πυγμή (pugmē)
pugmē
fist
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun pugmē refers simply to a fist or clenched hand. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Mark 7:3, where it describes the specific manner in which Pharisees washed their hands. The text notes they did so "with the fist," indicating a thorough cleaning that likely extended up to the wrist or elbow, rather than a superficial rinse.
Its etymology connects to pux, a root emphasizing the hand as a tool for gripping or striking. This lexical background highlights the physical reality of the gesture: the hand is closed tight, suggesting both cleanliness and perhaps a readiness for action. The word itself carries no inherent moral weight; it is merely a anatomical descriptor used to illustrate the meticulousness of ritual purity practices.
Translators typically render pugmē as "fist" or "clenched hand," preserving the concrete image of the original text. By specifying this detail, the Gospel writer emphasizes the cultural rigor surrounding ceremonial washing, contrasting human tradition with the deeper spiritual concerns Jesus addresses in the same passage.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pugmē appears just once in the New Testament, found in Mark 7:3. It describes the Pharisees washing their hands with a fist. This detail highlights how specific and rigorous their ritual practices were. They did not simply rinse their fingers; they clenched their hands to ensure thorough cleansing.
Jesus uses this scene to teach about what truly defiles a person. He points out that external rituals cannot clean the heart. The physical act of washing is visible, but inner purity comes from faith and obedience to God. This passage invites us to look beyond outward appearances and focus on our relationship with Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- with a fist1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πυγμῇ1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 7:3
(For the Pharisees and all the Jews don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.
This verse uses the word to describe the specific physical manner in which Pharisees performed their ritual handwashing, emphasizing thoroughness.