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Bible Dictionaries
Hand (2)
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament
or HAND (כַּף,יָד ‘palm hollow of the hand’; χείρ; δεξιά ‘right-hand,’ ἀριστερά ‘left-hand’).—
OT usage.—In the OT there is a very large variety of meanings attaching to the word ‘hand’ and to expressions and phrases in which it occurs; a detailed consideration of these is not necessary here,* [Note: See art. ‘Hand’ in Hastings’ DB.] but a brief reference seems appropriate in view of the fact that NT usage is to some extent based, through the LXX Septuagint, on that of the OT. in its origin the Hebrew word probably meant ‘strength’ (cf. Assyr. [Note: Assyrian.] îdu = ‘strength’),† [Note: Oxford Heb. Lexicon, s.v.] and it is used in this figurative sense in Joshua 8:20 (‘there was not in them strength [lit. hands] to flee’), Psalms 76:5 (‘none of the mighty men have found their hands,’ i.e. they are powerless). The word is used in a number of other figurative senses, see the Oxford Heb. Lexicon under יָד, instructive is the passage Exodus 14:8 ‘the children of Israel went out with a high hand’ (cf. Exodus 15:6; Exodus 15:12, Numbers 11:23; Numbers 33:3); the reference is to the hand of Jehovah (‘with a high hand’ = with the help of the high hand, a meaning which the preposition בְּ frequently has); the ‘hand,’ strictly speaking, the ‘right hand’ (יָמִין), of God is the planet Venus;‡ [Note: For the proof of this statement see Nielsen, Die Altarabische Mondreligion und die Mosaische Ueberlieferung (Strassburg, 1904), pp. 111, 154 ff., where illustrations of S. Arabian cylinder seals are also given, showing ‘the hand of God’ with the planet Venus above it; the Divine hand has seven fingers.] this antique conception is much softened down, though a literal, anthropomorphic sense is still implied in the use of ‘hand’ in Psalms 102:25 ‘The heavens are the work of thy hands.’
In reference to man the word is used (just as is the case in the NT) in a variety of senses, according to the phrase in which it is found: ‘to put one’s life into one’s hand’ (Judges 12:3), means to be ready to jeopardize one’s life; ‘to clap the hands’ is a sign of joy (2 Kings 11:12); ‘to fill the hand’ ( Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 ‘consecrate’) is to install in office (Judges 17:5; Judges 17:12);§ [Note: On this idiom see Encyc. Bibl. ii. col. 1951.] ‘to lift up the hand’ (whether towards heaven or towards the altar is not always certain, see Nowack, Heb. Arch. ii. 260) was a symbolic action which accompanied an oath, it implied the calling of the Deity to witness|| [Note: | A later custom was to place the left hand on a tomb and quote Isaiah 58:11.] (Deuteronomy 32:40); the same action, with both hands, was the attitude adopted when blessing (Psalms 134:2); ‘to open the hand’ is to show geoerosity (Deuteronomy 15:11); to place the hands upon the head was a sign of grief (2 Samuel 13:19); to kiss the hand towards was a sign of homage (to a heathen deity in Job 31:27); ‘to lay the hand upon the mouth’ was done in token of humility (Proverbs 30:32, cf. Isaiah 52:15); ‘to strike hands’ meant to go surety for someone (Proverbs 6:1). All these symbolic actions with the hand were common in the time of Christ, as they are at the present day also in Syria, Arabia, etc.
There is one other use of the word in the OT which demands a passing notice; it means a sign or monument (1 Samuel 15:12, 2 Samuel 18:18, cf. Genesis 35:14); according to Schwally,¶ [Note: Das Leben nach dem Tode, p. 58, note. See also CIS, No. 199 ff.] it was originally so called because a hand was depicted upon the monument or pillar, this hand being a token of that wherewith the vow had been made (the uplifted hand), or perhaps wherewith an offering had been brought; in view, however, of what has been said above, it is more likely that this band slash was a representation of the hand of the Deity.
