Washing Of The Word

to sanctify, set apart, make holy;

this can mean active dedication and service to God or the act of regarding or honoring as holy

to separate, consecrate;

cleanse, purify;

regard, or reverence as holy

This verse is saying that the way the Lord sanctifies and cleanses us is through His Word.

The Word of God is the water that cleanses.

Jesus spoke of the Word cleansing us in John 15:2-3 (John 15:2).

Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. He set it apart and cleansed it by His Word.

The Greek word used here for “word” is “RHEMA,” and means “thing spoken, word” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon).

What a wonderful illustration this is of a man setting his wife apart by honoring her with his words.

A wife will try to live up to that which her husband speaks over her.

If his words are words that edify and build her up, she will want to live up to those words.

If his words are words that tear her down, he will discourage her and cause her to be unresponsive in their relationship.

to make clean, cleanse, purify
to cleanse, render pure, purify, Mt. 23:25; Lk. 11:39;
to cleanse from leprosy, Mt. 8:2, 3; 10:8;
metaphorically to cleanse from sin, purify by an expiatory offering, make expiation for, Heb. 9:22, 23; 1Jn. 1:7;
to cleanse from sin, free from the influence of error and sin, Acts 15:9 2Cor. 7:1;
to pronounce ceremonially clean, Acts 10:15; 11:9

Jesus is the source of living water. For example, in the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks to a Samaritan woman at a well and says,
"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14).

It's spiritual refreshment, renewal, and eternal life that believers receive through their relationship with Jesus Christ. It represents the Holy Spirit's work within believers, bringing spiritual life, sustenance, and satisfaction. Just as physical water is essential for sustaining physical life, living water is essential for sustaining spiritual life.