The term "unwashen" refers to the state of not having undergone ritual washing, particularly in the context of Jewish ceremonial practices. This concept is prominently featured in the New Testament, where it is associated with the Pharisaic traditions of ritual purity. The practice of washing hands before eating was not merely for physical cleanliness but was deeply rooted in the religious customs of the time, symbolizing spiritual purity and adherence to the Law.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the issue of "unwashen" hands is addressed when the Pharisees and scribes confront Jesus about His disciples' failure to observe the traditional handwashing before meals. Matthew 15:1-2 states, "Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, 'Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat.'"

Jesus responds by challenging the Pharisees' emphasis on human traditions over the commandments of God. He highlights the hypocrisy of prioritizing ritualistic practices while neglecting the more significant matters of the heart. In Matthew 15:10-11 , Jesus calls the crowd to Him and says, "Listen and understand. A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it."

The parallel account in the Gospel of Mark provides further insight into this encounter. Mark 7:3-4 explains, "For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands ceremonially, holding to the tradition of the elders. And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and dining couches."

Jesus' teaching emphasizes the internal over the external, pointing out that true defilement comes from within a person, from the heart, rather than from failing to adhere to external rituals. Mark 7:14-15 records Jesus saying, "Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him."

The focus on "unwashen" hands serves as a broader critique of the Pharisaic legalism that prioritized human traditions over the divine commandments. Jesus' response underscores the importance of inner purity and the condition of the heart, rather than mere outward compliance with ritualistic practices. This teaching aligns with the broader biblical theme that God desires mercy, justice, and a contrite heart over ritual sacrifice and external observance (cf. Hosea 6:6, Micah 6:8).

In summary, the concept of "unwashen" in the New Testament is a significant point of contention between Jesus and the religious leaders of His time. It serves as a vehicle for Jesus to teach about the true nature of purity and the kingdom of God, which values the transformation of the heart over adherence to human traditions.(a.) Not washed.UNWASHEN

un-wosh'-'-n (aniptos): Occurs only twice in the New Testament, not at all in the Hebrew or Greek Old Testament (Matthew 15:20 = Mark 7:2). Jesus is here denouncing the traditionalism of the scribes and Pharisees. Uncleanness, to them, was external and purification was ceremonial. Hence, the Pharisaic view that the hands became unclean (religiously, not physically), and so before meals must be cleansed (religiously) by washing, which consisted in two affusions and must extend up to the wrist, else the hand was still unclean. Jewish tradition traced this custom back to Solomon (see Shabbath 14b, end), but the first unmistakable occurrence of the custom is in the Sibylline Oracles (3:591-93), where the hands are said to be washed in connection with prayer and thanksgiving. The schools of Shammai and Hillel, though usually differing on points of tradition, agreed on the washing of hands as necessary for ceremonial purification (having reached this agreement in the early part of Jesus' life).

See PURITY; UNCLEANNESS.

LITERATURE.

Broadus, Commentary on Matthew (15:2-20); Gould, Swete, commentaries on Mark (7:2); Edersheim, The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, II, 8;; Schurer. HJP, div II, volume I, section 25 (" Scribism").

Charles B. Williams

449. aniptos -- unwashed
... unwashed. From a (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of nipto;
without ablution -- unwashen. see GREEK a. see GREEK nipto. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/449.htm - 7k

Unwashen Hands
... Strong Meat for Hungry Souls: The Gospel of St. Mark CHAPTER 6:53-7:13 UNWASHEN
HANDS. ... And the Pharisees saw that they ate their bread with unwashen hands. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 6 53-7 13 unwashen hands.htm

Never a Man Like Him
... Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled,
that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. ...
/.../mark/jesus of nazareth a biography/chapter vii never a man.htm

Rejection of the Tradition of the Elders.
... and certain of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, and had seen that some
of his disciples ate their bread with defiled, that is, unwashen, hands. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barton/his life/rejection of the tradition of.htm

Matt. xv. 1
... But not the less were they innovating; as in this instance, that one ought not to
eat with unwashen hands, that we must wash cups and brazen vessels, that we ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily li matt xv 1.htm

Jesus Fails to Attend the Third Passover.
... and certain of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, 2 and had seen that some
of his disciples ate their bread with defiled, that is, with unwashen, hands. ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxv jesus fails to attend.htm

The Gospel of St. Mark
... CHAPTER 6:14-29 HEROD. CHAPTER 6:30-46 BREAD IN THE DESERT. CHAPTER 6:53-7:13
UNWASHEN HANDS. CHAPTER 7:14-23 THINGS WHICH DEFILE. CHAPTER ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chadwick/the gospel of st mark/

Further Strictures on the Same Subject.
... What if, besides the shame which they make the most account of, men dread likewise
the bodily inconveniences; in that, unwashen, sordidly attired, estranged ...
/.../tertullian/on repentance/chapter xi further strictures on the.htm

But one Sometimes Comes to a Case of this Kind...
... defilement which we have mentioned above. For even to eat with unwashen
hands the Jews thought defilement. Or if a person think ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on lying/section 24 but one sometimes.htm

For which Cause Our Lord Himself Also with his Own Mouth Saith...
... also, in another place, when He was refuting the foolish speeches of the Jews, in
that they spake evil against His disciples, eating with unwashen hands; "Not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on continence/section 4 for which cause.htm

Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent
... The Scribes had asked him to pronounce a judgment, saying: Why do thy disciples
transgress the good customs of our forefathers, by eating with unwashen hands? ...
/.../xi sermon for the second.htm

Unwashen (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Not washed. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. UNWASHEN. ...
Charles B. Williams. Multi-Version Concordance Unwashen (3 Occurrences). ...
/u/unwashen.htm - 8k

Unwashed (4 Occurrences)

/u/unwashed.htm - 7k

Unwatched (1 Occurrence)

/u/unwatched.htm - 6k

Defileth (12 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS YLT). Matthew 15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but
to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/d/defileth.htm - 10k

Defiling (10 Occurrences)
... Defiling (10 Occurrences). Matthew 15:20 these are the things defiling the man;
but to eat with unwashen hands doth not defile the man.' (YLT). ...
/d/defiling.htm - 9k

Ate (138 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). Mark 7:2 and had seen that some of his disciples
ate their bread with defiled, that is, unwashen, hands. (ASV RSV). ...
/a/ate.htm - 37k

Uncleanness (56 Occurrences)
... Old Testament. See TRADITION. This is fitly illustrated in the New Testament
in the washing of hands. See UNWASHEN. When the Mishna ...
/u/uncleanness.htm - 38k

Mark (182 Occurrences)
... in not a few of the common incidents Mark's account is very much fuller; eg
6:14-29 (death of John the Baptist); Mark 7:1-23 (on eating with unwashen hands); ...
/m/mark.htm - 93k

According (7613 Occurrences)
... in not a few of the common incidents Mark's account is very much fuller; eg
6:14-29 (death of John the Baptist); Mark 7:1-23 (on eating with unwashen hands); ...
/a/according.htm - 62k

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