The Hands: Operations of, Mentioned: Holding
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In the biblical context, the hands are often depicted as instruments of action, power, and purpose. One of the primary operations of the hands mentioned in Scripture is the act of holding. This action is rich with symbolic and practical significance, reflecting both divine and human interactions.

Holding as a Symbol of Support and Protection

The act of holding is frequently associated with support and protection. In Isaiah 41:13, God reassures His people of His unwavering support: "For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.'" . Here, the imagery of God holding the hand of His people signifies His protective presence and guidance, offering comfort and assurance in times of fear and uncertainty.

Holding as an Expression of Authority and Control

Holding can also denote authority and control. In Revelation 1:16, the apostle John describes a vision of Christ: "In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest." . The act of holding the stars in His right hand symbolizes Christ's sovereign authority over the churches, represented by the stars, and His control over the cosmic order.

Holding as a Gesture of Possession and Ownership

The concept of holding is further illustrated in the context of possession and ownership. In Genesis 14:22-23, Abram declares to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, that I will not accept even a thread, or a strap of a sandal, or anything that belongs to you, so that you can never say, 'I made Abram rich.'" . Here, the act of raising the hand in an oath signifies Abram's commitment to God and his refusal to hold or possess anything that might compromise his integrity or divine blessing.

Holding as a Sign of Commitment and Covenant

The act of holding is also emblematic of commitment and covenant. In the context of marriage, the hands are often used to symbolize the binding nature of the marital covenant. In Malachi 2:14, the prophet speaks of the covenant between a man and his wife, highlighting the faithfulness required in holding to one's vows: "Yet you ask, 'For what reason?' It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant." .

Holding as a Means of Offering and Worship

In worship, the hands are used to hold offerings presented to God. Leviticus 7:30 instructs, "With his own hands he is to bring the offerings made by fire to the LORD. He shall bring the fat together with the breast, and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD." . The act of holding and presenting offerings signifies devotion and reverence, acknowledging God's sovereignty and provision.

Throughout Scripture, the operation of holding with the hands is imbued with deep spiritual and relational meaning. Whether symbolizing divine support, authority, possession, commitment, or worship, the act of holding reflects the multifaceted ways in which hands are used to interact with God and others in the biblical narrative.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Judges 7:20
And the three companies blew the trumpets, and broke the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow with: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Revelation 10:2
And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Introduction to Proverbs viii. 22 Continued. Contrast Between the ...
... Contrast between the Father's operations immediately and naturally in ... by means of
words but of hands, for they ... say that the Godhead there mentioned was Christ ...
/.../chapter xviii introduction to proverbs viii.htm

Caput xv.
... shoulders and elbows, and further, the hands, denote the ... should say that we have
not mentioned in order the whole Angelic Powers, or operations, or likenesses ...
//christianbookshelf.org/dionysius/on the heavenly hierarchy/caput xv.htm

Of the Prayer of Recollection which God Generally Gives the Soul ...
... The second reason is, that these interior operations being sweet ... rather abandon our
souls into the hands of God ... I told you I had mentioned divine consolations ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter iii of the prayer.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1836 to the ...
... and they strengthened each other's hands in the ... Here he commenced operations, uniting
manual labor with mental ... the arrival of the last-mentioned family, and ...
/.../chapter 14 from the close.htm

Question of the Contemplative Life
... they touch them, they drive them away with discreet hands. ... it can attain to the
above-mentioned uniformity. ... And this takes place when all the operations of the ...
/.../on prayer and the contemplative life/question clxxx of the contemplative.htm

General Conference of 1824
... With respect to lesser matters mentioned in the ... while the conference shall continue
its operations for the ... certain places still in the enemy's hands, and where ...
/.../chapter 7 general conference of.htm

The Poor Debtor.
... insurmountable, and he will fold his hands in helpless ... the mainspring of all your
business operations"be taken ... store, and from some cause mentioned the name ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arthur/words for the wise/the poor debtor.htm

The Catholic Apostolic Church (Called Irvingites. )
... He is little mentioned in the writings of his followers ... in him are made partakers
by the operations of the ... sacrament in which he places in her hands the symbols ...
/.../ 113 the catholic apostolic.htm

Difficulties and Objections
... the Lord says, "I have spread out My hands all the ... the New Testament where God's
love is mentioned limits it ... and not because of any internal operations of His ...
/.../pink/the sovereignty of god/chapter eleven difficulties and objections.htm

Jews and Gentiles in "The Land"
... heathen, just as in the similar case mentioned in Matthew ... in Syria for the basis
of their operations (Acts 15 ... Milk drawn from a cow by heathen hands, bread and ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 2 jews and gentiles.htm

Resources
Should we raise our hands/clap our hands during worship? | GotQuestions.org

Laying on of hands - what does the Bible say? | GotQuestions.org

Why did Jesus say, “Into your hands I commit my spirit,” on the cross? | GotQuestions.org

