Bible Encyclopedia: Finger

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

FINGER (1)

fin'-ger (Hebrew and Aramaic 'etsba`; daktulos): The fingers are to the Oriental essential in conversation; their language is frequently very eloquent and expressive. They often show what the mouth does not dare to utter, especially grave insult and scorn. The scandalous person is thus described in Proverbs 6:13 as "teaching" or "making signs with his fingers." Such insulting gestures (compare e.g. the gesture of Shimei in throwing dust or stones at David, 2 Samuel 16:6) are even now not infrequent in Palestine. The same habit is alluded to in Isaiah 58:9 by the expression, "putting forth of fingers. "

The fingers were decorated with rings of precious metal, which, with other jewelry worn ostentatiously on the body, often formed the only possession of the wearer, and were therefore carefully guarded. In the same way the law of Yahweh was to be kept: "Bind them (my commandments) upon thy fingers; write them upon the tablet of thy heart" (Proverbs 7:3).

Figurative: In 1 Kings 12:10 and 2 Chronicles 10:10 Rehoboam gives the remarkable answer to his dissatisfied people, which is, at the same time, an excellent example of the use of figurative language in the Orient: "My little finger is thicker than my father's loins," a figure explained in the next verse: "Whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions." The Hebrew word used here for little finger is qoTen, literally, "pettiness," "unimportant thing."

The "finger of God," like the "hand of God," is synonymous with power, omnipotence, sometimes with the additional meaning of the infallible evidence of Divine authorship visible in all His works (Psalm 8:3 Luke 11:20), especially in His law (Exodus 8:19; Exodus 31:18 Deuteronomy 9:10; compare Exodus 32:15, 16).

The finger or digit as a linear measure is mentioned in Jeremiah 52:21 (Greek daktulos; Josephus, Ant, VIII, iii, 4). It is equal to one finger-breadth, 1/4 of a hand-breadth (palm) = 18, 6 millimeters or.73 inches.

H. L. E. Luering

FINGER (2)

fin'-ger ('etsba`):

The smallest of the Hebrew linear measures. It was equal to the breadth of the finger, or about 3/4 inches, four of which made a palm (Jeremiah 52:21).

See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Greek

1147. daktulos -- a finger
... a finger. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: daktulos Phonetic Spelling:
(dak'-too-los) Short Definition: a finger Definition: a finger. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1147.htm - 6k

1146. daktulios -- a ring
... a ring. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: daktulios Phonetic Spelling:
(dak-too'-lee-os) Short Definition: a finger-ring Definition: a finger-ring ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1146.htm - 6k

2345. thiggano -- to touch
... handle, touch. A prolonged form of an obsolete primary thigo (to finger); to manipulate,
ie Have to do with; by implication, to injure -- handle, touch. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2345.htm - 6k

4379. prospsauo -- to touch
... touch. From pros and psauo (to touch); to impinge, ie Lay a finger on (in order
to relieve) -- touch. see GREEK pros. (prospsauete) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4379.htm - 6k

4557. sardonux -- sardonyx
... sardonyx. From the base of sardios and onux (the nail of a finger; hence the "onyx"
stone); a "sardonyx", ie The gem so called -- sardonyx. see GREEK sardios. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4557.htm - 6k

5554. chrusodaktulios -- with a gold ring
... with a gold ring. From chrusos and daktulios; gold-ringed, ie Wearing a golden
finger-ring or similar jewelry -- with a gold ring. see GREEK chrusos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5554.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

676. etsba -- a finger
... 675, 676. etsba. 677 . a finger. Transliteration: etsba Phonetic Spelling:
(ets-bah') Short Definition: finger. Word Origin from ...
/hebrew/676.htm - 6k

6995. qeton -- little (finger)
... 6994, 6995. qeton. 6996 . little (finger). Transliteration: qeton Phonetic
Spelling: (ko'-ten) Short Definition: finger. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/6995.htm - 6k

677. etsba -- a finger,toe
... 676, 677. etsba. 678 . a finger,toe. Transliteration: etsba Phonetic Spelling:
(ets-bah') Short Definition: toes. Word ... 2). finger, toe. ...
/hebrew/677.htm - 6k

