ἐκμάσσω G1591
To wipe off or wipe dry; used of wiping tears, ointment, or water from someone's body.
A tactile, intimate verb describing the act of wiping something off a surface, typically a person's body. Every NT occurrence involves a woman's devoted act toward Jesus or Jesus washing his disciples' feet. The sinful woman wipes Jesus' feet with her hair after wetting them with tears (Luke 7:38, 44), Mary of Bethany does likewise with costly perfume (John 11:2; 12:3), and Jesus wipes his disciples' feet with a towel after washing them (John 13:5). The Spanish 'secar' and French 'essuyer' emphasize the drying action.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To wipe off or wipe dry a liquid substance from a surface, especially a person's body. All five NT uses involve profoundly personal, humble acts of devotion or service. In Luke 7:38, 44 and John 11:2; 12:3, women wipe Jesus' feet with their hair—an act of costly worship. In John 13:5, Jesus himself wipes his disciples' feet with a towel, inverting social hierarchy. The consistent pairing with feet, tears, and ointment gives this verb a rich liturgical and devotional resonance. French 'essuyer' and Spanish 'secar' both capture the careful, attentive drying motion. 5×
AR["كانَت-تَمسَحُ", "مَسَحَت", "مَسَحَتْ", "يَمْسَحُ"]·ben["মুছছিল", "মুছতে", "মুছলেন", "মুছেছিলেন", "মুছেছে"]·DE["abwischen", "ἐξέμαξεν", "ἐξέμασσεν"]·EN["having-wiped", "she-was-wiping", "she-wiped", "to-wipe", "wiped"]·FR["essuyer"]·heb["לְנַגֵּב", "נִגְּבָה"]·HI["पोंछती-थी", "पोंछने", "पोंछा", "पोंछी"]·ID["mengeringkan"]·IT["asciugare"]·jav["ngusapi"]·KO["닦기기를", "닦았다", "닦은"]·PT["a-enxugar", "enxugava", "enxugou"]·RU["вытерла", "вытирала", "отирать", "отёрла", "отёршая"]·ES["a-secar", "secaba", "secó"]·SW["akafuta", "alipangusa", "aliyefuta", "kupangusa"]·TR["sildi", "sildi.", "silen", "siliyordu,", "silmek"]·urd["اُس-کے", "پونچھنا", "پونچھے"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐκμάσσω, Attic dialect ἐκμάττω, perfect ἐκμέμᾰχα (ἐκμέμα-κα codices) conjecture in Refs 1st c.BC+aorist 2 passive -εμάγην [ᾰ] Refs 5th c.BC+; also aorist I participle ἐκμαχθείς Refs 5th c.AD+:—wipe off, wipe away, κάρᾳ κηλῖδας ἐξέμαξεν Refs 5th c.BC+; ἔκμασσε [τὸ αἷμα] Refs 5th c.BC+:—middle, wipe away one's tears, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __2 wipe dry, ὑπὸ σπόγγου Refs 5th c.BC+; [τοὺς ἔμπροσθεν πόδας] ἐ.…