WhyWordStudies
Why do word studies? – Use “Hand” as the word to study.
Why the problem for translators to convert “Greek” or “Hebrew” into English? In those languages, as in our language there is meanings to each word that is varied. Take these phrases that use the common word “hand”:
My hand is against you. My hand hurts. Hand that over here. I give you my hand to help you today only. I give you my hand in service. My hand serves you. (How does all these things apply to the one who hears your words?)
Take this statement to someone: “I agree, Hands-up.” Does this mean to just raise your hands? – No it means a level of support by the sowing of your hands. But how would you write that in Greek? How would you write that idiom in any foreign language?
Using the simple word “hand” will examine it translation in Hebrew and Greek. How that word is translated differently in English in various verses. Try to understand why do a word study to enhance our understanding of the Bible.
The word “hand” hand conveys a message more than just the literal appendix at end of the arm. What happens when one applies the Metaphorically of that word? The word “hand” is translated as power or what had can done with it.
Looking at the hand does or what it represents. These phrases would show the hand being used in action: “The Hand of God” – as representing God’s power – as one is delivered by God’s hand.
To do word study one needs to understand the meaning of the word instead of just the one literal meaning. Instead what ‘sense’ could the word mean when used in different phrases? The Bible sense lexicon takes the different meanings like ‘hand’ when meaning ‘power’ or ‘hand’ that relates to ‘a delivery’ . It is the ‘sense’ of the word that has to be translated correctly or one looks at the others that are used, in the case, the Bible.
Genesis 16:12 (ESV)
12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand (H3027) against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.”
Genesis 16:6 (ESV)
6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power (H3027); do to her as you please.” Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.
When used as “Control” – Same Hebrew word (H3027) but translated ‘power’ for the sense of what the text called for. Strongs 3027. יָד yâd, yawd; a prim. word; a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from 3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adv., etc.) in a great variety of applications, both lit. and fig., both proximate and remote [as follow]:—(+ be) able, × about, + armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, × bounty, × broad, [broken-] handed, × by, charge, coast, + consecrate, + creditor, custody, debt, dominion, × enough, + fellowship, force, × from, hand [-staves, -y work], × he, himself, × in, labour, + large, ledge, [left-] handed, means, × mine, ministry, near, × of, × order, ordinance, × our, parts, pain, power, × presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, + swear, terror, × thee, × by them, × themselves, × thine own, × thou, through, × throwing, + thumb, times, × to, × under, × us, × wait on, [way-] side, where, + wide, × with (him, me, you), work, + yield, × yourselves.[1]
Closely related:
Strongs 3028. יַד yad (Chald.), yad; corresp. to 3027:—hand, power.
Strongs 3029. יְדָא yedâʾ (Chald.), yed-aw´; corresp. to 3034; to praise:—(give) thank (-s).
Here are some verses in Genesis that used H3027 as base word, but translated different in reference to the ‘sense’ of the text. Strongs 3027.
Genesis 24:10 (ESV)
10 Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, taking (H3027) all sorts of choice gifts from his master; and he arose and went to Mesopotamia to the city of Nahor. – Note Below:
Note the Senses (Gen.24:10):
The major ones are:
Hand
Power – hand that makes up the majority of meaning.
Others: Control (power), Possession (hold, have), Side, Person, Control (domination), Peg (fastener), care (management), and Part (component)
It is a comfort to know that God’s hand is where he holds his chosen ones.
Isaiah 49:2 (ESV)
2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away.
In Isa. 49:2, “hand” is used of God; God tells Moses that He will put His “hand” over the mouth of the cave and protect him. This is a figure of speech, an anthropomorphism, by which God promises His protection. God’s “hand” is another term for God’s “power” (cf. Jer. 16:21). The phrase “between your hands” may mean “upon your chest”: “And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands [upon your chest]?” (Zech. 13:6).[2] (Vine’s Dictionary)
Jesus speaks about the father protecting them:
John 10:27-29 (ESV)
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
In Verse 29 “hand” is used with the sense of control (domination) – Note the translation strip below:
Note the Green Word is G5495 and LN76.3 – a difference in Matt. 17:22, but same sense to the word.
