Lexical Summary prospsauó: To touch, to handle Original Word: προσψαύω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance touch. From pros and psauo (to touch); to impinge, i.e. Lay a finger on (in order to relieve) -- touch. see GREEK pros NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pros and psauó (to touch) Definition to touch NASB Translation touch (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4379: προσψαύωπροσψαύω, to touch: τίνι (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 52, 4, 14), a thing, Luke 11:46. (Pindar, Sophocles, Byzantine writings.) Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence The verb appears once in the Greek New Testament, Luke 11:46, where Jesus confronts the “experts in the law.” In the Berean Standard Bible: “But Jesus replied, ‘Woe to you as well, experts in the law! You load men down with burdens they can hardly carry, yet you yourselves will not touch the burdens with even one of your fingers.’” The single usage provides a vivid picture: a finger that refuses even minimal contact with another’s load. Range of Meaning within Scripture and Greek Usage Classical and Hellenistic writers use the verb for a brief, minimal, or incidental touch—sometimes of musicians on a string, sometimes of workers adjusting a yoke or load. Luke captures that nuance: the leaders refuse even the slightest effort to lighten what they have imposed. Historical Setting in Luke 11 Luke records a dinner dialogue in a Pharisee’s home. Ritual washings (Luke 11:38) trigger a series of woes that expose religious formalism. Jesus’ accusation regarding burdens evokes earlier Jewish history: The lawyers in Luke replicate that pattern by multiplying oral traditions that overshadow the gracious intent of the Law. Theology of Burdens and Responsibility 1. The law was never meant to crush but to reveal need and point to divine grace (Romans 3:20; Galatians 3:24). Implications for Ministry • Servant Leadership: Spiritual leaders are called to shoulder burdens, not merely assign them (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 1 Peter 5:2–3). Contrast with Christ’s Example Where the lawyers abstain from touching, Jesus touches lepers (Matthew 8:3), blind eyes (Mark 8:25), and even the bier of a dead son (Luke 7:14). His ministry does not shrink from contamination or inconvenience; rather, He imparts cleanliness and life. Practical Applications for the Church Today 1. Evaluate traditions and applications: Are they biblical essentials or human add-ons? Summary Strong’s Greek 4379 highlights a microscopic action—the merest touch—that exposes macro-level hypocrisy. Its lone New Testament appearance crystallizes a foundational principle: authentic righteousness does not impose unreachable loads but enters into another’s struggle, reflecting the incarnational heart of Christ. Forms and Transliterations προσψαυετε προσψαύετε prospsauete prospsaúeteLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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