Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, fingers are often mentioned in both literal and symbolic contexts, reflecting their importance in human activity and divine interaction. The term "fingers" is used to describe human actions, God's creative power, and spiritual truths.
Human Activity and SkillFingers are frequently associated with human skill and craftsmanship. In
Exodus 31:18, God gives Moses the tablets of the covenant, "inscribed by the finger of God," highlighting divine craftsmanship. Similarly,
Psalm 144:1 praises God for training the psalmist's hands for war and fingers for battle, indicating skill and readiness for action.
Divine Power and CreationThe fingers of God symbolize His creative power and authority. In
Psalm 8:3, the psalmist marvels at the heavens, "the work of Your fingers," acknowledging God's intricate design in creation. This imagery emphasizes God's sovereignty and the precision of His handiwork in the universe.
Judgment and AuthorityIn the context of judgment, fingers are used to convey authority and divine intervention. In
Daniel 5:5, during Belshazzar's feast, "the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall," signifying God's impending judgment on the Babylonian king. This event underscores the theme of divine authority and the consequences of human pride and disobedience.
Spiritual SymbolismFingers also carry spiritual symbolism in the teachings of Jesus. In
Luke 11:20, Jesus states, "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." Here, the "finger of God" represents the power of the Holy Spirit working through Jesus to establish God's kingdom and defeat evil.
Moral and Ethical ImplicationsIn the New Testament, fingers are used metaphorically to address moral and ethical behavior. In
Matthew 23:4, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees, saying, "They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." This rebuke highlights the hypocrisy of religious leaders who impose strict rules on others without offering assistance or compassion.
ConclusionThroughout the Bible, fingers serve as a powerful symbol of human ability, divine power, and moral responsibility. Whether illustrating God's creative work, His judgment, or the ethical teachings of Jesus, the imagery of fingers provides a rich tapestry of meaning that underscores the relationship between God and humanity.
Greek
1147. daktulos -- a finger... Word Origin of uncertain origin Definition a finger NASB Word Usage finger (6),
fingers (2). finger. Probably from deka; a finger -- finger. see GREEK deka.
...5597. psocho -- to rub
... rub. Prolongation from the same base as psallo; to triturate, ie (by analogy) to
rub out (kernels from husks with thefingers or hand) -- rub. see GREEK psallo....
4083. pechus -- the forearm, ie a cubit
... 4083 -- "traditionally the distance from the elbow to the end of thefingers, about
eighteen inches or one-half meter -- 'cubit, eighteen inches, half meter...
Strong's Hebrew
676. etsba -- a finger... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a finger NASB Word Usage finger (19),
fingers (10),
fingers and toes (1), toes (1). finger, toe.
...2947. tephach -- a span, handbreadth, coping
... From taphach; a spread of the hand, ie A palm- breadth (not "span" of thefingers);
architecturally, a corbel (as a supporting palm) -- coping, hand-breadth....
8337. shesh -- six (a cardinal number)
... sixteen sixth Masculine shishshah {shish-shaw'}; a primitive number; six (as an
overplus (see suws) beyond five or thefingers of the hand); as ord....
2167. zamar -- to make music (in praise of God)
... With zamar through the idea of striking with thefingers); properly, to touch the
strings or parts of a musical instrument, ie Play upon it; to make music...
677. etsba -- a finger,toe
... toes. Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to etsba Definition a finger,toe
NASB Word Usagefingers (1), toes (2). finger, toe. (Aramaic...
2239. zereth -- a span
... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition a span NASB Word Usage span (7).
span. From zarah; the spread of thefingers, ie A span -- span. see HEBREW zarah...
5059. nagan -- to touch or play a stringed instrument
... instruments, melody, ministrel, player,. A primitive root; properly, to
thrum, ie Beat a tune with thefingers; expec. To play on...
Library
I Rose up to Open to My Beloved; My Hands Dropped with Myrrh, and...
... CHAPTER V. 5. I rose up to open to my beloved; my hands dropped with myrrh,
and myfingers were bathed with the choicest myrrh....
Psalm CXLIV.
... 2. "Blessed be the Lord my God, who teacheth my hands for battle, myfingers for
war" (ver.1). These are our words, if we be the Body of Christ....
The Writer Sums up the Argument He had Commenced...
... and right hand, from the fact that the works of God are the same as are the works
of hands; and that those of hands are the same as those offingers; and lastly...
The Arrest of the Body
... tentacles which crowns the quivering pillar of the body, we get the rude approximation
to the most useful portion of the human Hand"the separatedfingers....
Whether Certain Monstrous Races of Men are Derived from the Stock...
... We know that men are born with more than fourfingers on their hands or toes on
their feet: this is a smaller matter; but far from us be the folly of supposing...
Psalm VIII.
... 7. "For I shall see Thy heavens, the works of Thyfingers" (ver.3). We read that
the law was written with the finger of God, and given through Moses, His holy...
How the Promise of an Hundredfold in this Life is Made to those...
... For in counting on yourfingers you transfer the number of an hundred from the left
hand to the right and though you seem to keep the same arrangement of the...
Of the Outer Limbs of Man, and their Use.
... the middle has been made solid; but the lower part has been made with a softened
cartilage annexed to it, that it may be pliant [1871] to the use of thefingers...
What is Man?
... Second Series Sermon 103 What is Man? "When I consider thy heaven, the work of thy
fingers, the moon and stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man?"...
The Foundations of Good Citizenship.
... contain ten decalogues, that is a decalogue of decalogues, suggesting that originally
a decalogue was associated with each of thefingers and thumbs of the two...
Thesaurus
Fingers (22 Occurrences)...Fingers (22 Occurrences).
... (KJV WBS). Matthew 26:23 "The one who has dipped his
fingers in the bowl with me," He answered, "is the man who will betray me. (WEY).
...Tall (41 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 21:20 And again there was war at Gath, where there was a very tall man,
who had twenty-fourfingers and toes, sixfingers on his hands and six toes on...
Finger (35 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) Skill in the use of thefingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument.
5. (vt) To touch with thefingers; to handle; to meddle with....
Twenty-four (26 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 21:20 And again there was war at Gath, where there was a very tall man,
who had twenty-fourfingers and toes, sixfingers on his hands and six toes on...
Thumb (7 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The short, thick first digit of the human hand,
differing from the otherfingers in having but two phalanges; the pollex....
Rephaim (32 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 21:20 And again there was war at Gath, where there was a very tall man,
who had twenty-fourfingers and toes, sixfingers on his hands and six toes on...
Giant (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 21:20 There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature,
who had on every hand sixfingers, and on every foot six toes, four and...
Grasp (20 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To seize and hold by clasping or embracing
with thefingers or arms; to catch to take possession of....
Flute (16 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A musical wind instrument, consisting of a hollow cylinder or pipe, with
holes along its length, stopped by thefingers or by keys which are opened by...
Toes (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 21:20 There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature,
who had on every hand sixfingers, and on every foot six toes, four and...
Resources
What is the hand of Hamsa? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did God create such a vast universe and other planets if there is only life on Earth? | GotQuestions.orgHow should a Christian respond to chain letters? | GotQuestions.orgFingers: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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