The themes of blood and water flow throughout Scripture, offering profound symbolism for God’s plan of forgiveness, purification, justification, and sanctification. From the Tabernacle rituals of the Old Testament to the teachings of the New Testament, these elements illuminate the fullness of salvation and the believer’s journey toward holiness. This essay explores these themes in depth, connecting biblical insights and symbolism to the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
Words: 1828 / Time to read: 10 minutes
Blood and Water in the Tabernacle
The Tabernacle served as the central place of worship for ancient Israel, symbolizing God’s presence among His people. Within its design and rituals, the elements of blood and water played distinct and vital roles, reflecting God’s provision for both forgiveness and purification.
- The Altar of Sacrifice: At the entrance of the Tabernacle stood the altar of burnt offering, where animal sacrifices were made to atone for sin. Blood from these sacrifices represented life given to pay the penalty for sin, as emphasized in Leviticus 17:11: “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” This prefigured Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, whose blood brought perfect and eternal atonement (Hebrews 9:12-14).
- The Bronze Basin: Between the altar and the Tabernacle entrance was the bronze basin, where priests washed their hands and feet before performing their duties. This ritual washing symbolized purification and readiness to approach God. God warned that failure to wash would result in death (Exodus 30:20-21), underscoring the holiness required to serve Him and foreshadowing the ongoing spiritual cleansing believers need in their daily walk.
Together, the altar and the basin captured the dual aspects of salvation: the blood for forgiveness and the water for purification. These elements reveal the complete work of salvation—justification and sanctification—fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
The Priesthood and Cleansing Rituals
The priesthood in ancient Israel provides further insight into the symbolism of blood and water. Priests were chosen from the tribe of Levi, and their duties required them to uphold a high standard of ceremonial purity.
- Whole-Body Cleansing at Consecration: When priests were consecrated, they underwent a one-time, full-body washing (Exodus 29:4; Leviticus 8:6), symbolizing their complete purification and dedication to God. This parallels the believer’s justification at salvation, when they are made clean through faith in Christ (Titus 3:5).
- Daily Washing for Service: After their consecration, priests washed their hands and feet at the bronze basin whenever they served in the Tabernacle. This ongoing cleansing represented the need for daily sanctification to maintain purity in service to God (Exodus 30:19-21). Jesus echoed this principle in John 13:10 when He washed His disciples’ feet, saying, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean.”
- Purification of Sacrificial Animals: Sacrificial animals had to be “without blemish” (Leviticus 1:3; Exodus 12:5) to symbolize purity. These animals likely underwent physical cleansing before sacrifice, further emphasizing the necessity of purity in approaching God. This imagery foreshadowed Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God (1 Peter 1:19), whose perfect sacrifice fulfilled the requirements of atonement.
The priestly rituals and the requirements for sacrifices reveal God’s standard of holiness and the dual necessity of forgiveness and purification in approaching Him.
Baptism: Symbol of Death, Resurrection, and Purity
The New Testament expands the symbolism of blood and water through the practice of baptism, a sacred ordinance instituted by Christ. Baptism portrays the believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Paul explains this vividly in Romans 6:4: “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
The act of immersion in water signifies burial with Christ, symbolizing the cleansing from sin accomplished by His shed blood. Rising from the water reflects resurrection to new life, a picture of spiritual rebirth and purity akin to a newborn child (John 3:5). This outward act testifies to the inward reality of salvation, where the believer is justified and set apart as holy.
The connection of baptism to purification aligns with the priestly washings in the Tabernacle, as both signify preparation for God’s presence. Baptism further foreshadows the final cleansing and eternal fellowship believers will experience in the New Jerusalem.
Blood and Water Fulfilled in Christ
The symbolism of blood and water finds its ultimate fulfillment in the life and death of Jesus Christ.
- The Cross and Blood: Jesus’ blood, shed on the cross, secured the forgiveness of sins and justified believers before God. Hebrews 9:22 reminds us, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” His blood cleanses from all sin and makes us righteous before the Father (1 John 1:7; Romans 5:9).
