Customs. (1) Pouring water on one's hands denoted serving of him (2 Kings (2) IVashing of hands imported profession of inno cence (Deut. xxi :6 ; Matt. xxvii :24) ; or a solemn purgation of one's self in Jesus' blood, and a reso lution to maintain a holy practice (Ps. xxvi:6). (3) Kissing of the hand to a thing imported adoration of it (Job xxxi :27). (4) The consecra tion of the priests was called a filling of their hands, because part of the consecrated offerings was put into their hands (I Kings xiii :33). (5) Leantng on one's hand imported the familiarity of a superior with his inferior (2 Kings v:18, and vii:17). (6) Striking of hands imports undertalc ing as surety for one's debt or good behavior (Prov. xvii:18, and xxii:26). (7) Putting the hand under the thigh was an ancient form. of swearing and subjection to the person under whose thigh the hand was put (Gen. xxiv:2, and xlvii: 29). (8) Giving of the hand imports malting a covenant with one, or serving him (2 Kings x:i5; Lam. v :6; Chron. xxix :2o). (9) Witnesses laid their hands on the head of the person ac cused; importing their solemn charging. him with guilt, or their readiness to be the first m stoning him (Deut. xiii:9, and xvii:7). (to) The He brews' laying their hands on their sacrifices before they were slain denoted the solemn confession of their sin, and of their deserving to die; their cere monial translation of their guilt on the victim (Lev. i 4. and xvi:21). (u) Laying on of hands was used in setting apart men to an office; thus Moses publicly set apart Joshua to the office of governor (Num. xxvii :18). So the Levites under the Old Testament, and ministers under the New, were set apart to their offices by laying on of hands (Num. viii rto; Acts xiii:3 ; Tim. iv rt4). This form was also used in blessing of persons; so Jacob blessed Yoseph's children (Gen. xlviii :14), and so Jesus blessed the little children brought to him (Mark x :16). 02) The miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost were conferred by laying on of the apostles' hands (Acts trill:17, and xix :6). (13) Stretching out the hand to God imports earnest prayer for his favors, and solemn dedication of ourselves to him (Ps. lxviii:3x, and cxliii :6). (r4) Lifting up the hand in affirmation was a form of solemn swearing much used an ciently (Gen. xiv:22). (r5) Lifting the hands in prayer, or by the priests in blessing, denoted the solemn wishing of blessings to come from God (Lev. ix:22).
Figuratitre. (t) To lift uft the hand against a superior is to rebel against him (2 Sam. xx :2x). (2) To put forth the hand against one is to kill him (I Sam. xxiv rto). (3) To pul our hand to our neighbor's goods is to steal them (Exod. xxii:8, tr). (4) To lay the hand on the mouth imports silence and an acknowledgment of guilt (Job x1:4; Mic. (5) To lay hands angrily on persons is to apprehend and smite them (Ex6d. xxiv : or seize on their country (Is. xi:14). (6) Hiding the hand in the bosom de notes great inactivity or sluggish aversion to do or receive anything (Prov. xix:24). (7) Clap ping of hands denotes great joy and rejoicing (Ps. xlviirt ; and the clapping of hands by trees and floods denotes universal joy and gladness (Is. lv:12; Ps. xcviii:8); but sometimes it denotes contempt and noisy derision (Ezek. xxv:6; Job xxxiv :37). (8) With respect to station, the seat on the right hand was honorable, that on the left not so much so (Matt. xx:21). (9) With respect to the points of the heavens, the left hand signifies the north, and the right hand the south; and yet sometimes it may only signify different quarters (Gen. xiii :9) ; and so our not turniug from God's law to the left hand or to the right imports our following it most exactly in every point, neither in dulging ourselves in neglect of what it requires, nor sretending to go beyond it (Josh. i:7, and Prov. iv:27). ( io) God's standing a• men's righd hand imports his regard to them, and readiness to plead their cause and assist and com fort them (Ps. xvi :8, and cix :31). (Ix) Satan's standing at inen's right hand imports his accusing of them, hindering them front their proper work ; and his readiness to torment them (Zech. ;
