Handle
Physical Handles in the Biblical World
The most direct reference to a handle as a physical object appears in Song of Solomon 5:5, where the beloved describes rising to open for her lover: "I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the bolt." The Hebrew word here is kaph, literally meaning "palm" or "hollow of the hand," indicating the part of the door bolt designed to be grasped. This intimate domestic detail grounds the poetic book in tangible reality, suggesting a well-appointed home with a locking mechanism requiring manual operation.
The Action of Handling: Touch and Examination
Biblical verbs translated as "handle" often involve physical touch with implications of testing, examining, or experiencing. In Luke 24:39, the resurrected Jesus invites his disciples: "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch (psēlaphaō) me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." This Greek verb implies careful, investigative touching to verify physical reality, affirming the bodily resurrection. Similarly, 1 John 1:1 declares of the incarnate Word: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched (psēlaphaō) with our hands, concerning the word of life." The apostles' physical handling of Jesus authenticated his true humanity.
Handling God's Word Rightly
A crucial metaphorical use appears in 2 Timothy 2:15, where Paul instructs Timothy: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling (orthotomeō) the word of truth." The Greek verb literally means "to cut straight" or "to guide along a straight path," suggesting careful, accurate interpretation and application of Scripture. This contrasts with those who "handle the word of God deceitfully" (2 Corinthians 4:2). Proper handling requires diligence, integrity, and skill.
Negative Handling: Mistreatment and Defilement
Scripture also describes wrongful handling. In Luke 20:11, Jesus' parable describes tenant farmers who "beat" and "treated shamefully" (atimazō) other servants sent to collect fruit, translated as "handled shamefully" in some versions. Colossians 2:21 warns against ascetic regulations: "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" (thigganō), using a general term for physical contact to critique human-made purity rules. These passages show handling as interaction that can harm others or create false spiritual barriers.
From Physical Grasp to Spiritual Discernment
The progression from literal handles to metaphorical handling traces a biblical theme: our physical interactions teach us about spiritual realities. Just as one must properly grasp a tool to use it effectively, so must believers properly grasp God's truth to live faithfully. The physical resurrection confirmed by handling gives confidence to handle the Scriptures that testify to it, creating a coherent witness from tangible experience to doctrinal truth.
Biblical Context
The term appears across both Testaments in varied contexts. The noun appears once (Song of Solomon 5:5). Verbal forms occur in historical narratives (e.g., Exodus narratives about handling holy objects), wisdom literature, the Gospels (especially resurrection accounts), and epistles. It functions literally in domestic and ritual settings, and metaphorically regarding treatment of people, interaction with material things, and most importantly, the interpretation of Scripture. Key passages include the resurrection appearances (Luke 24:39; John 20:27), apostolic testimony (1 John 1:1), pastoral instruction (2 Timothy 2:15), and warnings about false piety (Colossians 2:21).
Theological Significance
The concept of handling touches core theological themes: the reality of incarnation and resurrection (verified by physical touch), the proper interpretation of revelation (requiring careful handling of Scripture), and ethical treatment of others. It affirms that physical reality matters to faith—God entered space and time to be handled. It also emphasizes human responsibility: we are stewards who must handle God's truth accurately and handle others justly. The metaphor of 'rightly dividing' God's word (2 Timothy 2:15) suggests that biblical interpretation is skilled work requiring precision and care, much like a craftsman handling tools. Ultimately, how we handle what God has given—whether physical objects, interpersonal relationships, or divine revelation—reflects our reverence for the Giver.
Historical Background
Archaeology reveals various handles from the biblical period: door latch handles (as in Song of Solomon), tool handles, jar handles (often stamped with royal or potter's marks), and weapon handles. The 'handle of the bolt' (Song 5:5) likely refers to a wooden or metal bar securing a door from inside, with a carved or forged end for gripping. Culturally, handling had ritual dimensions: priests handled sacred objects (Exodus 28-30), while laypeople avoided handling what was holy or unclean. The Greek philosophical context influenced New Testament usage; some schools advocated avoiding physical pleasure through 'do not handle' rules, which Paul addresses in Colossians. The concept of 'handling' Scripture carefully aligns with Jewish scribal traditions of meticulous textual preservation and interpretation.