Mark 7:4

Except they wash] lit. 'baptise themselves.' The Jews carefully distinguished 'washing' the hands, i.e. pouring water over them, from 'baptising' or dipping them. In Mark 7:3 pouring water over them is meant; but here, after a visit to the market-place, in which all kinds of defilement would be met with, dipping them is regarded as necessary. Dipping the hands was performed before meals, washing at meal-times. Washing of cups, etc.] The details are too intricate to be given here. In some cases the articles were washed, in others only sprinkled. The 'cup' is the Lat. sextarius = 1 pint. And of tables] rather, 'of beds,' or, couches for reclining at dinner.