Lay; Laying
The Laying On of Hands in the Old Testament
The practice of laying hands on someone carried enormous significance in the Old Testament. When Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, he deliberately placed his hands on their heads to confer his patriarchal blessing (Genesis 48:14). In the sacrificial system, the worshiper laid hands on the head of the offering, symbolically transferring sin to the animal before it was sacrificed (Leviticus 1:4; 16:21). Moses laid his hands on Joshua to commission him as his successor, transferring the authority to lead Israel (Numbers 27:18-23; Deuteronomy 34:9). These acts were not mere gestures but powerful symbols of the transfer of blessing, authority, and responsibility.
The Laying On of Hands in the New Testament
In the New Testament, the laying on of hands continued as a vital practice. Jesus laid His hands on the sick to heal them (Mark 6:5; Luke 4:40) and on children to bless them (Matthew 19:13-15). The early church adopted this practice for ordination and commissioning, as when the apostles laid hands on the seven deacons (Acts 6:6) and the church at Antioch set apart Paul and Barnabas for missionary work (Acts 13:3). Paul reminded Timothy of the spiritual gift he received through the laying on of hands (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). The author of Hebrews lists the laying on of hands among the foundational teachings of the faith (Hebrews 6:2).
Laying a Foundation
Scripture frequently uses the image of laying a foundation to describe establishing something enduring. God is described as laying the foundations of the earth (Psalm 104:5; Isaiah 51:13). Paul declared that he had laid the foundation of the church in Corinth, which is Jesus Christ Himself, and warned that others should build carefully upon it (1 Corinthians 3:10-11). Isaiah prophesied that God would lay in Zion a tested cornerstone, a precious foundation stone (Isaiah 28:16), a passage the New Testament applies to Christ (1 Peter 2:6). This imagery conveys the importance of building one's life and faith on what is solid and true.
Laying Down One's Life
Among the most powerful uses of this concept in Scripture is the idea of laying down one's life. Jesus declared that no one takes His life from Him but that He lays it down of His own accord (John 10:15, 17-18). This voluntary self-sacrifice is the ultimate expression of love, as Jesus taught: "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). The apostle John extended this principle to all believers, writing that we ought to lay down our lives for one another (1 John 3:16). Paul similarly described laying aside the old self and putting on the new (Ephesians 4:22-24).
Laying Aside Sin and Hindrance
The New Testament also calls believers to lay aside everything that hinders their spiritual life. The author of Hebrews urges Christians to "lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely" in order to run the race of faith with endurance (Hebrews 12:1). Peter encourages believers to put away all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander (1 Peter 2:1). James instructs his readers to "put aside all filthiness" and receive with meekness the implanted word (James 1:21). This language of laying aside describes the active, deliberate process of removing obstacles to spiritual growth.
The Breadth of Biblical Laying
From the laying of cornerstones to the laying on of hands, from laying up treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20) to laying down one's life for others, this concept spans the full range of biblical teaching. It touches worship, leadership, sacrifice, spiritual discipline, and daily conduct. In every instance, the act of laying involves intentionality and purpose, whether transferring a blessing, establishing a foundation, or surrendering oneself to God's will.
Biblical Context
The concept of laying appears throughout Scripture in diverse forms: the laying on of hands for blessing, healing, and ordination (Genesis 48:14; Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 4:14); laying foundations both literal and spiritual (Isaiah 28:16; 1 Corinthians 3:10-11); laying down one's life (John 10:15; 1 John 3:16); and laying aside sin (Hebrews 12:1; 1 Peter 2:1). It is woven through the Law, the Prophets, the Gospels, and the Epistles.
Theological Significance
The act of laying on of hands represents the tangible transmission of divine blessing, authority, and the Holy Spirit through human touch. Laying down one's life reflects the sacrificial love at the heart of the gospel. Laying a foundation points to Christ as the cornerstone of faith. Together, these uses reveal that God works through physical, tangible actions to accomplish spiritual purposes, and that genuine faith requires both receiving grace and actively surrendering to God.
Historical Background
The laying on of hands was practiced throughout the ancient Near East as a means of conveying blessing and authority. In Israelite worship, it was integral to the sacrificial system, and the practice was adopted by the early church for ordination and the impartation of spiritual gifts. Rabbinical tradition developed detailed rules about the practice, and it remains a central rite in Christian ordination, confirmation, and healing services to this day.