ἐκμάσσω

Pronunciation Guide: ek-MAS-so

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1591: Ἐκμάσσω (ekmasso) means to wipe off, wipe away, or dry by wiping. In biblical contexts, it specifically refers to the act of drying something by wiping it thoroughly, often carrying connotations of careful attention, devotion, and service. It combines thorough action (indicated by the prefix ἐκ-) with the basic concept of wiping or cleaning (μάσσω).

Etymology and Morphology

• Verb (Present Active Infinitive)
• Compound word from ἐκ (ek, “out of, from, away from”) + μάσσω (massō, “to touch, handle, squeeze”)
• Primary usage in narrative passages describing acts of devotion or service
• Relatively rare in the New Testament, appearing only 5 times
• Most frequently associated with acts of worship, devotion, or humble service

Ἐκμάσσω Morphology:

• ἐκμάσσω (present active infinitive) – to wipe off/dry
• ἐξέμαξεν (aorist active indicative, 3rd person singular) – she/he wiped off
• ἐκμάσσειν (present active infinitive, alternative form) – to wipe off/dry
• ἐκμάξασα (aorist active participle, feminine nominative singular) – having wiped off

Origin & History

The verb ἐκμάσσω has roots in classical Greek literature where it was used in everyday contexts of cleaning, wiping, or drying objects. In works like Hippocrates’ medical treatises, it described the clinical process of wiping away bodily fluids or applying remedies. By the time of the Hellenistic period, the word had taken on additional nuances beyond mere physical cleaning.

In the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, ἐκμάσσω appears rarely but significantly in contexts of cleansing or preparing sacred objects. Its limited but purposeful usage in both classical literature and the LXX prepared for its profound symbolic application in the New Testament, where it transcends mere functional cleaning to represent acts of devotion, service, and worship—particularly in the Gospel narratives featuring women who minister to Yeshua (Jesus) with extraordinary humility.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To wipe away thoroughly or completely (emphasizing thoroughness)
• To dry by wiping (emphasizing the result)
• To cleanse by wiping (emphasizing purification)
• To minister through the act of wiping (emphasizing service)
• To demonstrate devotion through the humble act of wiping (emphasizing worship)

Ἐκμάσσω Translation Options:

• “To wipe dry” – Captures the basic physical action but may miss devotional aspects
• “To dry by wiping” – Emphasizes the resulting condition of dryness
• “To wipe thoroughly” – Highlights the completeness of the action through the ἐκ- prefix
• “To minister by wiping” – Captures the service dimension present in biblical usage
• “To wipe in devoted service” – Best conveys both the physical act and its spiritual significance in most New Testament occurrences

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, ἐκμάσσω appears exclusively in contexts of profound devotion to Yeshua the Messiah. The word first appears in Luke 7:38, where a woman known as a sinner washes Yeshua’s feet with her tears and wipes them with her hair—an act of extraordinary humility and worship. This pattern continues in Luke 7:44 when Yeshua himself draws attention to this act of devotion.

Strikingly, the word appears again in John’s Gospel in a similar scene involving Mary of Bethany (John 11:2, John 12:3). Perhaps most profoundly, ἐκμάσσω is used in John 13:5 when Yeshua Himself takes on the role of a servant, washing and wiping His disciples’ feet. This creates a powerful theological framework where the act of wiping becomes a sacred demonstration of both worship toward God and humble service toward others.

• “And standing behind at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and wiped [ἐξέμασσεν] them with the hair of her head, and kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.” Luke 7:38
• “Then, turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped [ἐξέμαξεν] them with her hair.’” Luke 7:44
• “It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped [ἐκμάξασα] His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.” John 11:2
• “Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped [ἐξέμαξεν] His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John 12:3
• “Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe [ἐκμάσσειν] them with the towel with which He was girded.” John 13:5

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Near East, foot washing was a necessary act of hospitality, typically performed by the lowest servants in a household. Roads were dusty, and guests would arrive with dirty feet from traveling in open sandals. The cultural expectation was that a host would provide water for guests to wash their feet or have servants perform this menial task. For a woman to wash someone’s feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair represented an act of extraordinary humility and devotion that went far beyond normal social conventions.

Furthermore, a woman’s hair in Jewish culture was considered her glory and was typically kept covered in public. For a woman to let down her hair in a public setting, especially to use it for wiping a man’s feet, would have been shocking to witnesses—an utterly vulnerable display of complete devotion that transcended social norms. When Mary of Bethany wiped Yeshua’s feet with her hair, she was symbolically laying her glory at His feet in an act of worship. This profound cultural context makes the usage of ἐκμάσσω in these passages all the more significant, representing not just physical cleaning but total surrender and devotion.

