Library Home
>
Manners and Customs of the Bible
>
Manners and Customs of the Bible
>
739. Diligent Hand Washing (#98274)
739. Diligent Hand Washing
Article download …
Download PDF
Download RTF (editable)
Print
Send via email
Share on Facebook
Share on X (Twitter)
From:
Manners and Customs of the Bible
By:
James M. Freeman
Narrator:
Chris Genthree
Mark 7:3 • 1 min. read • grade level: 10
Listen to This Article
Listen from:
•
BibleTruthPublishers.com
Mark 7:3
3
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. (Mark 7:3)
. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
There is great diversity of opinion among critics as to the proper rendering of πυγμή “oft.” Its primary signification is the fist, and hence Robinson renders the text, “unless they wash their hands (rubbing them) with the fist, that is, not merely dipping the lingers or hand in water as a sign of ablution, but rubbing the hands together as a ball or fist in the usual Oriental manner when water is poured over them.”—
Lexicon of the New Testament.
From this he supposes the word to be taken in the sense of “sedulously, carefully,
diligently.
”
The “traditions of the elders” required the Pharisees to wash is illustrated by Lightfoot in extracts from Rabbinical writers. See
Mira Hebraicae
on
Matthew 15:2
2
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. (Matthew 15:2)
. He states that they make mention “of the quantity of water sufficient for this washing—of the washing of the hands, and of the plunging of them; of the first and second water; of the manner of washing; of the time; of the order, when the number of those that sat down to meat exceeded five, or did not exceed; and other such like niceties.” Not content with the ordinary usage of washing after eating (see note on
2 Kings 3:11
11
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah. (2 Kings 3:11)
, #329) they carefully washed before eating, lest they should be injured by Shibta, “an evil spirit, which sits upon men’s hands in the night; and if any touch his food with unwashen hands that spirit sits upon that food, and there is danger from it.”
Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.
Previous Article
Next Article
Call: 1-630-543-1441
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, … rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
Authors
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
Y
Z
All Authors
Bibles
Books
All Books and eBooks
Commentaries
Hymnbooks
Magazines
Reference
Stories & Bios
Subjects
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
All Subjects
Bible Truth Study Bible
Español (Spanish)
More
All Articles
Audio
Charts
Conferences & Events
Hymnbooks
Illustrations & Quotes
Maps
Magazines
Poetry
Sunday School
Store