Study
Word study

Word study

Greek

Hand

χείρStrong’s G5495

cheir

Appears in 171 verses of the New Testament

In short

Cheir is the Greek word usually translated “hand” and “hands”. It appears in 171 verses of the New Testament.

“The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.”
2 Thessalonians 3:17 KJV
Meaning

Usually translated “hand” and “hands”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated
  • hand 88
  • hands 87
  • a hand 2
  • of hands 2

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most
  • Acts 45
  • Luke 25
  • Matthew 23
  • Mark 22
  • Revelation 17
  • John 13

21 books in all.

Related words
Explore in Scripture
All 171 verses, by book
Romans 1
10:21
1 Corinthians 4
4:1212:1512:2116:21
2 Corinthians 1
11:33
Galatians 2
3:196:11
Ephesians 1
4:28
Colossians 1
4:18
1 Thessalonians 1
4:11
2 Thessalonians 1
3:17
1 Timothy 3
2:84:145:22
2 Timothy 1
1:6
Philemon 1
1:19
James 1
4:8
1 Peter 1
5:6
1 John 1
1:1
Greek dictionary

χείρ cheir · hand

χείρ, genitive, χειρος (accusative, χεῖραν, 1Pe.5:6 T), ἡ, [in LXX chiefly for יָד ;] the hand: Mat.3:12, Mrk.3:1, Luk.6:6, al. mult.; ἡ χ., acting subject, Luk.22:21; pl., Act.17:25 20:34, 1Jn.1:1; τ. ἔργα τῶν χ., Act.7:41, Rev.9:20; ὁ ἀσπασμὸς τ. ἐμῇ χ., 1Co.16:21, Col.4:18, 2Th.3:17; prepositional phrases, esp. those without art., similar to Heb. constructions (Bl., §32, 4; 40, 9; 46, 9), ἐν χ.; with genitive (Lft., in l.), Gal.3:19; σὺν χ. ἀγγέλου, Act.7:35; διὰ (τῶν) χειρῶν (διὰ χειρός), Mrk.6:2, Act.5:12 7:25, al.; ἐπὶ χειρῶν, Mat.4:6, Luk.4:11; ellipse of χ. (ἡ δεξία, ἀριστερα; Bl., § …

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “hand” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

HAND, noun

[Latin hendo, in prehendo.]

  1. In man, the extremity of the arm, consisting of the palm and fingers, connected with the arm at the wrist; the part with which we hold and use any instrument.
  2. In falconry, the foot of a hawk; and in the manege, the fore-foot of a horse.
  3. A measure of four inches; a palm applied chiefly to horses; as a horse 14 hands high.
  4. Side; part; right or left; as on the one hand or the other.
All definitions and other forms of “hand”
  1. Act; deed; performance; external action; that is, the effect for the cause, the hand being the instrument of action.
  2. Power of performance; skill.
  3. Power of making or producing.
  4. Manner of acting or performance; as, he changed his hand
  5. Agency; part in performing or executing.
  6. Conveyance; agency in transmitting.
  7. Possession; power.
  8. The cards held at a game; hence, a game.
  9. That which performs the office of the hand or of a finger in pointing; as the hand of a clock; the hour hand and the minute hand
  10. A person; an agent; a man employed in agency or service.
  11. Form of writing; style of penmanship; as a good hand; a bad hand; a fine hand
  12. Agency; service; ministry. Exodus 4:2Leviticus 8:23
  13. In Scripture, the hand of God, is his eternal purpose and executive power. Acts 4:28
  14. The providential bounty of God. Psalms 104:28
  15. The power of God exerted in judgments or mercies, in punishing or defending. Judges 2:15Psalms 32:4
  16. The spirit of God; divine influence. 1 Kings 18:9
  17. The favor of God, or his support. Nehemiah 2:8Luke 1:1
  18. Near in time; not distant.“The day of Christ is at hand” 2 Thessalonians 2:2
  19. In a state of execution.“Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” Job 2:10
  20. Under one's care or management.“To put forth the hand against one, to kill him” 1 Samuel 24:10

HAND, verb transitive

To give or transmit with the hand

  1. To lead, guide and lift with the hand; to conduct.
  2. To manage; as, I hand my oar.
  3. To seize; to lay hands on. [Not used.]
  4. In seamanship, to furl; to wrap or roll a sail close to the yard, stay or mast, and fasten it with gaskets.

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.

Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.