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Hand

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

Conspicuous in Hebrew ceremonial and other customs

(Gen. 14:22²²And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, (Genesis 14:22); Deut. 21:6-7⁶And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley: ⁷And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. (Deuteronomy 21:6‑7); Matt. 27:24²⁴When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. (Matthew 27:24); Job 31:27²⁷And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand: (Job 31:27); Isa. 65:2²I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; (Isaiah 65:2)).

From Manners and Customs of the Bible:

Proverbs 11:21²¹Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. (Proverbs 11:21). Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished.

Literally, “hand to hand.” Striking hands, or touching hands, is an Oriental mode of sealing a bargain, and is sometimes practiced even in this country. “Give us your hand on that” is a colloquial expression occasionally heard among an inferior class of traders. In the East the parties making a contract touch each other’s right hands, and then each raises his hand to his lips or forehead. Sometimes the hands are simply joined. The text, then, is expressive of a covenant. See also Ezra 10:19¹⁹And they gave their hands that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their trespass. (Ezra 10:19); Ezekiel 17:18¹⁸Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape. (Ezekiel 17:18). A morn solemn form of expressing faithfulness, amounting, indeed, to an oath, is seen in the uplifted hand. See note on Genesis 14:22²²And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, (Genesis 14:22) (#5) and also on Ezekiel 21:14¹⁴Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it is the sword of the great men that are slain, which entereth into their privy chambers. (Ezekiel 21:14) (#577).

Joining hands was frequently practiced as a mode of pledging security, and is thus referred to in Job 17:3³Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? (Job 17:3); Proverbs 6:1; 17:18; 22:26¹My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, (Proverbs 6:1)
¹⁸A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. (Proverbs 17:18)
²⁶Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. (Proverbs 22:26).

For remarks on “giving the hand” as a pledge of submission, see note on Jeremiah 1:15¹⁵For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the Lord; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah. (Jeremiah 1:15) (#560).

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