Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Mark 7:3-5
Mark 7:3-5. For the Pharisees, &c., except they wash their hands oft Greek, εαν μη πυγμη νιψωνται τας χειρας , except they wash their hands with their fist: or, as some render it, to the wrist. Theophylact translates it, unless they wash up to their elbows; affirming that πυγμη denotes the whole of the arm, from the bending to the ends of the fingers. But this sense of the word is altogether unusual. For πυγμη , properly, is the hand, with the fingers contracted into the palm, and... read more
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Mark 7:1-23
See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 15:1-20.Mark 7:1Came from Jerusalem - Probably to observe his conduct, and to find matter of accusation against him.Mark 7:2Defiled hands - The hands were considered defiled or polluted unless they were washed previous to every meal.Mark 7:3Except they wash their hands oft - Our word “oft” means frequently, often. The Greek wore translated oft has been rendered various ways. Some have said that it means “up to the wrist” - unless they wash... read more