Usage in the Gospels.—In a very large number of cases in which ‘hand’ occurs, it is used in the ordinary literal sense; there is no need to give references for these. Not infrequently there is the expression ‘at hand’ in the Authorized and Revised Versions where in the original χΕίΡ does not occur: e.g. ‘the kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (ἤγγικεν); such passages do not properly belong to this article, and are not taken into account.
1. All those things which are done by means of the hand, or in which the visible part is done by the hand (such as the working of miracles, or taking hold of a person or thing) are described as being performed διὰ χειρός, διὰ τῶν χειρῶν, διὰ χειρῶν—τινος, Mark 6:2 etc.; ἐπὶ χειρῶν, Matthew 4:6, Luke 4:11; εἰς τὴν χεῖρα, Luke 15:22. ‘Hand’ is used frequently as a synonym for ‘power’ (Matthew 17:22, Mark 9:31, Luke 1:74; Luke 9:44); in the slightly different sense of ‘protecting power’ (Luke 23:46); still in the sense of power but coupled with the idea of ‘possession’ (John 10:28-29); as used in Luke 1:66 it contains the idea of God’s ‘furtherance’; then, again, it is used loosely,** [Note: * This is quite in accordance with OT usage, cf. e.g. Genesis 24:22 ‘hands’ used for ‘wrists.’] in the sense of ‘finger,’ in Luke 15:22 (‘put a ring on his hand’); lastly, it is referred to (in a peculiarly Oriental manner) as though it had, metaphorically speaking, sense: ‘if thine hand offend thee’ (σκανδαλίσῃ), and the same idea is conveyed in Matthew 6:3 ‘let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.’
2. But the most interesting use of ‘hand’ in the Gospels, as in the OT, is seen in idiomatic phrases in which it occurs; these may be briefly enumerated as follows:—‘To wash the hands’ (ἀπονίπτειν τὰς χ.) was a symbolic action denoting a repudiation of responsibility or a declaration of innocence (Matthew 27:24, cf. Psalms 26:6; Psalms 73:13); the same phrase, very nearly, νίπτειν τὰς χ., refers to the washing before meals in obedience to tradition* (Matthew 15:2). To ‘lay hands on’ is used in several senses; ἐπιβάλλειν τὰς χ. ἐπί τινα (or simply with the dat.) means to take hold of with violent intent (Mark 14:46); ἐπιτιθέναι τὰς χ. (or τὴν χ.) ἐπὶ τινα (or with dat.)† is synonymous with healing (Matthew 9:18, Mark 5:23); τιθέναι τὰς χ. ἐπί τινα is used of blessing children (Mark 10:16); ‘to put the hand to the plough’ (ἐπιβάλλειν τὴν χ. ἐπʼ ἄροτρον) is a metaphoric expression denoting the undertaking of some duty (Luke 9:62); different meanings attach to the phrase ‘to stretch forth the hands’: ἐκτείνειν τὰς χ. ἐπί τινα is used of taking someone prisoner (Luke 22:53), or (with the same construction) to indicate a person (Matthew 12:49); ἐκτ. τὴν χ. in Matthew 14:31 means to save from harm; the same expression in John 21:18 seems to be used in reference to the stretching out of the hands (in the sense of arms) on the cross. ‘To lift up the hands’ (ἐπαίρειν τὰς χ.) is the attitude of blessing (Luke 24:50); ‘to take by the hand’ (κρατεῖν τῆς χ.) means to take hold of someone with the purpose of helping (Mark 1:31); ‘to deliver up into the hands of’ (παραδιδόναι εἰς χ. τινος) is to give into the power of, with evil intent (Matthew 17:22), while διδόναι τι ἐν τῇ χ. τινος means to commit to the care of (John 3:35); ‘to commend [the spirit] into the hands of’ (παρατιθἐναι τὸ πνεῦμα εἰς χ. τινος) is to place oneself under God’s protection (Luke 23:46).
3. Lastly, there are many words in connexion with which ‘hand’ is not expressed, but implied; all these convey one or other, or both, of the root conceptions of this word, viz. strength and activity.
W. O. E. Oesterley.
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Hastings, James. Entry for 'Hand (2)'. Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/hdn/h/hand-2.html. 1906-1918.