Hands: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Hands

Hands and Feet

The Hands of Power

The Hands of the Wicked, Described as Bloody

The Hands of the Wicked, Described as Ensnaring to Themselves

The Hands of the Wicked, Described as Mischievous

The Hands of the Wicked, Described as Slothful

The Hands of the Wicked, Described as Violent

The Hands were Lifted up in Blessing

The Hands were Lifted up in Praise

The Hands were Lifted up in Prayer

The Hands were Lifted up in Taking an Oath

The Hands were Washed in Token of Innocency

The Hands were Washed: After Touching an Unclean Person

The Hands were Washed: Before Eating

The Hands: (Cutting off) of Extreme Self-Denial

The Hands: (Lifted up Against Another) of Rebellion

The Hands: (Opened) Liberality

The Hands: (Shut) Illiberality

The Hands: Clapped Together in Joy

The Hands: Criminals often: Bound By

The Hands: Criminals often: Deprived of

The Hands: Criminals often: Hung By

The Hands: Criminals often: Mutilated In

The Hands: Custom of Domestics Pouring Water Upon, Alluded To

The Hands: Distinguished as The Left

The Hands: Distinguished as The Right

The Hands: God Makes Impotent

The Hands: God Strengthens

The Hands: Imposition of, a First Principle of the Doctrine of Christ

The Hands: Imposition of, Used in Blessing

The Hands: Imposition of, Used in Conferring Civil Power

The Hands: Imposition of, Used in Imparting the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

The Hands: Imposition of, Used in Ordaining Ministers

The Hands: Imposition of, Used in Setting Apart the Levites

The Hands: Imposition of, Used in Transferring Guilt of Sacrifices

The Hands: Kissed in Idolatrous Worship

The Hands: Many Alike Expert With Both

The Hands: Many had More Command of the Left

The Hands: Necessary Members of the Body

The Hands: Often Spread out in Prayer

The Hands: Operations of, Mentioned: Feeling

The Hands: Operations of, Mentioned: Holding

The Hands: Operations of, Mentioned: Making Signs

The Hands: Operations of, Mentioned: Striking

The Hands: Operations of, Mentioned: Taking

The Hands: Operations of, Mentioned: Working

The Hands: Operations of, Mentioned: Writing

The Hands: Parts of, Mentioned: The Fingers

The Hands: Parts of, Mentioned: The Palm

The Hands: Parts of, Mentioned: The Thumb

The Hands: Placed Under the Thigh of a Person to Whom an Oath Was Made

The Hands: Right Hand of Strength and Power

The Hands: Right Hand: (Full of Bribes) of Corruption

The Hands: Right Hand: (Full of Falsehood) of Deceitfulness

The Hands: Right Hand: (Holding By) of Support

The Hands: Right Hand: (Standing At) Protection

The Hands: Right Hand: (Withdrawn) Support Withheld

The Hands: Saints Blessed in the Work of

The Hands: Servants Directed by Movements of

The Hands: should be Employed in Acts of Benevolence

The Hands: should be Employed in God's Service

The Hands: should be Employed: Industriously

The Hands: Smitten Together in Extreme Anger

The Hands: Stretched out in Derision

The Hands: Suretiship Entered Into by Striking

The Hands: The Jews Carried a Staff In, when Walking

The Hands: The Jews Eat With

The Hands: The Right Hand of Healed Leper Touched With Blood of his Sacrifice

The Hands: The Right Hand of Healed Leper Touched With Oil

The Hands: The Right Hand of Priests Touched With Blood of Consecration-Ram

The Hands: The Right Hand used in Embracing

The Hands: The Right Hand: Given in Token of Friendship

The Hands: The Right Hand: Place of Honor

The Hands: The Right Hand: Place of Power

The Hands: The Right Hand: Signet Worn On

The Hands: The Right Hand: Sworn By

The Hands: The Right Hand: The Accuser Stood At, of the Accused

The Hands: The Wicked Recompensed for the Work of

The Hands: Treaties Made by Joining

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Is'the (1 Occurrence)

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Saying'the (1 Occurrence)

Jok'the-el (1 Occurrence)

The-oph'ilus (2 Occurrences)

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Vegetation (18 Occurrences)

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Kids (12 Occurrences)

Killeth (23 Occurrences)

Vial (12 Occurrences)

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Home-born (14 Occurrences)

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Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Kibrothhattaavah (5 Occurrences)

Victorious (17 Occurrences)

Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)

Zenas (1 Occurrence)

Kneel (10 Occurrences)

Zachariah (6 Occurrences)

Kebar (8 Occurrences)

Kerethites (9 Occurrences)

Zeeb (3 Occurrences)

Zoheleth (1 Occurrence)

Zarethan (4 Occurrences)

Kinnereth (7 Occurrences)

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Visible (12 Occurrences)

Zeus (3 Occurrences)

Ziph (9 Occurrences)

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Kedar (11 Occurrences)

Zichri (12 Occurrences)

Ko'rahites (6 Occurrences)

Zeru'iah (24 Occurrences)

Kei'lah (16 Occurrences)

24000 (10 Occurrences)

Vapor (6 Occurrences)

Vanished (13 Occurrences)

Verdict (7 Occurrences)

Violated (23 Occurrences)

Knop (4 Occurrences)

Visiting (10 Occurrences)

Zaphon (4 Occurrences)

Zephani'ah (10 Occurrences)

Zaccur (10 Occurrences)

Koz (5 Occurrences)

Kadmiel (8 Occurrences)

The Hands: Operations of, Mentioned: Feeling
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