και 2532 CONJ ιδοντες 1492 5631 V-2AAP-NPM τινας 5100 X-APM των 3588 T-GPM μαθητων 3101 N-GPM αυτου 846 P-GSM κοιναις 2839 A-DPF χερσιν 5495 N-DPF τουτ 5124 D-NSN εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S ανιπτοις 449 A-DPM εσθιοντας 2068 5723 V-PAP-APM αρτους 740 N-APM εμεμψαντο 3201 5662 V-ADI-3P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. Defiled (koinaiv). Lit., common; and so Rev. in margin, Wyc., and Tynd.That is. Added by way of explanation to Gentile readers.
Oft (pugmh). Rev., diligently. A word which has given critics much difficulty, and on which it is impossible to speak decisively. The Rev. gives in the margin the simplest meaning, the literal one, with the fist; that is, rubbing the uncleansed hand with the other doubled. This would be satisfactory if there were any evidence that such was the custom in washing; but there is none. Edersheim (" Life and Times of Jesus," ii., 11, note) says "the custom is not in accordance with Jewish law." But he elsewhere says ("The Temple," 206, note), " For when water was poured upon the hands they had to be lifted, yet so that the water should neither run up above the wrist, nor back again upon the hand; best, therefore, by doubling the fingers into a fist. Hence (as Lightfoot rightly remarks) Mark vii. 3, should be translated except they wash their hands with the fist." Tischendorf, in his eighth edition, retains an ancient reading, pukna, frequently or diligently, which may go to explain this translation in so man;y of the versions (Gothic, Vulgate, Syriac). Meyer, with his usual literalism gives with the fist, which I am inclined to adopt.
Holding (kratountev). Strictly, holding, firmly or fast. So Heb. iv. 14; Apoc. ii. 25; denoting obstinate adherence to the tradition.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
7:2 {With defiled, that is unwashen hands} (koinais cersin, tout' estin aniptois). Associative instrumental case. Originally koinos meant what was common to everybody like the _Koin_ Greek. But in later Greek it came also to mean as here what is vulgar or profane. So Peter in #Ac 10:14 "common and unclean." The next step was the ceremonially unclean. The emissaries of the Pharisees and the scribes from Jerusalem had seen "some of the disciples" eat without washing their hands, how many we are not told. Swete suggests that in going through the plain the disciples were seen eating some of the bread preserved in the twelve baskets the afternoon before across the lake. There was no particular opportunity to wash the hands, a very proper thing to do before eating for sanitary reasons. But the objection raised is on ceremonial, not sanitary, grounds.
