אֶגְרֹף
the clenched hand
Definition
The Hebrew noun אֶגְרֹף (ʼegrôph) refers specifically to a 'clenched hand' or 'fist.' It denotes a hand that is tightly closed, typically in preparation for or during the act of striking someone. In its two biblical occurrences, the word is used in contexts of physical violence, describing the instrument of assault. In Exodus 21:18, it appears in a legal context concerning a fight where one person strikes another with a stone or with this 'fist.' In Isaiah 58:4, it is used metaphorically within a prophetic condemnation, where the people's fasting is accompanied by strife and 'striking with the fist of wickedness.'
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in contexts of aggression. In Exodus 21:18, it is part of casuistic law (case law) detailing penalties for injuries sustained in a brawl, specifying a blow delivered 'with a stone or with the fist.' In Isaiah 58:4, the prophet uses the term figuratively. He condemns the people's hypocritical fasting, which occurs alongside quarreling and violence ('you fast for strife and debate and to strike with the fist of wickedness'). The usage thus spans both a literal, legal description and a metaphorical image for oppressive, unjust behavior.
Etymology
אֶגְרֹף (ʼegrôph) is derived from the root גָּרַף (gāraph, H1640), which carries the basic sense of 'to sweep away' or 'to pluck.' In the specific sense used for this noun, the root conveys the idea of 'grasping' or 'seizing,' which naturally extends to the image of a hand closed tightly into a fist. The development is from the action of taking hold to the specific form the hand takes to deliver a blow.
Semantic Range
While a simple noun, אֶגְרֹף contributes to significant theological themes. In Exodus 21:18, it grounds the biblical concern for justice and proportional restitution in concrete, everyday violence, reflecting God's care for social order. In Isaiah 58:4, it becomes a powerful metaphor. The prophet exposes the hypocrisy of religious ritual (fasting) that is divorced from righteous living, equating their 'fist' with 'wickedness.' This contrasts sharply with the true fasting God desires, which involves loosing the bonds of injustice (Isaiah 58:6). Thus, the 'fist' symbolizes oppression and the antithesis of godly compassion.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, the fist was a primary instrument of personal violence in the absence of weapons. The law in Exodus 21:18 realistically addresses common communal disputes, showing that even fistfights could have serious legal and financial consequences, emphasizing the value placed on bodily integrity and communal peace. The metaphorical use in Isaiah aligns with prophetic rhetoric that often used physical imagery (hands, fingers) to represent moral actions—closed fists for greed and violence versus open hands for generosity and justice.
יָד (yāḏ, H3027) — The general word for 'hand,' which can be open or used for various actions, whereas אֶגְרֹף is specifically closed. כַּף (kaph, H3709) — Often refers to the palm of the hand or a hollow hand, contrasting with the solid, striking form of a fist.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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