πυγμ-ή G4435
the fist, or with the fist; possibly a measure of length from elbow to knuckles
This noun refers to the fist, or actions performed with the fist. In classical usage it could describe boxing, fighting, or a specific measure of length. The New Testament usage in Mark 7:3 is famously difficult—often translated 'diligently' or 'thoroughly,' but the literal meaning relates to the fist. It may describe a ritual washing gesture using the fist, washing with a handful of water, or washing up to the fist/elbow. The multilingual glosses show the uncertainty: Spanish 'con puño' (with fist), French 'poing' (fist), suggesting physical gesture rather than mere intensity.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Mark 7:3 describes Pharisaic ritual practice: 'For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly (pygme).' The term is notoriously difficult. Spanish 'con puño' (with fist) and French 'poing' (fist) suggest a physical method—perhaps washing with the fist, or washing up to the fist/elbow, or using the fist to scrub. The classical lexicon shows pygme primarily means fist, and in athletic contexts, boxing. The precise ritual gesture remains uncertain, but Mark emphasizes the meticulous concern for ceremonial cleanliness that characterized Pharisaic tradition—a human tradition Jesus critiques as missing the heart of God's law. 1×
AR["بِ-قَبْضَةٍ"]·ben["মুষ্টিতে"]·DE["Faust"]·EN["with-fist"]·FR["poing"]·heb["בְּ-אֶגְרוֹף"]·HI["मुट्ठी-तक"]·ID["dengan-cermat"]·IT["pugme"]·jav["kanthi-tliti"]·KO["주먹-으로"]·PT["punho"]·RU["горстью"]·ES["con-puño"]·SW["kwa-makini"]·TR["dikkatle"]·urd["مٹھی-سے"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πυγμ-ή, ἡ, (πύξ) fist, LXX+5th c.BC+ __2 boxing, as an athletic contest, πυγμῇ νικήσαντα Refs 8th c.BC+; πυγμὴν or τὴν π. ἀσκεῖν, Refs 5th c.BC+; frequently in Inscrr., e.g. πυγμὴν Ζωΐλος (i.e. ἐνίκησε) Refs __2.b generally, fight, π. μονομάχων καὶ θηρίων Edict.Caes. cited in Refs 1st c.AD+; εἰς π. καθίστασθαι, τρέπεσθαι, of partridges, Refs __3 in NT is interpretation diligently (variant{πυκνά}, often). __II a measure of length, the distance from the elbow to the knuckles,= Refs 4th c.BC+