UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: finger

Semantic entry: 8.34

Semantic domains: Body, Body Parts, and Body Products

Subdomains: Parts of the Body

Definition: one of the five long and slender projections of the human hand, used for writing, pointing, grasping, and other activities

Notes: Though it may seem quite logical to speak of ‘writing with the finger’ (RV JHN 8:6 · LV JHN 8:6 · Read together JHN 8:6), in some languages one is required to speak of ‘writing with the hand.’ Similarly, in RV MAT 23:4 · LV MAT 23:4 · Read together MAT 23:4 the idiom ‘to lift a finger’ is more satisfactorily expressed as ‘to lift a hand.’ Expressions such as ‘to lift the hand’ and ‘to lift the finger’ must be carefully studied for their idiomatic significance, for ‘to lift the hand’ may mean ‘to release something,’ while ‘to lift the finger’ may be a lewd gesture.|In a number of languages the expression ‘to lift a finger’ (RV MAT 23:4 · LV MAT 23:4 · Read together MAT 23:4) may be best rendered as ‘to do a thing to help’ or ‘to help in any way.’ For δάκτυλος θεοῦ ‘the finger of God’ (RV LUK 11:20 · LV LUK 11:20 · Read together LUK 11:20), see 76.3: βραχίων / 76.3: δάκτυλος / 76.3: χείρ.

Sense 2: power

Semantic entry: 76.3

Semantic domains: Power, Force

Definition: power as an expression of the activity of a person or supernatural being{N:001}

Notes: In some languages there is no abstract term for ‘power.’ The equivalent of doing something by the power of someone is ‘someone makes it possible to do’ or, in a figurative sense, ‘someone gives strength to do.’