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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Hands; Imposition, Laying on of
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im-pō̇-zish´un (ἐπιÌθεσις χειÏῶν, epıÌthesis cheirō̇n, ; ; ; ): The act or ceremony of the imposition of hands appears in the Old Testament in various connections: in the act of blessing (); in the ritual of sacrifice (hands of the offerer laid on head of victim, , , ; ; , , ; , , ; ; ); in witness-bearing in capital offenses (). The tribe of Levi was set apart by solemn imposition of hands (); Moses appointed Joshua to be his successor by a similar act (, ; ). The idea in these cases varies with the purpose of the act. The primary idea seems to be that of conveyance or transference (compare ), but, conjoined with this, in certain instances, are the ideas of identification and of devotion to God.
In the New Testament Jesus laid hands on the little children (, parallel ) and on the sick (; , etc.), and the apostles laid hands on those whom they baptized that they might receive the Holy Spirit (, ; ), and in healing (). Specially the imposition of hands was used in the setting apart of persons to a particular office or work in the church. This is noticed as taking place in the appointment of the Seven (), in the sending out of Barnabas and Saul (), at the ordination of Timothy (; ), but though not directly mentioned, it seems likely that it accompanied all acts of ordination of presbyters and deacons (compare ; ). The presbyters could hardly convey what they had not themselves received (). Here again the fundamental idea is communication. The act of laying on of hands was accompanied by prayer (; ; ), and the blessing sought was imparted by God Himself. No ground is afforded by this symbolical action for a sacrament of “Orders.†See SACRIFICE; MINISTRY; ORDINATION.