For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you
out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be
clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I
cleanse you. - Ezekiel 36:24-25
The Mikvah/Immersion
A Walk Of Purity
Immersion/Mikvah
• One of the most
misunderstood teachings
in the Bible is immersion.
The Bible has much to say
about immersion/or the
doctrine of
washing/baptisms. The
first century believers
understood the teachings
of different immersions
and their purpose.
Hebrews/Messianic Jews 6:1
• Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine
of Messiah/Christ, let us go unto perfection;
not laying again the foundation of repentance
from dead works, and of faith toward
YHWH/God
• Of the doctrine of baptism(s) and of laying on
of hands, and of resurrection of the dead and of
eternal judgment
Six Elementary Teachings
• Foundation of
•
•
•
•
•
repentance from dead
works
Faith toward YHWH
Of the
instructions/doctrine of
immersions/baptisms
Laying on of hands
Resurrection of the
dead
Eternal judgment
• The Jewish people were chosen by YHWH to show all the
•
•
world the ways of Elohim
Romans 3:1-2 - What advantage then hath the Jew? Or
what profit is there in circumcision? Much every way;
chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles
of YHWH (or words of God)
All the festivals, customs, foods, sacrificial system, laws of
ritual purity including immersion were given to the Jewish
people as teaching tools for us to learn more about Messiah.
We must always keep Messiah in the forethought of our
studies and realize that all things are to give us a better
understanding of what Messiah has done for us, and what is
in store for us. If we want rest, peace and contentment in
our lives we must know of Him. Matthew 11:29 “Take my
yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in
heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls”
The Entire Bible Is Written About Messiah
• Psalm 40:7
• “Then said I, Lo, I come; in the volume of the
book it is written of me”
Torah Commandments - 3 Categories
• Mishpatim - Literally translated Judgments,
these are ethical/moral laws
• Edos - Literally translated witnesses
• Chukim-Literally translated decrees
Torah Commandments - 3 Categories
• The moral or ethical laws that are necessary for man
•
to live in harmony are known as Mishpatim and are
literally translated judgments
The Rituals and festivals which reawaken us to
important religious truths such as Sabbath, The
Feasts, the Tefillin and the Mezuzah that remind us of
YHWH’s presence are known as Edos and are
literally translated as witnesses
Torah Commandments - 3 Categories
• The Third group often has no explicit reason
given for their existence except for Israel’s
identification as YHWH’s chosen people to the
nation (Deut. 4:6). This group of laws are
known as Chukim and are literally translated
as decrees. Among the decrees of this group
are the dietary laws as well as ritual immersion
613 Mitzvot
• A Large portion of the mitzvot only pertain to
those living in Israel & The Temple Services
and Priests
• 365-Commands that you should NOT
• 248- Commands that you SHOULD
• Today - 179 Laws relate to how I should treat
fellow believers, and hot to create a peaceful
atmosphere through obedience to Our King Yeshua Ha Mashiach
What About the Brit Ha Dasha
• According to “Dakes Annodated Bible” there
are at least 1,047 commands given to us in the
Brit Ha Dasha/Renewed Covenant
• All of the New Testament is based upon The
Torah/YHWH’s teaching and Instructions.
Yeshua IS THE LIVING TORAH!
Believers In Yeshua
• As believers in Yeshua and servants of YHWH’s
•
Kingdom, we are commanded to walk by “FAITH”
and fulfill the TORAH by applying its moral
principles to our relationships with fellow believers.
Rav Shaul taught that he was not delivered from the
TORAH but rather was “within the framework of the
TORAH as upheld by the Messiah”
The Jewish Background of Christian Baptism
History Of The Jewish Mikveh
• The term mikveh in Hebrew literally means any
gathering of waters, but is specifically used in
Jewish Law for the waters or bath for the ritual
immersion. The building of the mikveh was so
important in ancient times it was said to take
precedence over the construction of a synagogue.
Immersion was so important that it occurred
before the high Priest conducted the service on
the Day of Atonement, before the regular priests
participated in the Temple Service, before each
person entered the Temple complex, before a
scribe wrote the name of God, as well as several
other occasions
History Of The Jewish Mikveh
• The Mishnah attributes to Ezra a decree that each
male should immerse himself before praying or
studying. There are several Jewish groups that
observed ritual immersion every day to assure
readiness for the coming of the Messiah. The
Church Fathers mentioned on of these groups
called Hemerobaptists which means “daily
bathers” in Greek. Among those used to regular
immersion were the Essenes and others that the
Talmud calls “tovelie shahrit” or “dawn bathers”
History Of The Jewish Mikveh
• On the third day of creation we see the source
of the word mikveh for the first time in
Bereshit/Genesis 1:10 when YHWH says
‘….to the gathering (mikveh) of waters, He
called seas” Because of this reference in
Bereshit/Genesis the ocean is still a legitimate
mikveh
The Mikvaot Around The Temple
The Mikvaot Around The Temple
• The Brit Ha Dasha/Renewed Covenant tells us that
•
many of the early Messianic Believers daily activities
were centered around the Temple.
