Innocency

How Nave’s arranged it

• Signified by washing the handsDeuteronomy 21:6Psalms 26:6Matthew 27:24
• Found in DanielDaniel 6:22
• JeremiahJeremiah 2:35
• Professed by PilateMatthew 27:24
• Contrasted with guilt, compareGenesis 2:25Genesis 3:7–11

The passages, in Bible order (7)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 7 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Genesis 2:25

   And the man and his wife were both naked, and they were not ashamed.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 2:252 voices

   “Now the resurrection promises us nothing else than the restoration of the fallen to their ancient state; for the grace we look for is a certain return to the first life, bringing back again to Paradise him who was cast out from it. If then the life of those restored is closely related to that of the angels, it is clear that the life before the transgression was a kind of angelic life, and hence also our return to the ancient condition of our life is compared to the angels.

   “And they were both naked, the man and his wife,....

   Everything gathered on Genesis 2:25→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Genesis 3:7–11

   And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.

   ›Commentary on Genesis 3:7–112 voices

   “The case of Adam, however, had no analogy with this, but was altogether different. For, having been beguiled by another under the pretext of immortality, he is immediately seized with terror, and hides himself; not as if he were able to escape from God; but, in a state of confusion at having transgressed His command, he feels unworthy to appear before and to hold converse with God. Now, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;" the sense of sin leads to repentance, and God bestows His compassion upon those who are penitent.

   “And the eyes of them both were opened,.... Not of their bodies, but of their minds; not so as to have an advanced knowledge of things pleasant, profitable, and useful, as was promised and expected, but of things very disagreeable and distressing.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 3:7–11→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. Deuteronomy 21:6

   Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken,

   ›Commentary on Deuteronomy 21:62 voices

   “And all the elders of that city that are next unto the slain man,.... The whole court of judicature belonging to it, all the magistracy of it; even though there were an hundred of them, Maimonides (x) says: shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley: in token of their innocence, and this they did not only for themselves, but for the whole city, being the representatives of it; see Psa 26:

   “Shall wash their hands over the heifer - Washing the hands, in reference to such a subject as this, was a rite anciently used to signify that the persons thus washing were innocent of the crime in question. It was probably from the Jews that Pilate learned this symbolical method of expressing his innocence.

   Everything gathered on Deuteronomy 21:6→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Psalms 26:6

   I wash my hands in innocence that I may go about Your altar, O LORD,

   ›Commentary on Psalms 26:62 voices

   “I will wash my hands in innocency,....

   “You have seen the deacon who gives to the priest water to wash, and to the presbyters who stand around God's altar. He gave it not at all because of bodily defilement; it is not that, for we did not enter the church at first with defiled bodies. But the washing of hands is a symbol that you ought to be pure from all sinful and unlawful deeds; for since the hands are a symbol of action, by washing them, it is evident, we represent the purity and blamelessness of our conduct.

   Everything gathered on Psalms 26:6→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. Jeremiah 2:35

   you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’

   ›Commentary on Jeremiah 2:352 voices

   “(Ver. 35, 36) And you said: I am without sin and innocent: and therefore let your anger turn away from me. Behold, I will contend with you in judgment, because you have said: I have not sinned: how despicable you have become, repeating your ways too much (or how greatly you have despised).

   “Yet thou sayest, because I am innocent,....

   Everything gathered on Jeremiah 2:35→

   Verse page →Original language →

6. Daniel 6:22

   My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.”

   ›Commentary on Daniel 6:222 voices

   “Verse 22. "'My God sent His angel and shut up the lions' mouths, and they did me no harm...'" The fierceness of the lions was not altered, but their gaping jaws were closed by the angel, and also their voracious hunger, and that too for the reason that the prophet's good works had gone before him. And so his deliverance was not so much a matter of grace as of reward for his unrightness.

   “My God hath sent his angel,....

   Everything gathered on Daniel 6:22→

   Verse page →Original language →

7. Matthew 27:24

   When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”

   ›Commentary on Matthew 27:242 voices

   “(Verse 24) But Pilate, seeing that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a tumult was taking place, took water and washed his hands before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man: you shall see.

   “When Pilate saw he could prevail nothing,....

   Everything gathered on Matthew 27:24→

   Verse page →Original language →