekiel (36:25) the restored community will experience moral and spiritual renewal. There will be a "new heart" and a "new spirit." The sprinkling with clean water is the outward symbol of the inward lustration. In Isaiah 63:3 the sacrificial allusion is obvious. The conqueror who strides triumphantly from Bozrah is "besprinkled" with the life-blood (or juice) of his victims. In Isaiah 52:15 "sprinkle" is a doubtful rendering. There is no apparent connection between bodily disfigurement and national purification. the Revised Version margin renders "startle" (literally, "cause to spring"). The exalted dignity of the "martyr" will excite the wonder of kings and peoples.

In 1 Peter 1:2, "sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" is used figuratively of its cleansing efficacy (compare Hebrews 9:13, 14; Hebrews 10:22).

T. Lewis

Greek

4472. rhantizo -- to sprinkle
... to sprinkle. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: rhantizo Phonetic Spelling:
(hran-tid'-zo) Short Definition: I sprinkle Definition: I sprinkle, cleanse ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4472.htm - 6k

233. halizo -- to salt
... to salt. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: halizo Phonetic Spelling:
(hal-id'-zo) Short Definition: I salt, sprinkle with salt, keep fresh and sound ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/233.htm - 6k

907. baptizo -- to dip, sink
... 907 -- properly, "submerge" (Souter); hence, , to immerse (literally, "dip "). 907 ()
implies submersion ("immersion"), in contrast to 472 ("sprinkle"). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/907.htm - 9k

Strong's Hebrew

5137a. nazah -- to spurt, spatter, sprinkle
... 5137, 5137a. nazah. 5137b . to spurt, spatter, sprinkle. Transliteration:
nazah Short Definition: sprinkle. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5137a.htm - 5k

5137. nazah -- to spurt, spatter, sprinkle
... 5136, 5137. nazah. 5137a . to spurt, spatter, sprinkle. Transliteration: nazah
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-zaw') Short Definition: sprinkle. sprinkle ...
/hebrew/5137.htm - 5k

2236. zaraq -- be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew
... 2235b, 2236. zaraq. 2236a . be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew.
Transliteration: zaraq Phonetic Spelling: (zaw-rak') Short Definition: scatter. ...
/hebrew/2236.htm - 5k

3150. Yizziyyah -- "may Yah sprinkle," an Israelite
... 3149, 3150. Yizziyyah. 3151 . "may Yah sprinkle," an Israelite. Transliteration:
Yizziyyah Phonetic Spelling: (yiz-zee-yaw') Short Definition: Izziah. ...
/hebrew/3150.htm - 6k

5130. nuph -- to move to and fro, wave, sprinkle
... 5129, 5130. nuph. 5131 . to move to and fro, wave, sprinkle. Transliteration:
nuph Phonetic Spelling: (noof) Short Definition: wave. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5130.htm - 6k

2236a. zaraph -- be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew
... zaraph. 2236b . be here and there, scatter, sprinkle, strew. Transliteration:
zaraph Short Definition: scatter. Word Origin another reading for zarziph, qv. ...
/hebrew/2236a.htm - 5k

5137b. nazah -- nazah
... 5137a, 5137b. nazah. 5138 . nazah. Transliteration: nazah Short Definition:
sprinkle. Word Origin see nazah. 5137a, 5137b. nazah. 5138 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/5137b.htm - 5k

3149. Yezivel -- one of David's heroes
... Jeziel. From an unused root (meaning to sprinkle) and 'el; sprinkled of God; Jezavel,
an Israelite -- Jeziel (from the margin). see HEBREW 'el. 3148, 3149. ...
/hebrew/3149.htm - 6k

2236b. zaraq -- to toss or throw, scatter abundantly
... root Definition to toss or throw, scatter abundantly NASB Word Usage scatter (2),
scattered (1), sprinkle (13), sprinkled (15), sprinkles (1), threw (2), throw ...
/hebrew/2236b.htm - 5k