Historically, we know that there were many ritual
immersion baths (mikvaot) on the Temple Mount
including one in the Chamber of Lepers situated in
the northwest corner of the Court of woman
The Mikvaot Around The Temple
• Josephus tells us that even during the years of war (66-73
AD) the laws of ritual immersion were strictly adhered to
(Jos Wars 4:205).
• The Temple itself contained immersion baths in various
places for the priests to use, even in the vaults beneath the
court (Commentary to Tam 26:6 Tam1:1) The High Priest
had special immersion pools in the Temple, two of which
are mentioned in the Mishnah.
The Mikvaot Around The Temple
• We are told one of these was in the Water Gate in the
south of the court and another was on the roof of the Parva
Chamber.
• There was an additional place for immersion on the Mount
of Olives which was connected with the burning of the Red
Heifer
• A Special ramp led to the mikveh on the Mount of Olives
from the Temple Mount, which was built as an arched way
over another arched way to avoid uncleaness from the
graves in the valley below
• Recent archaeological excavations have found 48 different
mikvaot near the Monumental Staircase leading into the
Temple Complex
Why Be Immersed?
• To the ancient Jew, the mikveh was a process
of spiritual prufication and cleansing,
especially in relation to the various types of
Turmah or ritual defilement when the Temple
was in use.
• Although YHHW has not revealed all the
meaning of the mikveh, it is obvious because
the amount of space given to it in Scripture,
and the effort of Yeshua to fulfill it, the
command is of utmost importance.
How Immersion Was Done
• Jewish immersion has never been taken
lightly, but in ancient times immersion was to
be performed in the presence of witnesses.
• Prior to the Mikvah they had already bathed
and cut their nails and made a fresh profession
of his faith before the designated “fathers of
the baptism”
How Immersion Was Done
• The individual stood
straight up with the feet
spread and the hands held
out in front.
• The candidate would
totally immerse themselves
by squatting in the water
with a witness or baptized
doing the officiating.
• Matthew 3:16a “And after
being baptized, Yeshua
went up immediatley from
the water...
How Immersion Was Done
• Although it is the Jewish belief that repentance
is necessary, purification from defilement is
done primarily through water, while other
effects of sins are covered by blood
• Romans 4:7
• Hebrews 9:22 Note “almost all things”
• The concept of immersion in rabbinic literature
is referred to as a new birth.
Six other important aspects of ancient Jewish
immersion:
First Aspect
– Immersion was accompanied by exhortations and
benedictions
– A convert would reaffirm his acceptance of the Torah
by declaring “I will do and I will hear”, which was a
phrase from the oath that was originally taken by the
priests not to forsake the Torah
– This ritual demonstrates the willingness of the convert
to forsake his Gentile (Pagan, confused and without
God) backround and assume his Jewish identity by
taking on the status of one who keeps the
commandments
Six other important aspects of ancient Jewish
immersion:
According to a number of Jewish sages,
mayim, which is the Hebrew word for water,
shares the same root as the word “mah”
meaning ‘what”. This teaching points out that
when a person immerses in water, he is
nullifying the fleshly ego and is asking “what
am I’. In the same manner that Moses and
Aaron did in Exodus 16:7 when they said to
YHWH ‘we are what?”
Six other important aspects of ancient Jewish
immersion:
• Second Aspect
– The Jewish baptism candidates were often
immersed there times. The idea of total immersion
comes from the Scriptures in Leviticus 15:16,
when it says “he shall wash all his flesh in the
water” One reason it was customary to immerse
three times was because the word mikveh occurs
three times in the Torah.
Six other important aspects of ancient Jewish
immersion:
• Third Aspect
– According to Jewish law the immersion had to have a
required witness. Dr. William LaSor in the Biblical
Archeology Review says apparently the Biblical phrase
“in the name of” was an indication of the required
witness. In several Brit Ha Dasha/New Testament
references such as
• 1 Corinthians 1:13, 15; Matthew 21:25; Acts 1:22 and
Acts 19:3 we see early baptism mentioned in
conjunction with the name of individuals such as
John and Shaul/Paul. Further information on this
can be found in Jewish Literature concerning
proselyte baptism where it indicates his baptism
required attestation by witnesses in whose name he
was immersed
Six other important aspects of ancient Jewish
immersion:
• Fourth Aspect
– The immersion candidate was not touched by the
baptizer in Yeshua’s day. Because Leviticus 15:16
says “He shall wash all his flesh in the water”.
