That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Sanctify - i:e., consecrate her to God. Compare John 17:19, 'I devote myself as a holy sacrifice, that my disciples also may be devoted as holy in the truth' (Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews 10:10, note; 13:12).
And cleanse, х katharisas (G2511), contemporaneous with hagiasee (G37)] - 'cleansing,' without the "and."
With the washing of water, х too (G3588) loutroo (G3067)] - 'by the laver of the water;' namely, the baptismal water. So Titus 3:5, the only other passage where it occurs in the New Testament. As the bride passed through a purifying bath before marriage, so the Church. He speaks of baptism according to its high ideal as if the inward grace accompanied the outward rite; hence, he asserts of baptism whatever is involved in a believing appropriation of the divine truths it symbolizes, and says that Christ by it has purified the Church (1 Peter 3:21).
By the word - `IN х en (G1722)] the word.' Five times in Paul's other letters, and four in Hebrews; always the word proceeding from God. To be joined with 'cleansing her.' The Gospel, the "word of faith" (Romans 10:8-9; Romans 10:17), of which confession is made in baptism, and which carries the real cleansing (John 15:3; John 17:17), regenerating power (1 Peter 1:23; 1 Peter 3:21), (Alford). So Augustine, 'Tract.,' 80, in John, 'Take away the Word, and what is the water save water? Add the Word to the element, and it becomes a sacrament, being itself as it were the visible Word.'