Hand is cheir in the Greek (G5495; from which we get our English word chiropractic). Emerging around 1600-1200 BC, the early Mycenaean period of Greek history, it is a truly ancient word. Originally, its reference was not just to the “hand,” but from the fingers to the shoulder or the entire arm. That’s why to say that Jesus was nailed to the cross through the wrists, not the palms is NOT contradictory (see word study on the cross,; Note John 20:25 So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.")
What stands out most is the symbolic meaning of cheir. Because a person’s actions is described as “work of the hands,” the hands turn out to be a symbol of power. For example, in Greek mythology, the term “in the hands of the gods” meant that the gods protected individuals and intervened in earthly events. The god of healing, Asclepias supposedly healed the sick by the touch of his hand.
According to the OT, falling into someone’s hands means to come under their power, as recorded in Judges 2:14 The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.
Israel’s idolatry caused them to be sold into the hands of their enemies by God. What is most noteworthy, however, is that in over 200 occurrences we see the term “the hand of Yahweh,” an indication of God’s activity through which He reveals Himself powerful in creation and work” (Exod. 7:4 "When Pharaoh does not listen to you, then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments.
Isa. 45:11-12 "It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands And I ordained all their host).
The same picture is evident throughout the NT. Additionally, it’s not only “Yahweh” who is in view, but Christ. As John 3:35 declares, "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand”. (John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God). Our Lord Himself declares in John 10:28: “and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand”.
Such a promise of security is most comforting!
Throughout the NT we see “God’s hands” picturing many facets of His activity: creation (Acts 7:50 'WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?'; Heb. 1:10 And, "YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;); sovereignty (Acts 4:28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.); righteous punishment (Heb. 10:31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.); special care (Luke 1:66 All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.); empowering the proclamation of the Gospel (Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.); and our humble submission to His providence (1 Pet. 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,).
What challenge does all this leave for us? Not only do we rejoice in it, but God also leaves us something to do with our hands. Let us each be “working with [our] hands the thing which is good” (Eph. 4:28).
Application of the Word: Read again the above cited verses about God’s activity and rejoice in all His accomplishments.
What stands out most is the symbolic meaning of cheir. Because a person’s actions is described as “work of the hands,” the hands turn out to be a symbol of power. For example, in Greek mythology, the term “in the hands of the gods” meant that the gods protected individuals and intervened in earthly events. The god of healing, Asclepias supposedly healed the sick by the touch of his hand.
According to the OT, falling into someone’s hands means to come under their power, as recorded in Judges 2:14 The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies.
Israel’s idolatry caused them to be sold into the hands of their enemies by God. What is most noteworthy, however, is that in over 200 occurrences we see the term “the hand of Yahweh,” an indication of God’s activity through which He reveals Himself powerful in creation and work” (Exod. 7:4 "When Pharaoh does not listen to you, then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the land of Egypt by great judgments.
Isa. 45:11-12 "It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands And I ordained all their host).
The same picture is evident throughout the NT. Additionally, it’s not only “Yahweh” who is in view, but Christ. As John 3:35 declares, "The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand”. (John 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God and was going back to God). Our Lord Himself declares in John 10:28: “and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand”.
Such a promise of security is most comforting!
Throughout the NT we see “God’s hands” picturing many facets of His activity: creation (Acts 7:50 'WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?'; Heb. 1:10 And, "YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;); sovereignty (Acts 4:28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.); righteous punishment (Heb. 10:31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.); special care (Luke 1:66 All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What then will this child turn out to be?" For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.); empowering the proclamation of the Gospel (Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.); and our humble submission to His providence (1 Pet. 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,).
What challenge does all this leave for us? Not only do we rejoice in it, but God also leaves us something to do with our hands. Let us each be “working with [our] hands the thing which is good” (Eph. 4:28).
Application of the Word: Read again the above cited verses about God’s activity and rejoice in all His accomplishments.
Hand - (Greek Cheir)
Pronounced - Khire
Pronounced - Khire
ΑΒΓΔΕΖΗΘΙΚΛΜΝΞΟΠΡΣΤΥΦΧΨΩ
"It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" - Jesus Matt. 4:4
Glorifying the Triune God by creatively declaring the relevancy and practicality of His timeless Word.