Theological Significance

The theological richness of ἐκμάσσω emerges when we observe its usage pattern across the Gospels. The word creates a theological arc that begins with sinners worshiping Yeshua (Luke 7) and culminates with Yeshua Himself performing this humble act for His disciples (John 13). This trajectory reveals profound insights about God’s character and the nature of true discipleship.

In the sinful woman’s and Mary’s actions of wiping Yeshua’s feet, we see a picture of true worship—humble, costly, and complete. Their use of tears and expensive perfume represents giving one’s best to God. Yet in Yeshua’s washing and wiping His disciples’ feet, we see God’s character revealed in an even more astounding way—the Creator humbling Himself to serve His creation. This divine condescension perfectly illustrates Philippians 2:5-8, where Messiah empties Himself and takes the form of a servant. The theological message is clear: true greatness in God’s kingdom is measured by humble service, not by status or position.

Through these passages, ἐκμάσσω becomes more than a word about cleaning—it becomes a profound theological symbol of the upside-down values of God’s kingdom, where the greatest is the servant of all, where worship involves our whole being, and where God Himself demonstrates the humble service He calls us to embody.

Personal Application

The biblical usage of ἐκμάσσω invites us to examine our own approach to worship and service. Like the women who wiped Yeshua’s feet, are we willing to offer extravagant, culturally inappropriate devotion that might invite criticism from others? Are we willing to lay our “glory” at His feet in complete surrender? And like Yeshua Himself, are we willing to take up the towel of humble service, performing tasks that might seem beneath our dignity or status?

In a world obsessed with upward mobility and public recognition, the sacred act of wiping calls us to downward mobility—to follow our Master in humble service that seeks no acknowledgment. Whether in our worship or our relationships with others, ἐκμάσσω challenges us to move beyond token gestures to embodied, costly devotion that holds nothing back from God and withholds no service from others. When we embrace this pattern, we participate in the upside-down kingdom where the last become first, the humble are exalted, and those who lose their lives ultimately find them.

Related Words

• νίπτω (niptō, “to wash”) – Refers specifically to washing parts of the body, especially hands and feet, often in ceremonial contexts. Unlike ἐκμάσσω which focuses on the wiping/drying action, νίπτω emphasizes the washing itself. See G3538
• λούω (louō, “to bathe”) – Indicates complete washing of the entire body, more thorough than νίπτω. While ἐκμάσσω focuses on wiping away moisture or substances, λούω emphasizes immersive cleansing. See G3068
• καθαρίζω (katharizō, “to cleanse, purify”) – Extends beyond physical cleaning to ritual or spiritual purification. Where ἐκμάσσω is concerned with the physical act of wiping, καθαρίζω focuses on the resulting state of purity. See G2511
• σπόγγος (spongos, “sponge”) – A tool sometimes used for wiping or cleansing, complementing the action described by ἐκμάσσω. While not a direct synonym, it represents an implement that could be used in the wiping process. See G4699
• διακονέω (diakoneō, “to serve, minister”) – While not directly related linguistically, this word shares the conceptual space of humble service demonstrated in the biblical usage of ἐκμάσσω, particularly in John 13. See G1247

Did you Know?

• Did you know that the physical act described by ἐκμάσσω would have been particularly meaningful in ancient Mediterranean cultures where foot washing was essential hospitality? In a region where sandals were the primary footwear and roads were dusty and often muddy, the act of wiping feet clean was not merely symbolic but practically necessary for comfort. The fact that this practical necessity became elevated to a profound spiritual symbol in the New Testament demonstrates how Yeshua consistently transformed everyday actions into sacred teaching moments.
• Did you know that modern archaeological discoveries have uncovered numerous Roman-era homes with dedicated basins near entryways specifically for foot washing rituals? These discoveries confirm the cultural importance of the act described by ἐκμάσσω and help us understand why these Gospel scenes would have made such a powerful impression on their original audience. When Yeshua and the women in these narratives performed this act, they were engaging with one of the most familiar daily rituals in a revolutionary way.
• Did you know that in rabbinic literature contemporary with the New Testament, there are discussions about whether Jewish wives were obligated to wash their husbands’ feet, with some rabbis declaring that this act was too humiliating to be required? This context makes the voluntary actions of the women who wiped Yeshua’s feet all the more striking—they willingly performed an act that some rabbis considered beneath the dignity of a wife, demonstrating their extraordinary devotion. Even more shocking would have been Yeshua’s use of ἐκμάσσω in John 13, where the divine Messiah performs an act that human religious authorities considered too degrading for certain social relationships.

Remember This

Ἐκμάσσω reminds us that in God’s kingdom, the most mundane acts of service become sacred worship when done with a heart fully surrendered to Him, and that true greatness is measured not by who serves us, but by whom we are willing to serve.