ἄνιπτος

From the study of Mark 7:2

Range of meaning

'Unwashed', 'not rinsed'. It is built from the negative prefix a- and niptō, the verb for washing part of the body such as hands, feet or face (as opposed to louō, bathing the whole body). In the New Testament it occurs only here, in Mark 7:5 (some manuscripts) and in Matthew 15:20 ('to eat with unwashed hands').

Against the English

'Unwashed' is accurate as a word. But modern readers hear it as a hygiene issue: soap, germs, dirty hands. What is in view is a purity rite. Water was poured over the hands, and later rabbinic law specifies at least a quarter-log, roughly a small cupful (m. Yadayim 1:1). Hands that were physically clean but had not been ritually rinsed would still count as 'unwashed'.

How it drifted

Germ theory and modern hygiene make 'washing hands before meals' a health matter. Readers then picture the Pharisees as fussy about cleanliness, or the disciples as careless.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Torah, ritual washing of hands (and feet) is required of priests before serving at the altar (Exodus 30:17–21). Leviticus 15:11 mentions rinsing hands in connection with bodily discharges. Jewish texts from the diaspora show handwashing linked with prayer: Letter of Aristeas 305–306 and Sibylline Oracles 3.591–593. The Mishnah has a whole tractate on the subject, Yadayim ('Hands'). m. Berakhot 8:2–4 records disputes between the houses of Shammai and Hillel, schools active before 70 AD, about when to wash hands during a meal. m. Hagigah 2:5 says hands are washed for ordinary food. Matthew 15:2 and Luke 11:38 have parallels.

From the study of Matthew 15:20

Range of meaning

"Unwashed," from the negative prefix a- and niptō, "to wash" (used especially of parts of the body such as hands, feet and face, as opposed to washing the whole body or laundering clothes). In the Gospels it is a technical way of saying the hands have not been ritually rinsed.

Against the English

A modern reader hears "unwashed hands" as a hygiene problem: dirt and germs. The dispute is about ritual rinsing, which the Mishnah later calls "washing of hands" (netilat yadayim). Clean-looking hands could still be ritually "unwashed."

How it drifted

Modern germ theory made handwashing a health practice, so readers assume the issue is cleanliness rather than ritual status.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament the word occurs only here and in Mark 7:2 (and in some manuscripts at 7:5). The verb niptontai appears in Matt 15:2. Hand rinsing is attested in Jewish sources of the period: the Letter of Aristeas 305–306 describes Jews washing their hands in the sea before prayer. Later rabbinic law covers it in the Mishnah tractate Yadayim ("Hands"). The written Torah requires hand and foot washing only of priests serving at the altar (Exod 30:19–21).