Understanding the Proverb, ‘Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness’

Rooted in the ancient world, this profound proverb still helps us create a better life on multiple levels.

Disorder can be a stressful burden, while decluttering can bring peace. Stock-Asso/Shutterstock

Proverbs are treasures passed on to us over the centuries. There is surely a reason they have been with us for so long. By learning about them, we can improve ourselves and our lives, and by remembering to use them in our speech, we can help ensure that they are passed on to the next generation.

The old proverb, “Cleanliness is next to godliness” is a curious one. Does it refer to physical cleanliness? Or moral? And in which context did it arise? Is it still relevant to us today? How so?

Origins

It all dates back to—as far as we know—1605, when, in his book “Advancement of Learning,” English scientist and philosopher Sir Francis Bacon wrote that “Cleanness of body was ever esteemed to proceed from a due reverence to God, to society, and to ourselves.” During this era, as one might imagine, cleanliness referred to both moral purity and personal hygiene.