849. autocheir
Lexical Summary
autocheir: One's own hand

Original Word: αὐτόχειρ
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: autocheir
Pronunciation: ow-TO-kheir
Phonetic Spelling: (ow-tokh'-ire)
KJV: with own hands
Word Origin: [from G846 (αὐτός - himself) and G5495 (χείρ - hands)]

1. self-handed, i.e. doing personally

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
with one's own hands.

From autos and cheir; self-handed, i.e. Doing personally -- with... Own hands.

see GREEK autos

see GREEK cheir

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 849: αὐτόχειρ

αὐτόχειρ, ἀυτοχειρος, (αὐτός and χείρ, cf. μακρόχειρ, ἀδικοχειρ), doing a thing with one's own hand: Acts 27:19. (Often in the tragedians and Attic orators.)

STRONGS NT 849a: αὐχέωαὐχέω; (in present and imperfect from Aeschylus and Herodotus down, but rare in prose); properly, to lift up the neck, hence, to boast: μεγάλα αὐχεῖ, James 3:5 L T Tr WH for R G μεγάλαυχεῖ which see

Topical Lexicon
Overview of the Term

Strong’s Greek number 849 appears once in the New Testament and conveys the idea of an action performed “with one’s own hands.” Though the word itself is rare, its concept threads through Scripture, highlighting personal agency, responsibility, and the dignity of labor.

Biblical Usage

Acts 27:19: “On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.”

Luke recounts how the frantic sailors, recognizing that passive hope would not save them, personally cast off the ship’s weight during a violent storm. The detail underscores human initiative in the midst of divine oversight; God had promised Paul that no life would be lost (Acts 27:22-24), yet the crew still worked strenuously.

Historical and Cultural Background

Ancient maritime practice required sailors to jettison expendable cargo during severe weather. Doing so “with their own hands” emphasized urgency—no hired stevedores or lower-ranking hands, but every man, regardless of status, joining in. Classical writers used similar expressions to stress direct, unmediated effort, contrasting it with delegating labor to servants. Luke’s seafaring vocabulary, likely learned from firsthand observation, mirrors technical language found in contemporary nautical manuals.

Theological Themes

1. Partnership of Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: The Lord guaranteed safety, yet the crew still acted (cf. Philippians 2:12-13).
2. Stewardship of Physical Work: Scripture consistently exalts labor performed personally (Genesis 2:15; Proverbs 31:13; Acts 18:3).
3. Urgency in Crisis: In moments of peril, believers are called to act decisively while trusting God’s providence (Nehemiah 4:9).

Broader Scriptural Parallels

1 Thessalonians 4:11—“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands...”
Ephesians 4:28—“...rather let him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he may have something to share with the one in need.”
2 Thessalonians 3:8—Paul “worked night and day... so that we would not be a burden.”

While these verses employ different Greek terms, they echo the spirit of the lone occurrence of 849: a commendation of personal, diligent effort.

Christological Reflections

Jesus spent most of His earthly life in manual occupation as a carpenter (Mark 6:3). His incarnational model confirms that labor performed “with one’s own hands” is not merely a human necessity but a divine vocation.

Practical Ministry Implications

• Encourage congregants to value practical service—setting up chairs, distributing food, repairing facilities—tasks often performed “with one’s own hands.”
• Model servant leadership: pastors, elders, and ministry leaders who engage in hands-on work embody Paul’s example aboard the storm-tossed vessel.
• Foster occupational integrity: believers in every trade can view their craft as worship, echoing Colossians 3:23.

Illustrations for Teaching

1. The storm on the Adriatic parallels modern crises: medical emergencies, financial downturns, social unrest. Like the sailors, Christians must discard hindrances—habits, possessions, even cherished plans—actively cooperating with God’s rescue.
2. Paul sewing tents (Acts 18:3) demonstrates bivocational ministry: spiritual authority wedded to manual proficiency.

Summary

Strong’s 849, though appearing only once, crystallizes a biblical principle: God honors—and often requires—direct, earnest effort from His people. From patriarchs till today, the faithful are called to trust His promises while employing their own hands in obedient action.

Forms and Transliterations
αυτοχειρες αυτόχειρες αὐτόχειρες αυτόχθονες αυτόχθονι αυτοχθόνων αυτόχθοσι αυτόχθοσιν αυτόχθων αυχένα αυχένας autocheires autócheires
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Acts 27:19 Adj-NMP
GRK: τῇ τρίτῃ αὐτόχειρες τὴν σκευὴν
NAS: tackle overboard with their own hands.
KJV: [day] we cast out with our own hands the tackling
INT: on the third [day] with own hands the tackle

Strong's Greek 849
1 Occurrence


αὐτόχειρες — 1 Occ.

848
Top of Page
Top of Page