JIANDEl).
Hands are the symbols of human action ; pure hands are pure actions; unjust hands are deeds of injustice; hands full of blood, actions stained with cruelty, and the like (Psa. xc, 17; Job ix, 30; 1 Tim. ii, 8; Isa. i, 15). Washing of the hands was the symbol of innocence (Psa. xxvi.C); Ixxiii. 13). Of this Pilate furnishes an exam- ple (INiatt. xxvii, 24). It was the custom of the Jews to wasli tlieir hands before and after meat (see Mark vii,8 ; Matt, vi, 2; Luke xi, 38). Washing of hands was a symbol of erpiation, as might be shown by numerous references ; and of sancdjication, as appears from several passages (1 Cor. vi, 11 ; Isa. 1, 16 ; Psa. xxiv, 3, 4). See Washing of Hands. Paul, in 1 Tim. ii, 8, says, " I will therefore that men pray everj'where, lifting vp holy hands" etc. (see Job xi, 13, 14). ' The elevation or ex- tension of the right hand was also the ancient method of voting in popular assemblies, as indicated by the Greek term x^'^poTov'tn) (Acts xiv, 23; 2 Cor. viii, 19). In Psa. Ixxvii, 2, for " sore," the margin of our version has " hand ;" and the correct sense is, " Jly hands in the night were spread out, and ceased not."
To smite the hands together over the head was a ges- ture of despairing grief (2 Sam. xiii, 19; Jer. ii,37). The expression in Jer. ii, 37, " Thy hands upon thy head," may be explained by. the act of Tamar in laying her hand on her head as a sign of her degradation and sor- row (2 Sam. xiii, 19). The expression "Though hand join in hand" in Prov. xi, 21, is simply " hand to hand," and signifies through all ages and generations, ever: " through all generations the wicked shall not go mi- punished."
To the right hand signified to the south, the southern quarter, as the left hand signified the north (Job xxiii, 9; 1 Sam. xxiii, 19; 2 Sam. xxiv, 5). The term hand is sometimes used for a monument, a trophy of victory
(I Sam. XV. 12); a sepulchral monument, "Absalom's Place," lit('r;illy Absalom's Hand (2 Sam. xviii, 18; see Enhnaiiii. Mi'inniiii/l/n/i A h^alnmi, Helmst, 1740). So in Isa. hi, f), " to tluni will I give a place within my walls — a monument (or portion) and a name" (Gesenius, The- saur./Ieb.p. 568).
To give the right hand was a pledge of fidelity, and was considered as confirming a promise or bargain (2 Kings X, 15; Ezra x, 19); spoken of the vanquished giving their hands as a pledge of submission and fidel- ity to the victors (Ezek. xvii, 18 ; Jer. 1, 15 ; Lam. v, 0) ; so to strike hands as a pledge of suretiship (Prov. xvii, 18; xxii,26; 2 Chron.xxx,8,raargin). The right hand was hfted up in swearing or taking an oatli ((ien. xiv, 22; Deut. xxxii, 40 ; Ezek. xx, 28; Psa. cxliv, 11 ; Isa. Ixii, 8) ; similar is the Arabic oath, " By the right hand of Allah." (See Taylor's Fragments, No. 278.)
IIa7id in general is the symbol of power and strength, and the rif/ht hand more particularly so. To hold by the right hand is the symbol of protection and favor (Psa. xviii, 35). To stand or be at one's right hand is to aid or assist any one (Psa. xvi, 8; cix, 31; ex, 5; cxxi, 5) ; so also " man of thy right hand," i. e. whom thou sustainest, aidest (Psa. Ixxx, 17); "my hand is with any one," i. c. I aid him, am on his side (1 Sam. xxii, 17; 2 Sam. xxiii, 12; 2 Kings xxiii, 19); and to take or hold the right hand, i. c. to sustain, to aid (Psa. Ixxiii, 23; Isa. xli, 13; xiv, 1). So the right hand of felloirship (Gal. ii, 9) signifies a communication of the same power and authority. To lean upon the hand of another is a mark of familiarity and superiority (2 Kings V, 18; vii, 17). To give the hand, as to a mastei, is the token of submission and future obedience. Thus, in 2 Chron. xxx, 8, the Avords in the original, " Give the hand unto tlje Lord," signify. Yield yourselves unto the Lord. The like phrase is used in Psa. Lxviii, 31 ; Lam. V, 6. " Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress, so oiu- eyes wait upon the Lord our God" (Psa. cxxiii, 2), which refers to the watchful readiness of a servant to obey the least sign of command (Kitto's Dailg Bible Illust. ad loc). To kiss the hand is an act of homage (1 Kings xix, 18 ; Job xxxi, 27). To pour water on any one's hands signifies to serve him (2 Kings iii, 11). To "seal up the hand" (.Job xxxvii, 7) is to place one in charge of any special business, for which he will be held accountable. Marks in the hands or wrists were the tokens of servitude, the heathens being wont to imprint marks upon tlie bands of ser\-ants, and on such as devoted themselves to some false deity. Thus in Zech. xiii, 6, the man, when chal- lenged for the scars visible on his hands, would deny that they had proceeded from an idolatrous cause, and pretend tliat they were the effects of the wounds he had given himself for tlie loss of his friends. The right hand stretched out is the symbol of immediate exertion of power (Exod. xv, 12) ; sometimes the exercise of mercy (Isa. Ixv, 2 ; Prov. i, 24).