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hands in the Bible
Hebrew: יָד —transliteration: yad (appears 1617 times in Scripture) —meaning: hand
Greek: χείρ —transliteration: cheir (occurs 179 times in Scripture) —meaning: hand
Called by Galen of Pergamon “the instrument of instruments.” The hand is the symbol of human action.
Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension. —1 Timothy 2:8 NASB
…In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. —Psalm 9:16 NASB
“So when you [the wicked of Israel] spread out your hands in prayer,
I [God] will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are covered with [literally: full of] blood. —Isaiah 1:15 NASB
Washing hands
Washing the hands was a symbol of innocence (Psa. 73:13) or sanctification.
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” —Matthew 27:24 NASB
I hate the assembly of evildoers,
And I will not sit with the wicked.
I shall wash my hands in innocence,
And I will go about Your altar, O Lord,
That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving
And declare all Your wonders. —Psalm 26:5-7 NASB
Such [sinners] were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God. —1 Corinthians 6:10-11 NASB
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
And who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully. —Psalm 24:3-4 NASB
Kiss the hand
To kiss the hand is an act of homage (1 Kings 19:18; Job 31:27).
Pour water on another’s hands
To pour water on another person’s hands is to serve him, as in 2 Kings 3:11 which indicates that Elisha was the personal servant of Elijah.
But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of the Lord by him?”
So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, “Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.” —2 Kings 3:11 NKJV
Hand of God
The hand of God is the symbol of his power; its being upon one denotes favor (Ezra 7:6, 28; Isaiah 1:25; Luke 1:66, etc.) or punishment (Exodus 9:3; Judges 2:15; Acts 13:11, etc.).
Right hand
The right hand denoted the south, and the left the north (Job 23:9; 1 Samuel 23:19).
To give the right hand was a pledge of fidelity (2 Kings 10:15; Ezra 10:19); also of submission to the victors (Ezek. 17:18; Jeremiah 50:15).
The right hand was lifted up in taking an oath (Genesis 14:22, etc.).
The hand is frequently mentioned, particularly the right hand, as a symbol of power and strength (Psalm 60:5; Isaiah 28:2).
A position at the right hand was regarded as the chief place of honor and power (Psalm 45:9; 80:17; 110:1; Matthew 26:64).
King James Version of Psalm 77:2
In Psalm 77:2 KJV the correct rendering is “My hand was stretched out,” instead of, as in the King James Version, “My sore ran in the night.”
In the day of my trouble I sought the LORD;
My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
My soul refused to be comforted. —Psalm 77:2 NKJV
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