The Hebrew verb samak means to lean upon, to lay (a hand) upon, to rest weight on, to support or sustain. Its primary biblical usage involves the laying of hands in ceremonies of blessing, ordination, sacrifice, and consecration — placing weight upon someone or something as an act of identification, transfer, or endorsement.
The laying on of hands (samak) is foundational to both Testaments. In Leviticus, the offerer samaks his hands on the sacrifice, identifying with the animal and transferring his sin to it (Leviticus 1:4; 3:2). Moses samaks on Joshua, transferring authority and blessing (Numbers 27:23; Deuteronomy 34:9). This ceremony carries into the New Testament as epithesis tōn cheirōn — laying on of hands for ordination (1 Timothy 4:14), healing (Mark 6:5), and blessing (Matthew 19:13-15). The theology of identification and transfer makes samak a rich anticipation of the atonement: Christ became our substitute as our sin was, in effect, laid upon Him (Isaiah 53:6).