Yahweh's Assembly in Yahshua - Questions & Answers

Q. I noticed some raise their hands overhead when praying. Others fold their hands in front of them. Is any of this Scriptural?

A. The word “hand” or “hands” is often used in Scripture as a substitute for an individual’s activities, dealings, and spiritual impulses. “To raise the hand” according to Harper’s Bible Dictionary means a revolutionary uprising, as in 1Kings 11:26.
            Let us look at some of the sincere prayers in the Old Testament in which the position of the hands is noted. King Solomon gave us a prime example of sincere prayer when the Temple was dedicated: “And [Solomon] stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands [palms]: For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth [lay open] his hands [palms] toward heaven” (2Chron. 6:12-13).
            Two Hebrew words, yad and kaph, are translated “hand” in the Old Testament, both of which have wide meanings.
            The Hebrew yad (Strong’s Concordance No. 3027) has various translations besides hand. Yad, indicating an open hand, denotes power, means, direction.
            Kaph (Strong’s No. 3709) also has several meanings, all of which are related to the primary sense of “hollow” or palm,” from a root meaning curved or bent.
            Therefore, kaph signifies a closed (cupped) hand, the hollow hand or palm. The Greek word cheir is always translated “hand.”
            Solomon used the Hebrew Kaph in his prayer, indicating he turned his open palms upward in front of him as if receiving a gift. It is unlikely he would kneel and then raise his hands over his head as seen in Pentecostal worship today. The palms were turned to Yahweh as offering one’s self to Him.
            The word “spread” is from the Hebrew paras (Strong’s No. 6566), meaning to break apart, disperse, and is translated break, chop in pieces, lay open, scatter, spread. Of this word, the Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament says in vol. 2, p. 739, “Most frequently the object of paras is “hand” (kap “palm,” 13 times; yad five times). This is, of course, a reference to the spreading of one’s palms before [Yahweh] in prayer...”
            When the law of Moses was read to those returned from captivity by Ezra on the day of Trumpets, we read: “And Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great El. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands [uplifted palms]: and they bowed their heads, and worshiped Yahweh with [their] faces to the ground.” (Neh. 8:6)
            The Bible does not say the people lifted their hands over their heads. Another translation reads, “They bowed their heads and prostrated themselves humbly before Yahweh,” NEB. So humbled were these people that they lay on the ground. Yahshua told us to enter into our closet to pray, indicating prayer is very solemn and personal.
            A formal prayer on behalf of the congregation would be an earnest and serious time, not disruptive. Raising the hands over the head in prayer was characteristic of pagan worship. In giving homage to the sun deity, the pagans would raise their hands toward the sun (thus shielding their eyes).
            The Hebrew words nasa (Strong’s No. 5375) and ruhm (No. 7311) simply mean to lift or raise. When a lady crosses a muddy street and lifts up or raises her skirt, it does not mean she raises it over her head!
            Allowing one’s hands to hang by one’s side indicates despair, hopelessness, and despondency, as we see in Hebrews 12. The message to the Hebrews up to this point was of encouragement, and now we are implored to take our problems to Yahweh in prayer:
            “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,” Hebrew 12:12. Turning the palms of our hands upward and spreading them out directly in front of us indicates that we are offering ourselves to Yahweh and expectantly await His response. Here the Greek words “lift up” derive from anorthoo, stemming from ana meaning “up” (Strong’s No. 303) and orthos meaning perpendicular or horizontally level (Strong’s No. 3717) – not vertically over the head.
            Paul gives proper instruction for prayer in the second chapter of 1Timothy and includes the proper demeanor for prayer. Beginning with verse eight, Paul admonishes that gathering for prayer should not include anger or disputing. Notice: “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.” (1 Tim. 2:8)
            This is pertaining to the posture of prayer in Isaiah 1:15, “And when you spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when you make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.” According to Keil and Delitzsch’s Old Testament Commentaries, Isaiah’s use of “spread out” (parash) is the gesture of prayer “as if with the feelings of emptiness and need, and with a desire to receive divine gifts help up the hollow or palm of his hand,” p. 1353.
            Our hearts and minds should be in a proper, confident attitude, and our hands should be ritually clean before praying.
            “And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hand [No. 3709, kaph = palms] unto Yahweh: and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth.” (Ex. 9:33)
            Our hands should reflect the humbleness of our hearts in requesting the favor of Yahweh, not with pretentious displays aimed at drawing attention to ourselves, but with receptive humility in seeking only Yahweh’s will in our lives. Yahshua said not to pray like the hypocrites, to be seen of men, Matthew 6:5. No better example for prayer can be found than in Matthew 6:9-13, Yahshua’s prayer to His Father. We are to acknowledge that Yahweh abides in and controls the universe. We are to hallow His Name as we look for His soon-coming Kingdom where His will shall be done. We ask for provision for our daily life, forgiveness for our trespasses as we extend forgiveness, and help to keep us from temptation. The proper attitude of humility and repentance is paramount.