Library

Savior, Sprinkle Many Nations
... V. THE CHURCH Missions 478. Savior, sprinkle many nations. 8.7.8.7.D. ... Arthur Cleveland
Coxe, 1851. Savior, sprinkle many nations; Fruitful let thy sorrows be; ...
/.../missions 478 savior sprinkle many.htm

The Day of Atonement
... And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon
the mercy-seat eastward; and before the mercy-seat shall he sprinkle of the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the day of atonement.htm

The Red Heifer a Type of Christ.
... take the ashes, and put these into vessels, and bind round a stick [1542] purple
wool along with hyssop, and that thus the boys should sprinkle the people, one ...
/.../barnabas/the epistle of barnabas /chapter viii the red heifer a.htm

The Manner of Our Offering Sacrifices.
... When they are slain, the priests sprinkle the blood round about the altar; they
then cleanse the bodies, and divide them into parts, and salt them with salt ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 the manner of.htm

High Priest
... They were to receive the blood of the burnt-offerings in basins and sprinkle it
around about the altar, arrange the wood and the fire, and to burn the parts of ...
/.../conversion of a high priest into a christian worker/chapter iv high priest.htm

Ephesians iv. 31
... As bees [353] will never settle down in an unclean vessel,"and this is the reason
why those who are skilled in these matters sprinkle the spot with perfumes ...
/.../homily xv ephesians iv 31.htm

"Now the End of the Commandment," &C.
... Jesus Christ came both by water and blood, 1 John 5:6. He came by blood, to sprinkle
and purge the conscience, that it might have no more conscience of sins ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xiii now the end.htm

How to Make Use of Christ for Cleansing of us from Our Daily Spots ...
... Jeremiah 35:8, "And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have
sinned against me." Ezekiel 36:25, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter ix how to make.htm

The Law.
... Then said the Interpreter to a damsel that stood by, "Bring hither water and sprinkle
the room;" the which, when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/v the law.htm

Law and Grace
... Then said Interpreter to a damsel that stood by, Bring hither water, and sprinkle
the room'; the which when she had done, it was swept and cleansed with ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/law and grace.htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. i.) To scatter in small drops or particles, as water, seed, etc.

2. (v. i.) To scatter on; to disperse something over in small drops or particles; to besprinkle; as, to sprinkle the earth with water; to sprinkle a floor with sand.

3. (v. i.) To baptize by the application of a few drops, or a small quantity, of water; hence, to cleanse; to purify.

4. (v. i.) To scatter a liquid, or any fine substance, so that it may fall in particles.

5. (v. i.) To rain moderately, or with scattered drops falling now and then; as, it sprinkles.

6. (v. i.) To fly or be scattered in small drops or particles.

7. (n.) A small quantity scattered, or sparsely distributed; a sprinkling.

8. (n.) A utensil for sprinkling; a sprinkler.

Thesaurus

Sprinkle (37 Occurrences)
... 2. (vi) To scatter on; to disperse something over in small drops or particles; to
besprinkle; as, to sprinkle the earth with water; to sprinkle a floor with ...
/s/sprinkle.htm - 26k

Dip (17 Occurrences)
... Priests when offering a sin offering were required to dip a finger into the blood
of the sacrificed bullock and "to sprinkle of the blood seven times before ...
/d/dip.htm - 14k

Slaughter (121 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:16 and thou shalt slaughter the ram, and shalt take its blood, and
sprinkle it on the altar round about. (DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/s/slaughter.htm - 40k

Dash (30 Occurrences)
... NIV). Exodus 29:16 And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take its blood,
and sprinkle it round about upon the altar. (See JPS). ...
/d/dash.htm - 19k

Interpretation (45 Occurrences)
... true text. The use of rhantizo ("sprinkle") is due to the difficulty felt
by copyists not familiar with Jewish customs. See also ...
/i/interpretation.htm - 57k

Finger (35 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 4:6 The priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of
the blood seven times before Yahweh, before the veil of the sanctuary. ...
/f/finger.htm - 22k

Powder (14 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) To sprinkle with powder, or as with powder; to be sprinkle; as, to powder
the hair. 5. (vt) To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat. ...
/p/powder.htm - 12k