G5495 χείρ [cheir /khire/] n f. Perhaps from the base of 5494 in the sense of its congener the base of 5490 (through the idea of hollowness for grasping); TDNT 9:424; TDNTA 1309; GK 5931; 179 occurrences; AV translates as “hand” 178 times, and not translated once. 1 by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one. 2 fig. applied to God symbolising his might, activity, power. 2a in creating the universe. 2b in upholding and preserving (God is present protecting and aiding one). 2c in punishing. 2d in determining and controlling the destinies of men.[3]
LN76.3 χείρc, χειρός f (a figurative extension of meaning of χείρa ‘hand,’ 8.30); βραχίων, ονος m (a figurative extension of meaning of βραχίων ‘arm,’ not occurring in the NT); δάκτυλοςb, ου m (a figurative extension of meaning of δάκτυλοςa ‘finger,’ 8.34): power as an expression of the activity of a person or supernatural being—‘power.’
χείρc: καὶ γὰρ χεὶρ κυρίου ἦν μετ’ αυ’τοῦ ‘for the power of the Lord was with him’ Lk 1:66; οὐχὶ ἡ χείρ μου ἐποίησεν ταῦτα πάντα; ‘did not my power do all these things?’ or ‘did not I use my power to do …?’ Ac 7:50.
βραχίων: ἐποίησεν κράτος ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ ‘he performed a great deed by his power’ Lk 1:51.
δάκτυλοςb: εἰ δὲ ἐν δακτύλῳ θεοῦ ἐγὼ ἐκβάλλω τὰ δαιμόνια ‘but if by the power of God I cast out demons’ Lk 11:20.
In some languages there is no abstract term for ‘power.’ The equivalent of doing something by the power of someone is ‘someone makes it possible to do’ or, in a figurative sense, ‘someone gives strength to do.’[4]
This is a Greek word in John 10:29 yet common understanding or the sense of the meaning.
Take note in “Greek” Srong’s G3588 or Lout-Nida LN92.24 definitions.
Matthew 17:22 (ESV)
22 As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands (G5495, a different LN8.30 from John 20:29) of men,
Sense: Control (domination) –
Greek Word in Lemma Tri. Is “cheir” G5495 – LN8.30
5495 χείρ [cheir /khire/] n f. Perhaps from the base of 5494 in the sense of its congener the base of 5490 (through the idea of hollowness for grasping); TDNT 9:424; TDNTA 1309; GK 5931; 179 occurrences; AV translates as “hand” 178 times, and not translated once. 1 by the help or agency of any one, by means of any one. 2 fig. applied to God symbolising his might, activity, power. 2a in creating the universe. 2b in upholding and preserving (God is present protecting and aiding one). 2c in punishing. 2d in determining and controlling the destinies of men.
LN 8.30 χείρa, χειρός f: a hand or any relevant portion of the hand, including, for example, the fingers—‘hand, finger.’ ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα ἥψατο αὐτοῦ ‘he stretched out his hand and touched him’ Mt 8:3. In rendering Mt 8:3 it would be inappropriate in some languages to translate literally ‘he stretched out his hand,’ since this would imply some kind of miracle of extending the hand itself. A correct rendering may be ‘he extended his arm and touched him with his hand.’
In Lk 15:22 χείρ refers to the finger, not to the hand, and therefore it is necessary to translate in most languages ‘put a ring on his finger.’
Strongs G 3588 ὁ [ho, he /ho/] article. In all their inflections, the definite article; GK 3836; 543 occurrences; AV translates as “which” 413 times, “who” 79 times, “the things” 11 times, “the son” eight times, and translated miscellaneously 32 times. 1 this, that, these, etc. Additional Information: Only significant renderings other than “the” counted.[5]
92.24 ὁ, ἡ, τό (pl. οἱ, αἱ, τά): a reference to an entity, event, or state, clearly identified by the linguistic or non-linguistic context of the utterance—‘the, he, she, it.’ τοῦ γὰρ καὶ γένος ἐσμέν ‘for we are also his offspring’ Ac 17:28; τὸ γὰρ ἅγιον πνεῦμα διδάξει ὑμᾶς ‘for the Holy Spirit will teach you’ Lk 12:12; παντὸς ἀκούοντος τὸν λόγον τῆς βασιλείας ‘everyone who hears the message about the kingdom’ Mt 13:19.
Hand (literal appendix of the arm)
Agency (Hand)
Acts 2:23 (ESV)
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands (G5495 – LN8.30) of lawless men.
G5495 – Quoted above…
LN 8.30 – Quoted Above
However the sense is “agency” …
A list of some of the scriptures where “control (domination) is the sense used:
[1] Strong, J. (2009). A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Vol. 2, p. 47). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[2] Vine, W. E., Unger, M. F., & White, W., Jr. (1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Vol. 1, p. 104). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson.
[3] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
[4] Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, pp. 679–680). New York: United Bible Societies.
[5] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.