Ps. cix :6). (12) In giving alms we are not to let our left hand know what our right hand doth; e. we are to bestow them with all proper secrecy, and with no proud ostentation (Matt. vi :3). (13) Though hand join in hand, i. e. though all men should use their most vigorous and united efforts to protect a wicked man, he shall not go unpun ished (Prov. (r4) To be in the hand of persons is to be in their possession, or under their management, or under their power and dominion (Job xii:6; Gen. xxxix :6; 2 Kings xxi:r4; Ps. xxxi:t5). (is) A darling and apparently pleas ant and profitable lust to be mortified is likened to a right hand, or foot, or eye, to be cut off or plucked out (Matt. v :29, 3o, and xviii :8, 9). (16) To have one's life or soul in his hand is to be in extreme hazard of death 0 Sam. xix :5 ; Job xiii: 14; Ps. cxix rto9). (17) As hands are the instru ments of acting, doing, or receiving, they are often the emblems of power, and work. God's hand, or right hand, significs his power and the exertion thereof, either in a way of mercy or wrath (Ps. lxiii:8; Deut. xxxii:4o). So his powerful influence to instruct or support a prophet is called his hand being. on or with him (I Kings xviii:46; Ezek. 3, and iii rt4). His judgments executed are called his heavy.hand (I Sam. v :ix). His stretching out his hand imports the exertion of his power to pro tect arid deliver his friends, or terribly to punish his foes (Exod. iii;2o) ; or his continuing to threaten men with further strokes (Is. ix :z2, and xiv :26, 27). He will not stretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his destruction. Let friends mourn ever so bitterly, God will not by his power bring me or any other dead man to life again; nor will he pursue me further than the grave with his judgments (Job xxx:24). (18) God plucks his hand out of his bosom when he exerts his power for the deliverance of his people, and withdrazvs it when he forbears to help, com fort, or deliver them (Ps. lxxiv (r9) Christ sits at God's right hand; he is enthroned in his highest favor, and in the highest honor and au thority (Rom. viii:34). (2o) Christ stretching out his hands to men, in the offer of the gospel, denotes his earnest calling of them, his readiness to receive them and supply them out of his fullness (Is. lxv:2; Prov. i:24). (2r) Leng-th of days is in his or Wisdom's right hand, and in his left riches and honor. In receiving and walking in him in a wise and well-ordered conversation, there is to be had life and happiness both here and hereafter (Prov. iiirt6). He has the stars or ministers in his right hand; he supports, protects, andsoverns them (Rev. i rt6). (22) Angels and ministers have the hands of a man; they act with knowledge and affection (Ezek. :8). (23) Hands weak or hanging dawn denote persons dispirited and unfit for action (Job iv:3; Heb. xii :12). (24) To lift up the hands to God's commandments is to be devoted to and earnest in obeying God's law in our practice (Ps. cxix:48). (25) Clean and holy hands denote a blameless and holy practice (Ps. xxiv:4; x Tim. ii:8). (26) Hands defiled and bloody denote a practice corrupt and murderous (Ezck. xxiii :37; Is. i:i5). (27) Slack hands im port a careless inactive practice (Prov. x:4). (28) To do a thing by the hand of others is to do it by their assistance (Exod. iv rt3 ; Lev. viii:36; x :1 t, and xxvi :46, etc.) : and so wicked men are called the hand af Gad; as by them he exe cutes much of his providential work on earth, par ticularly in correcting his people (Ps. xv11:14)• (29) In Col. ii :13, 14, 'the law of commandments contained in ordinances' (Ephes. :I5), is desig nated 'the handwriting of ordinances that was against us,' which Jesus blotted out, and took away, nailing it to his cross ; phraseology which indicates the abolition, on the part of the Savior, of the Mosaic law.