SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND

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

1. 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)
   
   
2. 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

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS IN THE BIBLE

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD

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