Judaism stresses that the entire body must come in
contact with the water of the mikveh.
– Although the mikveh was more spiritual than
physical, often the bath had two sets of steps, one
entering and another leaving so as not to defile
what had been purified.
Six other important aspects of ancient Jewish
immersion:
• Fifth Aspect
– The baptismal water (Mikveh) in rabbinic
literature was referred to as the womb of the world,
and as convert came out of the water was
considered a new birth separating him from the
pagan world.
– As the convert came out of these waters his status
was changed and he was referred to as a “a little
child just born” or a “child of one day’.
Six other important aspects of ancient Jewish
immersion:
• Fifth continued
– We see the Brit Ha Dasha using similar Jewish
terms as “born anew”, “new creation”, and “born
from above”. According to Dr. Arnold
Fruchtenbaum rabbinc literature uses the term
“born again” to refer to at least six different
occurrences in a persons life….
Six other important aspects of ancient Jewish
immersion:
• Note each of these life changing experiences
– When a Gentile converts to Judaism
– When an individual is crowned king
– At age 13 when a Jewish boy or girl chooses to
embrace YHWH’s covenant and be numbered with
the belivers - Bar/Bat Mitzvah
– When an individual gets married
– When an individual becomes a rabbi
– When an individual becomes the head of a
rabbinical school
Six other important aspects of ancient Jewish
immersion:
• Sixth Aspect
– Jewish law requires at least three witnesses made
up of qualified leaders to be present for certain
immersions. Ordinarily a member of the
Sanhedrin performed the act of observing the
proselytes immersion, but in case of necessity
others could do it. Secret baptism was not accepted
Repentance Without Baptism
• One of the most important teachings in Judaism is that of
repentance. According to both Scripture and rabbinic
literature, no matter how great the sin, if a person repents
and forsakes the sin before YHWH he can be forgiven.
• As we see in the case of John, Yehsua, and all New
Testament/Brit Ha Dasha writers, repentance was always
involved.
• According to Dr. David Flusser , The Dead Sea Scrolls as
well as the Brit Ha Dasha teach that water can purify the
body only if the soul has first been purified through
REPENTANCE
&
RIGHTEOUSNESS
Repent-Repentance
• Act 2:38 Kefa said to them, "Repent, and be immersed, every one of you, in
•
•
•
•
•
•
the name of Yeshua the Messiah for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Act 3:19 "Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,
so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,
Mar 6:12 They went out and preached that people should repent.
27 Verses in the Brit HaDasha with the word “Repent”
23 Verses in the Brit HaDasha with the word “Repentance”
Greek-G3340 μετανοέω metanoeō met-an-o-eh'-o
From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to
feel compunction): - repent.
• Hebrew H5164 ‫ נחם‬nôcham
• no'-kham
• From H5162; ruefulness, that is, desistance: - repentance.
Washing of the Hands
• Washing of the hands is a form of immersion.
• The method of washing is either by immersion up
•
to the wrist or by pouring 1/4 log (approximately
1/2 pint) of water over both hands from a
receptacle with a wide mouth, the lip of which
must be undamaged
The water should be poured over the whole hand
up to the wrist, but is effective as long as the
fingers are washed up to the second joint.
Washing of the Hands
• The hands must be clean and without anything
to adhere to them; rings must be removed so
that the water can reach the entire service.
• The water should not be hot or discolored and
it is customary to perform the act by pouring
water over each hand three times
• The hand washing ritual is commonly known
as netilat yadayim/taking water to the hands, or
lifting of the hands.
Water & Blood Both Illustrate YHWH’s
Cleansing In Judaism
• Both water (mayim) and blood (dom) are used
constantly in the Torah and the Brit Ha Dasha/New
Testament as the two main agents to illustrate
YHWH’s cleansing. The Jews believe that
uncleaness is not physical, but rather a spiritual
condition as related to Leviticus 11:44 where it states
by wrong actions on can make the “soul unclean”.
Therefore, purification through ritual immersion, as
commanded in Scripture is basically involved with
the soul, rather than the body.
