Washing feet and hands in the Bible

• Abraham offers his guests water to wash their feet and restGen 18:4
  The verses

  Gen 18:4Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.
• Lot: 'Wash your feet and spend the night'Gen 19:2
  The verses

  Gen 19:2and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”
• Laban's house gives Abraham's servant and his men water for their feetGen 24:32
  The verses

  Gen 24:32So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of his companions.
• Joseph's steward gives the brothers water to wash their feetGen 43:24
  The verses

  Gen 43:24And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.
• At the old man's house in Gibeah they washed their feet, ate, and drankJudg 19:21
  The verses

  Judg 19:21So he brought him to his house and fed his donkeys. And they washed their feet and ate and drank.
• Abigail: ready to wash the feet of my lord's servants1 Sam 25:41
  The verses

  1 Sam 25:41She arose, then bowed facedown and said, “Here is your maidservant, ready to serve and to wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”
• David to Uriah: 'Go down to your house and wash your feet'2 Sam 11:8
  The verses

  2 Sam 11:8Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him.
• Mephibosheth had not cared for his feet while David was away2 Sam 19:24
  The verses

  2 Sam 19:24Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely.
• Song of Songs: 'I have washed my feet—must I soil them again?'Song 5:3
  The verses

  Song 5:3I have taken off my robe— must I put it back on? I have washed my feet— must I soil them again?

In the Gospels

• Jesus to Simon: you did not give me water for my feetLuke 7:44
  The verses

  Luke 7:44And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
• A woman wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with her hairLuke 7:38
  The verses

  Luke 7:38As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.
• Mary anointed Jesus' feet with nard and wiped them with her hairJohn 12:3
  The verses

  John 12:3Then Mary took about a pint of expensive perfume, made of pure nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
• At supper Jesus wrapped a towel around his waist and washed the disciples' feetJohn 13:4–5
  The verses

  John 13:4–5So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel that was around Him.
• Peter: 'Never shall You wash my feet!'John 13:8
  The verses

  John 13:8“Never shall You wash my feet!” Peter told Him. Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.”
• Jesus: whoever has bathed needs only to wash his feetJohn 13:10
  The verses

  John 13:10Jesus told him, “Whoever has already bathed needs only to wash his feet, and he will be completely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”
• 'You also should wash one another's feet'John 13:14
  The verses

  John 13:14So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
• A widow known for washing the feet of the saints1 Tim 5:10
  The verses

  1 Tim 5:10and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.

Washing hands

• Priests washed hands and feet at the bronze basin before servingExod 30:18–21, Exod 40:31
  The verses

  Exod 30:18–21“You are to make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. Set it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet. Whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister by presenting an offering made by fire to the LORD, they must wash with water so that they will not die. Thus they are to wash their hands and feet so that they will not die; this shall be a permanent statute for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.”

  Exod 40:31and from it Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and feet.
• For a killing with no known killer, the elders wash their hands over a heiferDeut 21:1, Deut 21:6
  The verses

  Deut 21:1If one is found slain, lying in a field in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess, and it is not known who killed him,

  Deut 21:6Then all the elders of the city nearest the victim shall wash their hands by the stream over the heifer whose neck has been broken,
• Pilate washed his hands before the crowd: 'I am innocent of this man's blood'Matt 27:24
  The verses

  Matt 27:24When 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.”
• Pharisees do not eat without washing their hands, by the elders' traditionMark 7:3–4
  The verses

  Mark 7:3–4Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially. And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining.
• They ask why Jesus' disciples eat without washing their handsMatt 15:2, Mark 7:5
  The verses

  Matt 15:2“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”

  Mark 7:5So the Pharisees and scribes questioned Jesus: “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders? Instead, they eat with defiled hands.”
• A Pharisee was surprised that Jesus did not wash before the mealLuke 11:38
  The verses

  Luke 11:38But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.
• Six stone jars at Cana held water for purification ritesJohn 2:6
  The verses

  John 2:6Now six stone water jars had been set there for the Jewish rites of purification. Each could hold from twenty to thirty gallons.