Mark 7:3

Strong's G#4435 πυγμή pugmé fist, punch, boxing, fist fight

πυγμῇ πατάξαι: Greek phrase meaning "to strike with the fist."

Exodus 21:18 in the Septuagint, which deals with laws related to bodily injury.

Isaiah 58:4, in the Septuagint, translation of  ולהכות באגרף "and to hit with a fist."

Iliad 23.669:

• In this passage from Homer’s Iliad, πυγμή is used in the context of a boxing match, referring to the act of fighting using fists. In this case, it describes a contest between warriors, and the phrase πυγμῇ νικήσαντα ("to win by punching") suggests the use of fists as the primary form of combat.

Euripides, Alcestis 1031:

• In Alcestis, the phrase πυγμὴν νικᾶν means "to win by pugilism" or "to overcome in hand-to-hand combat," emphasizing physical confrontation and endurance, much like in a boxing match.

Antipater of Sidon, AP 6.256:

• This passage, part of the Greek Anthology, commemorates a victory in a pugilistic contest, where ἄνδρας πυγμὰν ἐνίκα ("he defeated men in boxing") highlights the victorious athlete's skill in the sport of boxing.

Pindar, Olympian Ode 7.16 and 10(11).67:

• In Pindar’s works, πυγμή is referenced in the context of athletic victory, particularly in boxing, as an event in the ancient Greek athletic festivals. These Odes celebrated athletes who excelled in such contests, and πυγμή represents the specific contest of boxing.

Plato, Laws 795b:

• πυγμὴν ἀσκεῖν ("to practice boxing") is used in Plato’s Laws, where it refers to physical training for athletic contests. Plato discusses physical education and its role in shaping virtuous citizens, and boxing was seen as one of the ways to train the body for both strength and discipline.

Inscription, IG 7.1765 (Thespiae):

• This inscription, found in Thespiae, commemorates a boxer who won a contest, using the term πυγμὴν (boxing). It reflects the cultural importance of boxing and athletic competition in ancient Greece.