UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

Sense 1: hand, finger

Semantic entry: 8.30

Semantic domains: Body, Body Parts, and Body Products

Subdomains: Parts of the Body

Definition: a hand or any relevant portion of the hand, including, for example, the fingers

Notes: In rendering RV MAT 8:3 · LV MAT 8:3 · Read together MAT 8:3 it would be inappropriate in some languages to translate literally ‘he stretched out his hand,’ since this would imply some kind of miracle of extending the hand itself. A correct rendering may be ‘he extended his arm and touched him with his hand.’|In RV LUK 15:22 · LV LUK 15:22 · Read together LUK 15:22 χείρ refers to the finger, not to the hand, and therefore it is necessary to translate in most languages ‘put a ring on his finger.’

Sense 2: person, agent

Semantic entry: 9.17

Semantic domains: People

Subdomains: Human Beings

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of χείρ[a] ‘hand,’ 8.30: χείρ) a human as an agent in some activity{N:001}

Sense 3: power

Semantic entry: 76.3

Semantic domains: Power, Force

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of χείρ[a] ‘hand,’ 8.30: χείρ) power as an expression of the activity of a person or supernatural being{N:002}

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.’

Sense 4: to be in the control of, to be in the power of

Semantic entry: 37.14

Semantic domains: Control, Rule

Subdomains: Control, Restrain

Definition: (a figurative extension of meaning of χείρ[a] ‘hand,’ 8.30: χείρ) a state of control exercised by a person

Notes: In some languages it may be necessary to express the meaning of ‘control’ in the context of RV ACT 12:11 · LV ACT 12:11 · Read together ACT 12:11 by a more specific reference to potential action, for example, ‘he rescued me and Herod could not do anything to me.’

Sense 5: to deliver to the control of, to hand over to

Semantic entry: 37.12

Semantic domains: Control, Rule

Subdomains: Control, Restrain

Definition: (an idiom, literally: to give into the hands) to hand someone over into the control of others

Notes: In a context such as RV MAT 26:45 · LV MAT 26:45 · Read together MAT 26:45, παραδίδοται εἰς χεῖρας may be rendered as ‘will hand him over to be arrested’ or ‘will cause him to be taken into custody.’

Collocations: παραδίδωμι εἰς χεῖρας

Sense 6: by, with the help of

Semantic entry: 90.2

Semantic domains: Case

Subdomains: Agent, Personal or Nonpersonal, Causative or Immediate, Direct or Indirect

Definition: (an idiom, literally: with the hand of) a marker of an associated agent

Forms: (followed by the genitive)

Collocations: σὺν χειρί

Sense 7: person, people

Semantic entry: 9.5

Semantic domains: People

Subdomains: Human Beings

Definition: (an idiom, literally: human hand) a human being as a means of accomplishing something

Collocations: χεὶρ ἀνθρωπίνη

Sense 8: to seize, to arrest

Semantic entry: 37.110

Semantic domains: Control, Rule

Subdomains: Seize, Take into Custody

Definition: (an idiom, literally: to lay hands on, and: to stretch out hands upon) to take a person into custody for alleged illegal activity{N:003}

Collocations: ἐπιβάλλω τὰς χεῖρας / τὴν χεῖρα ἐπί

Sense 9: to start to do something and then to hesitate, to begin but have second thoughts about continuing

Semantic entry: 68.6

Semantic domains: Aspect

Subdomains: Begin, Start

Definition: (a Semitic idiom, literally: one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back) to begin some activity requiring close attention but then to change one’s mind about proceeding

Notes: It is probably best to regard the phrase ἐπιβαλὼν τὴν χεῖρα ἐπ᾽ ἄροτρον καὶ βλέπων εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω as a part of a traditional saying referring to anyone who has second thoughts about undertaking some new or different enterprise, but the particular manner in which this is adapted to a statement concerning ‘the kingdom of God’ makes its strictly idiomatic structure somewhat doubtful.

Collocations: ἐπιβάλλω τὴν χεῖρα ἐπ᾽ ἄροτρον καὶ βλέπω εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω

Sense 10: to seize, to arrest

Semantic entry: 37.110

Semantic domains: Control, Rule

Subdomains: Seize, Take into Custody

Definition: (an idiom, literally to stretch out hands upon) to take a person into custody for alleged illegal activity

Collocations: ἐκτείνω τὰς χεῖρας ἐπί