Lexical Summary egroph: Fist Original Word: אֶגְרֹף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fist From garaph (in the sense of grasping); the clenched hand -- fist. see HEBREW garaph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom garaph Definition a fist NASB Translation fist (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אֶגְרֹף] noun [masculine] fist (ᵐ5 πυγμή, so ᵑ9; but ᵑ7 club, staff (?), & so SS, compare especially Exodus 21:18; — Late Hebrew אֶגְרוֺף) — וִהִכָּה אִישׁ אֶתרֵֿעֵהוּ בְּאֶבֶן אוֺ בְאֶגְרֹ֑ף Exodus 21:18; (construct) לְהַכּוֺת בְּאֶגְרֹף רֶ֑שַׁע Isaiah 58:4. Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Hebrew 106 evokes the image of a clenched hand raised in violence, appearing only twice in Scripture yet opening important windows on biblical justice, worship, and discipleship. Hebrew Cultural Background In Ancient Near Eastern thought the open hand symbolized welcome, generosity, or covenant blessing, whereas the closed hand conveyed hostility or obstinacy (compare Deuteronomy 15:7). A blow delivered with the fist therefore represented deliberate, targeted aggression rather than an accidental injury. Biblical Usage 1. Exodus 21:18 situates the fist within Israel’s civil legislation: “If men quarrel and one strikes the other with a stone or with his fist, and the victim does not die but is confined to bed,”. The statute follows the lex talionis pattern, holding the assailant accountable for medical costs and lost wages if the injured party survives (Exodus 21:19). By naming the fist specifically, the law recognizes personal combat as a foreseeable reality among fallen people, yet restrains it through proportionate restitution. 2. Isaiah 58:4 employs the same term metaphorically to expose hypocrisy: “Behold, you fast for contention and strife to strike viciously with your fist; you cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.”. Here the fist becomes a vivid emblem of self-centered piety that harms others while claiming to seek God. Legal and Ethical Implications The Mosaic treatment of violent injury underscores three principles: • Personal responsibility—an aggressor cannot hide behind communal anonymity. These foundations anticipate later calls to peace within the covenant community (Psalm 34:14; Romans 12:17-18). Prophetic Critique of Hollow Religion Isaiah juxtaposes fasting—an outwardly humble act—with the raised fist—an inwardly defiant heart. Ritual divorced from righteousness cannot expect divine favor (Isaiah 58:6-7). The prophet thereby links vertical worship and horizontal compassion, a theme that culminates in the Lord’s summary of the Law: love God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-40). Intercanonical Connections New Testament writers echo the ban on fist-driven conflict: These teachings do not nullify the Mosaic concern for justice; rather, they aim at the heart that clenches the fist in the first place. Practical Ministry Application • Conflict Resolution: Pastors and counselors can point to Exodus 21:18 as a precedent for restitution and responsible mediation when physical harm occurs. Key References Exodus 21:18-19 – Civil liability for assault. Isaiah 58:4-7 – Condemnation of violent hypocrisy. Deuteronomy 15:7-11 – Open hand versus tight-fisted greed. Psalm 34:14; Proverbs 3:31 – Pursuit of peace. Matthew 5:38-48 – Kingdom ethic of non-retaliation. Romans 12:17-21 – Overcoming evil with good. 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7 – Character qualifications that exclude violent temper. Forms and Transliterations בְּאֶגְרֹ֣ף בְאֶגְרֹ֑ף באגרף bə’eḡrōp̄ ḇə’eḡrōp̄ bə·’eḡ·rōp̄ ḇə·’eḡ·rōp̄ beegRof veegRofLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 21:18 HEB: בְּאֶ֖בֶן א֣וֹ בְאֶגְרֹ֑ף וְלֹ֥א יָמ֖וּת NAS: or with [his] fist, and he does not die KJV: or with [his] fist, and he die INT: A stone or with fist does not die Isaiah 58:4 2 Occurrences |
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