SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:3
(Porque los fariseos y todos los judíos, teniendo la tradicin de los ancianos, si muchas veces no se lavan las manos, no comen.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Mark 7:3
Verse 3. Except they wash their hands] pugmh, the hand to the wrist-Unless they wash the hand up to the wrist, eat not. Several translations are given of this word; that above is from Dr. Lightfoot, who quotes a tradition from the rabbins, stating that the hands were to be thus washed. This sort of washing was, and still continues to be, an act of religion in the eastern countries. It is particularly commanded in the Koran, Surat v. ver. 7, "O believers, when ye wish to pray, wash your faces, and your hands up to the elbows-and your feet up to the ankles." Which custom it is likely Mohammed borrowed from the Jews. The Jewish doctrine is this: "If a man neglect the washing, he shall be eradicated from this world." But instead of pugmh, the fist or hand, the Codex Bezae has puknh, frequently: and several of the Itala have words of the same signification. Bathing is an indispensable prerequisite to the first meal of the day among the Hindoos; and washing the hands and the feet is equally so before the evening meal. WARD'S Customs.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews , etc..] The far greater part of them; all, excepting the Sadducees; and especially the Pharisees, were very tenacious of this tradition of washing hands before eating: hence Pharisees are described as such, hrhjb hylw j ylkwa , that eat their common food with cleanness f133 , i.e. of hands: these, except they wash their hands oft, eat not ; or except they wash very cautiously, with great care, diligence, and exactness, as the Syriac version suggests; and about which there are various rules given, to be observed with great strictness f134 . Some render the words, they wash their hands to the elbow; and this is a rule with the Jews, which is closely to be abode by, that the washing of hands is to be, qr p d [ , to the joint, which joins the hand and arm together f135 : particularly it is observed f136 , that washing of the hands for the eating of the offering, is unto the elbow, and for common food, to the joints of the fingers: he that eats with an ancient man, and does not wash his hands to the elbow, he may not eat with him. Well may it be added, holding the tradition of the elders ; nor do the Jews pretend the authority of the Scriptures as obliging them to such rules; for, they say, the command concerning washing of hands is, yr p w s yrbdm , from the words of the Scribes f137 ; and is ymk j tw x m , a command of the wise men f138 . The tradition is this: they wash hands for common food, but for the tithe, and for the first offering, and for that which is holy, they dip them, and for the sin offering; for if the hands are defiled; the body is defiled f139 .
And this tradition of the elders, the Scribes, and Pharisees, strictly observed.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-13 - One great design of Christ's coming was, to set aside the ceremonia law; and to make way for this, he rejects the ceremonies men added to the law of God's making. Those clean hands and that pure heart whic Christ bestows on his disciples, and requires of them, are very different from the outward and superstitious forms of Pharisees of every age. Jesus reproves them for rejecting the commandment of God. It is clear that it is the duty of children, if their parents are poor, to relieve them as far as they are able; and if children deserve to di that curse their parents, much more those that starve them. But if man conformed to the traditions of the Pharisees, they found a devic to free him from the claim of this duty.
Greek Textus Receptus
οι 3588 T-NPM γαρ 1063 CONJ φαρισαιοι 5330 N-NPM και 2532 CONJ παντες 3956 A-NPM οι 3588 T-NPM ιουδαιοι 2453 A-NPM εαν 1437 COND μη 3361 PRT-N πυγμη 4435 N-DSF νιψωνται 3538 5672 V-AMS-3P τας 3588 T-APF χειρας 5495 N-APF ουκ 3756 PRT-N εσθιουσιν 2068 5719 V-PAI-3P κρατουντες 2902 5723 V-PAP-NPM την 3588 T-ASF παραδοσιν 3862 N-ASF των 3588 T-GPM πρεσβυτερων 4245 A-GPM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
7:3 {Diligently} (pugmei). Instrumental case, {with the fist}, up to the elbow, rubbing one hand and arm with the other hand clenched. Aleph had pukna probably because of the difficulty about pugmei (kin to Latin _pugnus_). Schultess considers it a dry wash or rubbing of the hands without water as a ritualistic concession. The middle voice niywntai means their own hands. this verb is often used for parts of the body while louw is used of the whole body (#Joh 13:10). On the tradition of the elders see on Mt 15:2.
