Knowra Laying on of hands Laying on of hands Laying on of hands is a ritual gesture in biblical traditions in which one person places hands on another for blessing, commissioning, healing, or the transmission of authority.
Blessing : A spoken or enacted expression of favor, well-being, or divine protection. Biblical figures use touch with words to confer or declare a blessing.
Ritual : A patterned action performed according to shared religious or cultural conventions. The gesture functions within prescribed religious actions rather than as ordinary touch.
Jacob's blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh : A Genesis account in which Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons, crossing his hands over their heads. The scene links hand placement with a patriarchal blessing and the ordering of inheritance.
Apostolic succession : The claimed continuity of church authority from the apostles through successive generations of leaders. It treats the transmission of authority as a continuing institutional lineage, not only a ritual act.
Ordination : A rite that appoints a person to a religious office or ministry. Laying on hands marks the appointment and authorization of ministers.
Prayer : Communication with or address to a deity, often through petition, praise, or thanksgiving. Prayer frequently accompanies the gesture, especially in healing and commissioning.
Numbers 27 : A biblical chapter in which Moses appoints Joshua as his successor before the community. Moses lays hands on Joshua as part of transferring leadership and authority.
Charismatic healing : Prayer for healing associated with gifts of the Holy Spirit in charismatic Christianity. It emphasizes spiritual gifts and prayer, while laying on of hands names a particular gesture.
Anointing of the Sick : A Christian sacrament in which a priest anoints a sick person with oil and prays for them. Some Christian rites combine prayer and touch in seeking healing for the sick.
Blessing in the Bible : Biblical acts or words that confer, invoke, or declare favor and well-being. Biblical blessing supplies a central purpose for placing hands on another person.
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