Laying on of Hands

A tenet of the Elementary Teachings about Christ

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Concordance terms:
lay hand     lay hands     laying      laid hand
laid hands
Synonyms:
put          deposit       place       set
According to Funk & Wagnalls Standard Handbook of Synonyms, Antonyms & Prepositions:

Put is the most general term for bringing an object to some point within some space, however exactly or loosely; we may put a horse in a pasture, or put a bullet in a rifle or into an enemy. Place denotes more careful movement and more exact location; as, to place a crown on one’s head, or cloth, or a garrison in a city. To lay is to place in a horizontal position; we lay cloth, or lay a book on a table. To set is to place in a definite position with the added inference of definite purpose; as, we set food before a guest; set milk to sour; set a trap for a mouse, etc. To deposit is to put in a certain place; as, to deposit money in a bank; the original sense, to lay down or let down (quietly), is equally common; as, the stream deposit is sediment.

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Life threatening, imprisonment, persecution, etc.
Gen. 22:12; 37:22

Signifies the shedding of blood (Abraham about to offer Isaac)

Ex. 7:4

God taking deadly action against Egypt

Lev. 3:2,8,13; 4:4,15,24,29,33

Lay his hand on an offering (various animals mentioned) and kill it.

Lev. 16:21

“Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their sins…, and shall send it away into the wilderness…”

Lev. 24:14

Penalty for blasphemy, “… let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him.”

Num. 8:12

The Levitical priest sacrificing

Neh. 13:21

Nehemiah threatens merchants

Esther 2:21

“sought” to murder the king

Esther 8:7

Haman executed because he sought to “lay his hand on the Jews.”

Matt. 18:28

Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant, “… that servant went out and found one… who owed him… and laid hands on him and took him by the throat.. his fellow servant… begged him saying, ‘have patience…’, And he would not, but… threw him into prison…”

Luke 21:12

Jesus telling of the last days and the destruction of Jerusalem, “… they will lay hands on you and persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons..”

Acts 4:3; 5:18

The Jewish authorities take the apostles into custody (NKV)

To Possess
Esther 9:10,15,16

“… they did not lay a hand on the plunder.” (the Res killing their enemies)

Psalm 139:1-5

You… have searched me and known me… know my sitting down and rising up understand my thought… comprehend my path… not a word on my tongue but… you know it altogether… You… laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.

To Inhibit
Job 29:9

To keep from talking by covering ones mouth.

Commission a Task, Duty, or Office, to inaugurate (KJV)
Num. 27:18

To inaugurate (KJV, commission, see Num 27:18-23), Joshua

Num. 27:23

To inaugurate (Joshua, son of Num)

Deut. 34:9

“Now Joshua… was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him… (See also under: The Holy Spirit Given)

Acts 13:3

The church at Antioch lays hands on Barnabas and Paul because the Holy Spirit had said: “Separate to Me Barnabas and Paul for the work to which I have called them.”

1 Tim. 5:22

“Do not lay hands on anyone hastily…”, 5:1-21 deal with Do’s & Don’ts of rebuking and exhorting.

Miraculous Healing
Matt. 9:18‑26

A ruler asks Jesus to bring back to life his daughter that just died, “… come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.”

Mark 5:22‑24; 35‑43

See Matt. 9:18 - Jarius a ruler of the synagogue has Jesus heal his daughter

Mark 6:5

Jesus healed the sick when He laid hands on them

Mark 16:17,18

“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Luke 4:40,41

Jesus heals many when He laid his hands on every one of them

Luke 13:10‑13

Jesus straightens a bent over woman (18 years) when He laid His hands on her

Acts 28:8

Paul heal Publius by laying his hands on him

The Holy Spirit Given
Deut. 34:9

“Now Joshua… was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him…”

Acts 6:6

Seven chosen to serve, whom they set before the apostles; and when 6:1-7 they had prayed, they laid hands on them… And Stephen… did great wonders and signs among the people.” (the 1st one other than the apostles & Jesus who worked wonders in the NT)

Acts 8:17‑19

Philip in Samaria works miracles and people believe, the apostles hear of this and send Peter and John, who came and prayed that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit. “For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the mane of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given…” Simon asking the apostles, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 19:6

At the laying on of Paul’s hand the Holy Spirit came upon re baptized believers and they spoke with tongues and prophesied

1 Tim. 4:14

“Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” [commission of a task?]

2 Tim. 1:6

Paul speaking to Timothy: “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

John 7:39

…Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.