Sides (170 Occurrences)
... Aaron's sons, the priests, shall present the blood and sprinkle the blood around
on the altar that is at the door of the Tent of Meeting. (See NIV). ...
/s/sides.htm - 38k

Aaron's (53 Occurrences)
... Aaron's sons, the priests, shall present the blood and sprinkle the blood around
on the altar that is at the door of the Tent of Meeting. ...
/a/aaron's.htm - 25k

Throw (135 Occurrences)
... Exodus 9:8 And Jehovah said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes
of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward heaven in the sight of ...
/t/throw.htm - 38k

Bible Concordance

Sprinkle (37 Occurrences)

Hebrews 9:19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 9:21 Moreover he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in like manner with the blood.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 9:8 Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron, "Take to you handfuls of ashes of the furnace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Exodus 29:16 You shall kill the ram, and you shall take its blood, and sprinkle it around on the altar.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Exodus 29:20 Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood, and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood around on the altar.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Exodus 29:21 You shall take of the blood that is on the altar, and of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it on Aaron, and on his garments, and on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him: and he shall be made holy, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 1:5 He shall kill the bull before Yahweh. Aaron's sons, the priests, shall present the blood and sprinkle the blood around on the altar that is at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Leviticus 1:11 He shall kill it on the north side of the altar before Yahweh. Aaron's sons, the priests, shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Leviticus 3:2 He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the Tent of Meeting: and Aaron's sons, the priests shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Leviticus 3:8 and he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting: and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Leviticus 3:13 and he shall lay his hand on its head, and kill it before the Tent of Meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood around on the altar.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Leviticus 4:6 The priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before Yahweh, before the veil of the sanctuary.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 4:17 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before Yahweh, before the veil.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 5:9 He shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 7:2 In the place where they kill the burnt offering, he shall kill the trespass offering; and its blood he shall sprinkle around on the altar.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Leviticus 14:7 He shall sprinkle on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird go into the open field.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 14:16 The priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 14:27 and the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 14:51 He shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 16:14 He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 16:15 "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Leviticus 16:19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 17:6 The priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of Yahweh at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and burn the fat for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 8:7 You shall do this to them, to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of cleansing on them, let them shave their whole bodies with a razor, and let them wash their clothes, and cleanse themselves.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 18:17 "But you shall not redeem the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat. They are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar, and shall burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 19:4 and Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle her blood toward the front of the Tent of Meeting seven times.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 19:18 and a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, and on all the vessels, and on the persons who were there, and on him who touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 19:19 and the clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify him; and he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 29:22 So they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood, and sprinkled it on the altar: and they killed the rams, and sprinkled the blood on the altar: they killed also the lambs, and sprinkled the blood on the altar.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

2 Chronicles 35:11 They killed the Passover, and the priests sprinkled the blood which they received of their hand, and the Levites flayed them.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 2:12 When they lifted up their eyes from a distance, and didn't recognize him, they raised their voices, and wept; and they each tore his robe, and sprinkled dust on their heads toward the sky.
(Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV)

Isaiah 28:25 Hath he not, if he have made level its face, Then scattered fitches, and cummin sprinkle, And hath placed the principal wheat, And the appointed barley, And the rie 'in' its own border?
(YLT)

Isaiah 52:15 so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they understand.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 27:30 and shall cause their voice to be heard over you, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust on their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes:
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 36:25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 43:18 He said to me, Son of man, thus says the Lord Yahweh: These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Ezekiel 43:24 You shall bring them near to Yahweh, and the priests shall cast salt on them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering to Yahweh.
(See RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Sprinkle

Related Terms

Dip (17 Occurrences)

Slaughter (121 Occurrences)

Dash (30 Occurrences)

Interpretation (45 Occurrences)

Finger (35 Occurrences)

Powder (14 Occurrences)

Sides (170 Occurrences)

Aaron's (53 Occurrences)

Throw (135 Occurrences)