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

   “They knew not what shame was, so the Chaldee reads it. Blushing is now the colour of virtue, but it was not then the colour of innocency. Those that had no sin in their conscience might well have no shame in their faces, though they had no clothes to their backs.

   “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.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 2:25→

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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

   “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.

   “The eyes of them both were opened - They now had a sufficient discovery of their sin and folly in disobeying the command of God; they could discern between good and evil; and what was the consequence? Confusion and shame were engendered, because innocence was lost and guilt contracted. Let us review the whole of this melancholy business, the fall and its effects.

   Everything gathered on Genesis 3:7–11→

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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

   “According to Jewish writers, the Sanhedrin, taking charge of such a case, sent a deputation to examine the neighborhood. They reported to the nearest town to the spot where the body was found. An order was then issued by their supreme authority to the elders or magistrates of that town, to provide the heifer at the civic expense and go through the appointed ceremonial.

   “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→

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4. Psalms 26:6

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

   ›Commentary on Psalms 26:61 voice

   “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 2:351 voice

   “Because I am innocent - Rather, But “I am innocent,” or, “I am acquitted.” Those blood-stains cannot be upon my skirts, because now, in king Josiah’s days, the idolatry of Manasseh has been put away. Shall turn from me - Or, has turned away “from me.” Plead - Or, enter into judgment.

   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

   “My God hath sent his angel - Such a one as that who attended Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the fiery furnace, and blew aside the flames, so that they could not hurt them. Before him innocency was found in one - Because I was innocent God has preserved me; and now that I am preserved, my innocence is fully proved.

   “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.

   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

   “These verses describe our Lord’s appearance before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. That sight must have been wonderful to the angels of God. He who will one day judge the world allowed himself to be judged and condemned, though “he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth” ( Isaiah 53:9 ). He, from whose lips Pilate and Caiaphas will one day receive their eternal sentence suffered silently, an unjust sentence to be passed upon him.

   “THE Crucifixion of Christ was the crowning sin of our race. In His death we shall find all the sins of mankind uniting in foul conspiracy. Envy and pride and hate are there, with covetousness, falsehood and blasphemy eager to rush on to cruelty, revenge, and murder! The devil awakened around the Seed of the woman the iniquities of us all—they compassed the Lord about, yes, they compassed Him about like bees.

   Everything gathered on Matthew 27:24→

   Verse page →Original language →