Hands; Hands, Imposition, Laying on of
Laying on of Hands in the Old Testament
The practice of placing hands on a person or animal is deeply embedded in the Old Testament. One of the earliest examples occurs when Jacob blesses his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh by laying his hands on their heads (Genesis 48:14-20). In this act, Jacob deliberately crosses his hands to place his right hand on the younger son, conveying the greater blessing to Ephraim. The gesture signifies the direct transfer of blessing and favor from one generation to the next.
In the sacrificial system, the offerer was required to lay hands on the head of the animal before it was slaughtered (Exodus 29:10, 15, 19; Leviticus 1:4; 3:2; 4:4). This act symbolized identification between the offerer and the sacrifice. On the Day of Atonement, Aaron laid both hands on the head of the live goat and confessed the sins of Israel over it (Leviticus 16:21), visibly transferring the people's sins to the animal before it was sent into the wilderness.
Commissioning and Authority
The laying on of hands also served to commission individuals for leadership and sacred service. When the tribe of Levi was set apart for service in the tabernacle, the Israelites laid their hands on the Levites (Numbers 8:10), symbolizing that the Levites would serve on behalf of the entire community. Most significantly, Moses commissioned Joshua as his successor by laying his hands on him (Numbers 27:18-23; Deuteronomy 34:9). The text explicitly states that Joshua was "full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him" (Deuteronomy 34:9).
In capital offenses, witnesses were required to lay their hands on the head of the accused before execution (Leviticus 24:14). This solemn act symbolized the witnesses taking responsibility for their testimony and identifying the condemned person as guilty.
Jesus and the Laying on of Hands
Jesus frequently laid hands on people during His earthly ministry. He placed His hands on children who were brought to Him, blessing them (Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:16). He also laid hands on the sick to heal them (Mark 6:5; Luke 4:40; Luke 13:13). In these acts, the physical touch of Jesus conveyed divine power and compassion.
The laying on of hands in healing was not a magical formula but an expression of Jesus' personal care and the channeling of divine authority. When Jesus touched a leper (Mark 1:41) or placed His fingers in a deaf man's ears (Mark 7:33), the physical contact underscored that healing came through personal encounter with the Son of God.
The Practice in the Early Church
The early church adopted and expanded the laying on of hands for several purposes. When the seven men were chosen to serve the Jerusalem community, the apostles prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:6). When Barnabas and Saul were sent out on their first missionary journey, the church at Antioch fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them (Acts 13:3).
The laying on of hands was also associated with receiving the Holy Spirit. When Peter and John visited the Samaritan believers, they laid hands on them and the believers received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17). Paul did the same with disciples at Ephesus (Acts 19:6). Ananias laid hands on the newly converted Saul so that he might regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17).
Timothy received his spiritual gift through the laying on of hands by the elders (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). Paul urged Timothy not to be hasty in laying hands on anyone (1 Timothy 5:22), indicating that the act carried real spiritual weight and should not be performed carelessly.
A Foundational Christian Doctrine
The author of Hebrews lists the laying on of hands among the foundational teachings of the Christian faith, alongside repentance, faith, baptism, resurrection, and eternal judgment (Hebrews 6:1-2). This placement reveals how central the practice was to early Christian identity and worship.
Throughout its biblical history, the laying on of hands consistently communicates one core idea: the transfer or communication of something from God through human touch, whether blessing, authority, the Holy Spirit, or healing. The act was always accompanied by prayer, recognizing that the true source of what was conveyed was God Himself, not the human hand.
Biblical Context
The laying on of hands appears throughout Scripture: in patriarchal blessings (Genesis 48:14), sacrificial rituals (Leviticus 1:4; 16:21), commissioning leaders (Numbers 27:18-23; Deuteronomy 34:9), Jesus' ministry of blessing and healing (Matthew 19:13; Mark 6:5), the early church's ordination of servants (Acts 6:6; 13:3), imparting the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17; 19:6), and Timothy's ordination (1 Timothy 4:14). Hebrews 6:2 lists it among the foundational doctrines of Christianity.
Theological Significance
The laying on of hands expresses the biblical conviction that God works through physical, embodied acts to convey spiritual realities. It affirms the continuity between God's authority and human agency, showing that blessing, commissioning, and empowerment flow from God through the community of faith. The practice also reflects the deeply relational nature of biblical faith, where spiritual gifts and callings are conferred not in isolation but through the tangible touch of the believing community.
Historical Background
The laying on of hands was practiced across ancient Near Eastern cultures in various ritual contexts. In Israel, it was integrated into the sacrificial system, leadership succession, and legal proceedings. By the Second Temple period, rabbinic ordination involved the laying on of hands, a practice called semikha. The early church continued and expanded this tradition, applying it to baptism, healing, ordination, and the impartation of spiritual gifts. The practice has continued in various forms across Christian traditions throughout church history.