In this type of ordeal, the water was symbolic of the flood of the Old Testament, washing sin from the face of the earth,allowing only the righteous minority to survive. As in the ordeal by fire, a 3-day religious rite was held beforehand. Afterwards, the accused faced plunging their hand into boiling water, to the depth of the wrist. Once again the wound was bandaged for 3 days and then examined.
There also existed an ordeal by cold water. In this, the accused was tied at feet and hands and lowered into cold water by a rope. This rope was tied around the defendant's waist and had a knot at a particular distance from the torso. If both knot and accused dipped beneath the surface of the water, the accused was proven innocent. If the knot was dry, the accused was guilty.
