Bible Dictionary: Palm of the Hand

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

Palm of the Hand

PALM (OF THE HAND)

pam (kaph): The Hebrew word which is used in a variety of senses (see HAND; PAW) is usually translated "hand" in English Versions of the Bible, but the translation "palm" is found in 5 passages of the Old Testament, in 3 of which the Hebrew text adds the word yadh ("hand," 1 Samuel 5:4 2 Kings 9:35; Daniel 10:10). It would properly mean the "hollow hand" (root kaphaph, "to bend," "to curve"), which receives or grasps things. It is therefore used in reference to filling the priest's hands with sacrificial portions (Leviticus 14:15, 26). The palms of the hands of Dagon are mentioned as cut off, when the idol was found mutilated in the presence of the ark of Yahweh (1 Samuel 5:4), from which may be inferred that this idol probably was represented with hands spread out in blessing, as we find in numerous Babylonian representations of divinities.

In a beautiful metaphor God answers the repentant people of Jerusalem, who thought Yahweh had forgotten and forsaken them: "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands" (Isaiah 49:16; see also Ecclesiasticus 18:3). Daniel is touched upon the palms of his hands to wake him from sleep (Daniel 10:10).

In the New Testament we find the phrase, "to smite with the palms of the hands," as a translation of the Greek verb rhapizo (Matthew 26:67; see also 5:39 and Septuagint Hosea 11:4; 1 Esdras 4:30), and, derived from the same verb, rhapisma, a blow of the palm on the cheek, etc. (Mark 14:65 John 18:22; John 19:3, where, however, in English Versions of the Bible the word "palm" has not been given). The marginal translation "to smite or strike with rods" (Matthew 26:67 John 18:22; John 19:3) and "strokes of rods" (Mark 14:65 margin) does not seem to be applicable to the Greek text of the Old Testament and New Testament, while it is a frequent meaning of the words in classical language. It would therefore be better to eliminate these marginal additions.

H. L. E. Luering

Greek

4474. rhapizo -- to strike with a rod, hence to strike with the ...
... to strike with a rod, hence to strike with the palm of the hand. Part of Speech:
Verb Transliteration: rhapizo Phonetic Spelling: (hrap-id'-zo) Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4474.htm - 6k

4475. rhapisma -- a blow (with a stick or the palm of the hand)
... a blow (with a stick or the palm of the hand). Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: rhapisma Phonetic Spelling: (hrap'-is-mah) Short Definition: a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4475.htm - 6k

1325. didomi -- to give (in various senses lit. or fig.)
... grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew,
smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1325.htm - 12k

5180. tupto -- to strike, smite, beat
... and patasso, which denote a (usually single) blow with the hand or any instrument,
or plesso with the fist (or a hammer), or rhapizo with the palm; as well as ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5180.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

6447. pas -- palm (of the hand)
... 6446, 6447. pas. 6448 . palm (of the hand). Transliteration: pas Phonetic
Spelling: (pas) Short Definition: back. Word Origin (Aramaic ...
/hebrew/6447.htm - 6k

3709. kaph -- hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot) ...
... 3708b, 3709. kaph. 3710 . hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot),
a pan. Transliteration: kaph Phonetic Spelling: (kaf) Short Definition: hands ...
/hebrew/3709.htm - 6k

6446. pas -- flat (of the hand or foot)
... From pacac; properly, the palm (of the hand) or sole (of the foot) (compare pac);
by implication (plural) a long and sleeved tunic (perhaps simply a wide one ...
/hebrew/6446.htm - 6k

8168. shoal -- hollow hand, handful
... handful, hollow of the hand. From an unused root meaning to hollow out; the palm;
by extension, a handful -- handful, hollow of the hand. 8167, 8168. ...
/hebrew/8168.htm - 6k

2947. tephach -- a span, handbreadth, coping
... From taphach; a spread of the hand, ie A palm- breadth (not "span" of the fingers);
architecturally, a corbel (as a supporting palm) -- coping, hand-breadth. ...
/hebrew/2947.htm - 6k

Library

Earthly Things May be the Type of Heavenly, but the Latter Cannot ...
... Ye have heard "that the heavens are meted out in the palm of [His] hand:" [4059]
tell me the measure, and recount the endless multitude of cubits, explain to ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xix earthly things may be.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. Chap. v. 3 and 8, "Blessed are ...
... 1918] in Latin), and the earth is My footstool." But hast thou not read these words
as well, "Who has meted out the heaven with the palm of His hand?" [1919] I ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon iii on the words.htm

March the Eighth the Citizens of the Home-Land
... And every citizen of the home-land bears a palm in his hand. It is the
emblem of conquest and sovereignty. By the grace of Christ ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/march the eighth the citizens.htm

The Handwriting on the Wall
... of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the candlestick upon the plaster of
the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the palm of the hand that wrote ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/the handwriting on the wall.htm

Second Latin Form.
... And Peter said to him: Take this palm from the hand of our brother John, and going
into the city thou wilt find much people blinded, and declare to them the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the passing of mary/second latin form.htm

Chapter xx.
... great authority, where it is written that the Apostle Thomas imprecated on a certain
man, by whom he had been struck with the palm of the hand, the punishment ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/our lords sermon on the mount/chapter xx.htm

Palm Sunday
... Palm Sunday. Text: Philippians 2, 5-11. ... On the other hand, when he discloses
his grace, there is both the essence and its manifestation. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/palm sunday.htm

Chapter twenty-seven
... The man's hair was coal black except one spot on the top of his head about
as large as the palm of the hand, which was white. The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sheldon/in his steps/chapter twenty-seven.htm

Under Ban of the Ritual
... Mentu's eyes brightened wrathfully but the young man laid a soothing palm over
the hand that gripped the reed. "I do not mock thee, father. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter ii under ban of.htm

Consecration.
... One piece struck Louise on the palm of the hand just below the thumb, knocking
off the skin, but not producing a wound deep enough to bleed. ...
/.../byrum/the value of a praying mother/chapter v consecration.htm

Subtopics

Palm Tree in the Temple Seen in the Vision of Ezekiel

Palm Tree of the Prosperity of the Righteous

Palm Tree used As a Symbol of Victory

Palm Tree: Branches of, Thrown in the Path when Jesus Made his Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem

Palm Tree: Deborah Led Israel from Under A

Palm Tree: Jericho Was Called "The City of Palm Trees"