Mark 7:3

Diligently (pugmh). 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 pugmh (kin to Latin pugnus). Schultess considers it a dry wash or rubbing of the hands without water as a ritualistic concession. The middle voice nipswntai means their own hands. This verb is often used for parts of the body while louw is used of the whole body ( John 13:10 ). On the tradition of the elders see on "Mt 15:2".