### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **râchats**, represented by `{{H7364}}`, is a primitive root meaning to **lave, bathe, or wash**. It appears 72 times across 71 unique verses in the Bible. This term is used for the general act of washing, whether it involves the entire body or a specific part.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H7364}}` is used in several key contexts. It is a fundamental requirement in ceremonial law, where priests like Aaron and his sons must **wash** with water before entering the tabernacle or approaching the altar [[Exodus 29:4]]. Parts of burnt offerings, such as the inwards and legs, were also to be **washed** [[Leviticus 1:9]]. The term is also associated with rites of hospitality, as when Abraham offered water to **wash** the feet of his guests [[Genesis 18:4]]. Beyond literal cleansing, the prophets use it metaphorically, as when Isaiah commands the people to "**Wash** you, make you clean" from their evil deeds [[Isaiah 1:16]]. The psalmist uses it to connect a physical act to a moral state, declaring, "I will **wash** mine hands in innocency" [[Psalms 26:6]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide nuance to the concept of washing:
* `{{H3526}}` **kâbaç**: This term, meaning to wash by trampling or stamping, is typically used for laundering clothes. It often appears in contrast to `{{H7364}}`, which is used for the body, as seen in purification laws where an individual must "wash his clothes, and **bathe** himself in water" [[Leviticus 15:5]].
* `{{H1740}}` **dûwach**: Meaning to purge or thrust away, this word can denote a rinsing action. In Solomon's temple, the lavers were designated for washing sacrificial offerings with this term, while the priests used the larger sea to **wash** `{{H7364}}` in [[2 Chronicles 4:6]].
* `{{H7857}}` **shâṭaph**: This word implies a more forceful action, like rinsing or washing away with gushing water. It is used to intensify the action of `{{H7364}}` in Ezekiel's prophecy, where God says He "**washed** `{{H7364}}` thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away `{{H7857}}` thy blood" [[Ezekiel 16:9]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H7364}}` is significant, highlighting the connection between physical and spiritual states.
* **Purity and Divine Access:** Washing was a non-negotiable prerequisite for priests ministering before the Lord. They were commanded to **wash** their hands and feet at the laver "that they die not," making it a matter of life and death and establishing a link between cleanliness and approaching God [[Exodus 30:20-21]].
* **Symbol of Repentance:** The prophets use this physical act to symbolize the need for moral and spiritual cleansing. Isaiah's call to "**Wash** you" is a command for the people to repent and put away their evil deeds [[Isaiah 1:16]]. God is also depicted as the one who will perform this cleansing, promising to "**wash away** the filth of the daughters of Zion" [[Isaiah 4:4]].
* **Declaration of Innocence:** The act of washing served as a public symbol of blamelessness. The elders of a town were required to **wash** their hands to declare their innocence in an unsolved murder [[Deuteronomy 21:6]]. David likewise uses this imagery to profess his own "innocency" before God [[Psalms 26:6]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H7364}}` is a foundational term that moves beyond simple hygiene. It is integral to the concepts of hospitality, ceremonial readiness, and moral purity. From the practical washing of feet in a tent to the profound command for a nation to wash itself of its sin, **râchats** demonstrates the biblical principle that external actions often reflect and are required for a proper internal state before God.
TRV