4435. pugmé
Strong's Lexicon
pugmé: Fist, a measure of length from the elbow to the knuckles.

Original Word: πυγμή
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: pugmé
Pronunciation: poog-MAY
Phonetic Spelling: (poog-may')
Definition: Fist, a measure of length from the elbow to the knuckles.
Meaning: the fist.

Word Origin: Derived from the base of πυγμή (pugmē), meaning "fist" or "a handful."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "pugmé," the concept of ritual washing is related to Hebrew terms like "טָהוֹר" (tahor, Strong's H2889) meaning "clean" or "pure," and "רָחַץ" (rachats, Strong's H7364) meaning "to wash."

Usage: In the New Testament, "pugmé" is used to describe a specific measurement, particularly in the context of ritual washing. It refers to the practice of washing up to the elbow, which was a traditional Jewish custom for ceremonial cleanliness.

Cultural and Historical Background: In Jewish tradition, ritual purity was of significant importance, and various practices were established to maintain it. One such practice was the ceremonial washing of hands, which extended to the elbow, known as "pugmé." This was not merely for physical cleanliness but was a symbolic act representing spiritual purity and adherence to the Law. The Pharisees and other religious leaders of the time placed great emphasis on these traditions, sometimes elevating them to the level of divine commandments.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from pux (the fist)
Definition
the fist
NASB Translation
carefully (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4435: πυγμή

πυγμή, πυγμης, (πύξ, from ΠΥΚΩ, Latinpungo, pupugi (pugnus; O. H. G. 'fust', English 'fist'; cf. Curtius, § 384)), from Homer down, the Sept. for אֶנְרוף (Exodus 21:18; Isaiah 58:4), the fist: πυγμή νίπτεσθαι τάς χεῖρας, to wash the hands with the fist, i. e. so that one hand is rubbed with the clenched fist of the other (R. V. marginal reading (after Theoph., others) up to the elbow; but cf. Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, 2:11), Mark 7:3 (where Tdf. πυκνά, see πυκνός). (Cf. James Morison's Commentary at the passage.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
fist

From a primary pux (the fist as a weapon); the clenched hand, i.e. (only in dative case as adverb) with the fist (hard scrubbing) -- oft.

Forms and Transliterations
πυγμαίς πυγμη πυγμή πυγμῇ πυθμένα πυθμένες πυθμένι pugme pugmē pygme pygmē pygmêi pygmē̂i
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Mark 7:3 N-DFS
GRK: ἐὰν μὴ πυγμῇ νίψωνται τὰς
NAS: unless they carefully wash
KJV: they wash [their] hands oft, eat not,
INT: if not carefully they wash the

Strong's Greek 4435
1 Occurrence


πυγμῇ — 1 Occ.















4434
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