- The Cross and Water: When a soldier pierced Jesus’ side after His death, both blood and water flowed out (John 19:34). This miraculous event symbolizes the completeness of His work: blood for atonement and water for purification. It also reflects His promise in John 7:38: “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
Washing with the Water of the Word
The New Testament often connects water with the Word of God, highlighting its role in the believer’s sanctification.
- Sanctification Through the Word: Paul writes in Ephesians 5:25-26 that Christ loved the church and “gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word.” The Word of God acts as a cleansing agent, revealing sin, guiding believers, and aligning them with God’s will.
- Spiritual Renewal: Jesus prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” The continual immersion in Scripture renews the mind and transforms the believer into Christ’s likeness.
This washing with the Word parallels the priests’ daily washing at the bronze basin, underscoring the believer’s need for regular spiritual renewal.
The symbolism of blood and water calls believers to embrace the fullness of salvation. Just as the priests served with hands and feet cleansed at the basin, Christians are called to live in daily renewal, confessing sins and relying on the Spirit for sanctification. Justification through the blood of Christ secures our relationship with God, but it is through the ongoing work of sanctification that we grow in holiness and reflect His glory.
During the Last Supper, Christ instituted the practice of communion, symbolizing His body given and His blood shed for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 22:19-20). Before this, He performed the act of washing His disciples’ feet, a profound demonstration of humility and cleansing. Jesus explained that while His followers were “clean” (justified through belief in Him), they still needed their feet washed—symbolizing the ongoing confession and cleansing from sin necessary for fellowship with God (John 13:10). This connection between communion and footwashing emphasizes the dual themes of justification through Christ’s sacrifice and the continual pursuit of purity and holiness through confession and sanctification, inviting participants in communion to examine their hearts and walk in renewed fellowship with God (1 Corinthians 11:28-31).
This truth challenges modern Christianity to prioritize spiritual integrity over external structures. Rather than focusing on large-scale ministries and operations, believers can embody the purity and simplicity of Christ’s message by living as light in their communities. As Paul urged in Philippians 2:15, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”
Perfection in the New Jerusalem
The themes of blood and water find their culmination in the New Jerusalem, where the redeemed live in perfect fellowship with God. In this eternal city, the purity of the bride, the church, is emphasized. Revelation describes the church as “prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Revelation 21:2) and adorned in righteousness through the blood of Christ.
The water of life flows freely in the New Jerusalem, symbolizing the eternal refreshment and purity believers will enjoy. Revelation 22:1 describes this scene: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” This imagery ties back to the cleansing water of baptism and the sanctifying work of the Word, bringing God’s redemptive plan full circle.
Other Biblical Types of Blood and Water
Throughout Scripture, blood and water repeatedly symbolize forgiveness and purification. Additional examples include:
- Noah and the Flood: The floodwaters symbolize judgment and cleansing, prefiguring baptism and the new beginning in Christ (1 Peter 3:20-21).
- Moses and the Rock: When Moses struck the rock at God’s command, water flowed out to sustain Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 17:6; 1 Corinthians 10:4), a picture of Christ as the living water.
- The Healing of Naaman: Naaman’s cleansing in the Jordan River typifies the washing away of sin and the purification God provides (2 Kings 5:14).
Each example enriches the biblical narrative, emphasizing the continuous interplay of blood and water in God’s redemptive work.
A Biblical Reflection in Hymnody
The enduring hymn The Old Rugged Cross by George Bennard (1913) captures the dual themes of atonement and transformation found in the cross. Rooted in Galatians 6:14, which proclaims, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,” the hymn reflects the believer’s gratitude for the “triple cure” offered by Christ’s sacrifice: justification, sanctification, and glorification.
Bennard’s hymn reminds us that the cross not only reconciles us to God but also transforms us for His service. Its message resonates with the biblical imagery of blood and water, pointing to the sufficiency of Christ’s work for both our standing before God and our daily walk with Him.
Conclusion
From the Tabernacle to the cross and into eternity, blood and water reveal the fullness of God’s salvation. They symbolize the dual work of forgiveness through Christ’s blood and purification through His Spirit and Word. These elements call believers to embrace the completeness of salvation and walk in holiness.
Revelation 7:14 beautifully summarizes this truth: “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” This verse reminds us that the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan is a purified and redeemed people dwelling eternally with Him.
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