Water & Blood Both Illustrate YHWH’s
Cleansing In Judaism
• Note how both water and blood are cited in Scripture
– (1) Blood is used in cleansing in relation to the Passover
Lamb (Exodus 12)
– (2) Blood is used in cleansing in relation to the Day of
Atonement (Leviticus 16)
– (3) Blood is used in cleansing in relation to the Feast
Offerings (Leviticus 23)
– (4) Blodd is used in cleansing in relation to the five
Levitical Offerings (Leviticus 1-7)
– (5) Blood is used in cleansing in relation to the
atonement for the soul (Leviticus 17:11-14)
Water & Blood Both Illustrate YHWH’s
Cleansing In Judaism
• The Use of Water
– (1) Water is used in cleansing in relation to the
seperation and the ashes of the Red Heifer (Numbers
19)
– (2) Water is used in cleansing in relation to the
consecration to the Priestly ministry (Leviticus 8:6)
– (3) Water is used in cleansing in relation to the Leper
(Leviticus 14:1-8)
– (4) Water is used in cleansing in relation to the different
washings of the Law (Hebrews 9:10)
Water & Blood Both Illustrate YHWH’s
Cleansing In Judaism
– (5) Water is used in relation to the remission of
sins.
• Acts 2:38
Titus 3:5
Mark 16:16
• Acts 22:16
Romans 6:3 1 Peter 3:20-21
• Ephesians 5:26
John 19:34 1 John 5:6
• Hebrews 9:19-23
Immersion Prayer
• Baruch Atah Adonai, Elohenu Melech haOlam, asher Kid’shanu B’mitzvotav
V’tzivanu al havilah
• Blessed are You, Lord God King of the
Universe, Who has sanctified us with Your
commandments and has commanded us
concerning the immersion
Immersion Prayer
• Baruch Atah Adonai, Elohenu Melech haOlam, Shehec’yanu V’kiy’manu V’higiynanu
Laz’man Hazeh
• Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the
Universe, Who has kept us alive and preserved
us and brought us to this appointed time
Summary
• A detailed study of the Jewish background to
•
Messianic/Christian baptism shows that it is vitally
important, but YHWH doesn’t always tell us why.
Obviously the convert could repent and have apart in the
life to come without it, but the emphasis seems to be
pointing to the taking on of a new “believer” status
illustrated as a “new birth” by immersion.
In any covenant with YHWH the three items of YHWH’s
Word, the blood and a token are always present (Genesis
17:11).
Immersion Into Yeshua HaMashiach
Has Seven Important Points
#1 - Believe in Yahshua HaMashiach
Acts 8:12, 34-38, 16:30-34
#2.- Immersed in the Name of Yahshua
HaMashiach
Acts 2:38, 8:12, 10:43, 48; 19:5
#3- Immersed in the Blood of Yahshua
HaMasiach
Jn 19:34-35, 1 John 5:6-8 Rev 1:5
Immersion Into Yeshua HaMashiach
Has Seven Important Points
#4- Burial with Yahshua HaMashiach by
immersion
Romans 6:3-4, Col 2:12
#5- Immersion in the likeness of Moshiach’s
death with head bowed
Romans 6: 3-8; John 19:30
#6- Immersion by ministers sent by YHWH
John 20:21-23, Acts 2:38
Immersion Into Yeshua HaMashiach
Has Seven Important Points
#7 -Immersion in Living Water that is created by
YHWH Elohim
Matthew 3:5-6, John 3:23, Jeremiah 2:13
Summary
• Yeshua was always cautious to have three witnesses
•
•
in everything He did (1 John 5:7-8).
“And there are three that bear witness in earth, the
Spirit, and the water and the blood, and these three
agree in one” (1 John 5:8)
In the Tenach/Old Testatment circumcision was
considered a token of YHWH’s covenant, and in the
Brit HaDasha/New Testament we see the same
wording concerning baptism as it is referred to as
“circumcision made without hands” (Colossians 2:1112)
Conclusion
John 3 “Flesh give birth to flesh, but Spirit gives
birth to spirit” My prayer is that, together, we
understand clearly the truth that Yahshua is
emphasizing. That which is born of flesh (our
old man) changes status when he/she is born
again-born of the Spirit through the mayim
hayim, the Living Water, Yeshua Himself!
This change of status takes place when we are immersed into
mayim hayim by the Spirit of the Living God Himself.
Therefore “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom
of God unless He is born of water and the Spirit”
Have you, by the Spirit of YHWH been immersed into the
Mayim Hayim, Messiah Yeshua? Then you have passed
through the most radical change, you are a new creation and
you have entered the Kingdom of YHWH. It is in that
Kingdom that you live and dwell. It is in that Kingdom that
all of us who have entered by faith can truly know and
experience what it is like for YHWH to be our hope our
Mikvah. To YHWH be the glory forever and ever
Resources Used
• The Holy Torah/Word of YHWH
• Peggy Pryor- Mivah A Walk of Purity
• Ariel and D’vorah Berkowitz - The Mystery of
the Mikvah
• Dr. Ron Mosely - The Jewish Backround of
Christian Baptism- Arkansas Institute of Holy
Land Studies