Lexical Summary pugmé: Fist, a measure of length from the elbow to the knuckles. Original Word: πυγμή Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fistFrom a primary pux (the fist as a weapon); the clenched hand, i.e. (only in dative case as adverb) with the fist (hard scrubbing) -- oft. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pux (the fist) Definition the fist NASB Translation carefully (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4435: πυγμήπυγμή, πυγμης, ἡ (πύξ, from ΠΥΚΩ, Latinpungo, pupugi (pugnus; O. H. G. 'fust', English 'fist'; cf. Curtius, § 384)), from Homer down, the Sept. for אֶנְרוף (Exodus 21:18; Isaiah 58:4), the fist: πυγμή νίπτεσθαι τάς χεῖρας, to wash the hands with the fist, i. e. so that one hand is rubbed with the clenched fist of the other (R. V. marginal reading (after Theoph., others) up to the elbow; but cf. Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, 2:11), Mark 7:3 (where Tdf. πυκνά, see πυκνός). (Cf. James Morison's Commentary at the passage.) Topical Lexicon Occurrence in the New Testament Strong’s Greek 4435 appears once, in Mark 7:3, where it describes the meticulous hand-washing practiced by the Pharisees and “all the Jews … holding to the tradition of the elders”. Ritual Purification in Second Temple Judaism By the first century, rabbinic tradition amplified the biblical requirement for ritual purity (Exodus 30:17-21) into elaborate procedures. Washing “with the fist” signified scrubbing up to (and sometimes including) the forearm, ensuring that every finger and surface was ceremonially clean before food was taken. Archaeology confirms numerous stone water jars near eating areas, underscoring how deeply this practice permeated daily life. Contrasting Human Tradition and Divine Command Jesus does not condemn cleanliness; He exposes the danger of elevating human additions above Scripture. Immediately after mentioning the practice (Mark 7:3-4), He cites Isaiah 29:13: “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.” The Lord’s response places the oral traditions of the elders beneath the written Word, a theme echoed later by Paul: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to human tradition” (Colossians 2:8). Inner Purity over External Rites Mark 7:14-23 records Christ’s climactic declaration that defilement originates in the heart, not from unwashed hands. Old Testament theology anticipates this: Psalm 24:3-4 links clean hands with a pure heart, and the prophets call for both outward and inward holiness (Isaiah 1:16; Jeremiah 4:4). The New Covenant fulfills the promise by cleansing the conscience (Hebrews 10:22). Consistency with Old Testament Teaching While Leviticus prescribes washings for priests, the Torah nowhere mandates hand-washing before every meal for the laity. The Pharisaic expansion, therefore, illustrates how oral law could obscure the heart of God’s commands—something Moses himself warned against (Deuteronomy 4:2). Relevance to Early Church Practice Acts 10 reveals Peter learning that Gentile food and fellowship are not intrinsically defiling. The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) endorses moral essentials without imposing ritual washings on Gentile believers. Throughout the Epistles, the church is cautioned to resist legalistic observances that undermine gospel freedom (Galatians 5:1; 1 Timothy 4:1-5). Pastoral Implications Today • Examine traditions—however well-intentioned—by the yardstick of Scripture. In Mark’s lone use of 4435, Scripture turns a minute ritual detail into a living parable: God seeks hearts washed by grace, not merely fists scrubbed by habit. Forms and Transliterations πυγμαίς πυγμη πυγμή πυγμῇ πυθμένα πυθμένες πυθμένι pugme pugmē pygme pygmē pygmêi pygmē̂iLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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