Special Topic: HAND (ILLUSTRATED FROM EZEKIEL)

SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND

The word "hand" (BDB 388, KB 386) has several connotations and usages.

Usages in Isaiah
1. special imagery of revelation, Isa. 8:11; Jer. 15:17; Ezek. 1:3; 3:14,22; 8:1; 33:22; 37:1; 40:1
2. imagery for deliverance from Egypt, Exod. 3:20; 6:1; 13:3; 14:31
3. imagery for oath and/or judgment
  1. swing His hand, Isa. 19;16; Zech. 2:9
  2. lifts up His hand (BDB 669, KB 724), Isa. 26:11; 49:22; Deut. 32:40; Ezek. 20:5,6,23,28; 36:7; 44:12; 47:14
  3. stretches out His hand, Isa. 14:26-27; Ezod. 7:5; Jer. 6:12
4. imagery for creation, Isa. 19:25; 45:11-12; 48:13; 60:21; 64:8
5. imagery of care, Isa. 41:9,13; 42:6; 45:1 (JPSOA footnote, p. 800)
Usages in Ezekiel
1. literal (i.e. hand of a human)
  1. symbol of the entire person, Ezek. 3:18; 18:8,17; 33:6,8
  2. symbol of human weakness, Ezek.7:17,27; 21:7; 22:14
  3. symbol of foreign enemies, Ezek. 7:21; 11:9; 16:39; 21:31; 23:9,28; 28:10; 30:12; 34:27; 38:12; 39:23
  4. literal hand, Ezek. 8:11; 12:7; 16:11; 37:17,19,20
  5. symbol of false leaders' power, Ezek. 13:21,22,23; 34:10
  6. symbol of a nation, Ezek. 23:31,37,42,45; 25:14; 27:15; 28:9; 30:10,22,24,25; 31:11; 39:3
2. anthropomorphic of deity
  1. YHWH's giving of revelation, Ezek. 1:3; 3:14,22; 8:1; 33:22; 37:1; 40:1 (2:9 is other imagery of revelation—scroll on a hand)
  2. YHWH's power in judgment, Ezek. 6:14; 13:9; 14:9,13; 16:27; 20:33; 25:7,13,16; 35:3; 39:21
  3. YHWH Himself (His personal Presence), Ezek. 20:22
  4. YHWH's power to deliver, 20:34 (possibly key usage from Exodus, cf. 3:20; 4:17; 6:1; 7:19; 13:3)
  5. YHWH choosing not to act, Ezek. 20:22; also note v. 17 and Ps. 74:11
3. anthropomorphic of Cherubim, Ezek. 1:8; 8:3; 10:7,8,12,21
4. anthropomorphic of destroying angels, Ezek. 9:1-2; 21:11
5. symbol of a pledge or oath, Ezek. 17:18; 20:5 (twice), 6,15,23,28; 36:7; 44:12; 47:14 (see Special Topic: Promise [hand] from Ezek. 17:18)
6. symbol of joy, Ezek. 25:6
7. anthropomorphic of an angel, Ezek. 40:3,5; 47:3
8. anthropomorphic of a majestic angel in Dan. 12:7
Other uses for "hands"
1. Lift up hands ‒ this gesture has several connotations
  1. an act of blessing after a sacrifice by a priest ‒ Lev. 9:22 (i.e. some sacrifices were lifted up to YHWH)
  2. an act on the part of a worshiper after a sacrifice of incense ‒ Ps. 141:2
  3. a gesture toward the sanctuary ‒ Ps. 134:2
  4. a posture of prayer, hands raised
    1. Exod. 9:29 (Moses)
    2. 1 Kgs. 8:22 (Solomon)
    3. Lam. 2:19; 3:41 (Israel)
    4. Ps. 44:20 (idolatry)
    5. Luke 24:50 (Jesus)
    6. 1 Tim. 2:8 (believers)
  5. a posture for praise, adoration, or public confession ‒ Ps. 63:4
  6. a way to show YHWH's power as His staff was lifted up in Moses' hands ‒ Exod. 17:8-12)
2. Clap your hands together ‒ This physical gesture of clapping the hands denotes several emotions.
  1. affirmation, 2 Kgs. 11:12
  2. anger, Num24:10; Ezek. 21:14
  3. contempt/mockery, Job 27:23; 34:37 (possibly 36:18); Lam. 2:15; Ezek. 6:11; 25:3,6
  4. pledge/oath, Prov. 11:21; Ezek. 21:17
  5. joy, Ps. 47:1; 98:8; Isa. 55:12
    
    If you look these up you will see there is some overlapl in these categories and the exact emotion meant is often uncertain.

Special Topic: Angels in the Bible

Special Topic: Anthropomorphic Language to Describe God