📖 Biblical Definition
The biblical posture of open palms raised toward heaven — a posture of prayer, blessing, oath, and praise. Psalm 28:2: Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. Psalm 63:4: Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. 1 Timothy 2:8: I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. The image carries multiple registers: empty open palms of a soul receiving (the suppliant asking God to fill), raised hands of surrender (the soldier yielding), the priestly blessing gesture (Aaron lifting hands over Israel, Lev 9:22), the oath-posture (raising the hand to heaven in covenant, Gen 14:22). Christian liturgical posture has often reduced prayer to folded hands and bowed head — pieties that have their place, but that have largely displaced the biblical posture of lifted hands. The charismatic recovery of lifted hands in worship reflects a real biblical pattern, even where the surrounding theology has sometimes gone awry.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Hands raised in prayer or praise.
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The ancient gesture of devotion in which the worshiper raises both hands toward heaven, signifying dependence, supplication, and the offering of praise to God.
📖 Key Scripture
1 Timothy 2:8 — "I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands."
Psalms 63:4 — "I will lift up my hands in Your name."
Psalms 134:2 — "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD."
Lamentations 3:41 — "Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Either banned as charismatic excess or reduced to a concert hand-wave.
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Some traditions forbid lifted hands as emotionalism; others lift hands without holiness, swaying to a beat. Both miss Paul's instruction. Paul commands lifted holy hands, without wrath and doubting. The hands are lifted because the conscience is clean and the soul is open.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew nasa (lift) and Greek epairo (raise up) describe the same outstretched posture.
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H5375 — nasa — to lift, to bear, to carry
G1869 — epairo — to lift up, to raise
Usage
"Lift holy hands, not idle ones."
"Open palms preach what closed fists cannot."
"The body that surrenders raises its hands."