2953. tephar -- a nail, claw
... nail. (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to tsaphar, and meaning the same as tsipporen;
a finger-nail; also a hoof or claw -- nail. see HEBREW tsaphar. ...
/hebrew/2953.htm - 6k

3384. yarah -- to throw, shoot
... flow as water (ie To rain); transitively, to lay or throw (especially an arrow,
ie To shoot); figuratively, to point out (as if by aiming the finger), to teach ...
/hebrew/3384.htm - 6k

2885. tabbaath -- signet ring, ring, signet
... Word Origin from taba Definition signet ring, ring, signet NASB Word Usage finger
rings (1), ring (2), rings (37), signet ring (7), signet rings (2). ring. ...
/hebrew/2885.htm - 6k

Library

Finger-Posts
... Finger-Posts. The Parable of the Finger-Posts. Waiting is harder work than working. ...
They had no finger-posts. Now the finger-posts were put up to show the way. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/finger-posts.htm

Why the Holy Ghost is Called the Finger of God.
... A Treatise on the spirit and the letter, Chapter 28 [XVI]"Why the Holy
Ghost is Called the Finger of God. "Now the Lord is that ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 28 xviwhy the holy.htm

To those who Contend that the Spirit Because He is Called the ...
... Book III. Chapter IV. To those who contend that the Spirit because He
is called the Finger is less� To those who contend that ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter iv to those who.htm

Preface.
... It is just as if they were anxious to see the new or the old moon, or some very
obscure star, and I should point it out with my finger: if they had not sight ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books /preface.htm

Preface
... It is just as if they were anxious to see the new or the old moon, or some very
obscure star, and I should point it out with my finger: if they had not sight ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books/preface.htm

A Miracle Within a Miracle
... It was very ignorant. She was sure that this Rabbi would heal her, but she expected
it to be done by the material contact of her finger with His robe. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/a miracle within a miracle.htm

From St. Luke's Eleventh ChapterOther Evidence that Christ Comes ...
... were casting out demons, but (as we have said) by the power of the Creator; and
that He might make this understood, He adds: "But if I with the finger of God ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxvi from st lukes eleventh.htm

The Elf
... First came the day's sins, counted on the fingers of the right hand, beginning
with the fourth finger. "Once," and down went the ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xx the elf.htm

Of Israel's Bondage in Egypt, their Deliverance, and their Passage ...
... They also received the law written by the finger of God, under which name the Holy
Spirit is signified, as it is declared with the utmost plainness in the ...
/.../on the catechising of the uninstructed/chapter 20 of israels bondage in.htm

The Holy Spirit in Relation to Prophecy. ...
... So in c.26, with regard to the Tables written with the finger of God, we have the
curious explanation: "Now the finger of God is that which is stretched forth ...
/.../the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/chapter 1 the holy spirit 2.htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp., one of the four extremities of the hand, other than the thumb.

2. (n.) Anything that does work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch, or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire, or piece, which is brought into contact with an object to effect, direct, or restrain a motion.

3. (n.) The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a measure in domestic use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one eighth of a yard.

4. (n.) Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical instrument.

5. (v. t.) To touch with the fingers; to handle; to meddle with.

6. (v. t.) To touch lightly; to toy with.

7. (v. t.) To perform on an instrument of music.

8. (v. t.) To mark the notes of (a piece of music) so as to guide the fingers in playing.

9. (v. t.) To take thievishly; to pilfer; to purloin.

10. (v. t.) To execute, as any delicate work.

11. (v. i.) To use the fingers in playing on an instrument.

Thesaurus

Finger (35 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Anything that does work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock, watch,
or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small projecting rod, wire ...
/f/finger.htm - 22k

Finger-rings (3 Occurrences)
Finger-rings. Finger, Finger-rings. Fingers . Multi-Version
Concordance Finger-rings (3 Occurrences). Exodus 35:22 They ...
/f/finger-rings.htm - 7k

Finger-work (1 Occurrence)
Finger-work. Fingers, Finger-work. Fining . Multi-Version Concordance
Finger-work (1 Occurrence). Judges 5:30 Do they not find? ...
/f/finger-work.htm - 6k

Shaking (162 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Leviticus 4:6 And the priest is to put his finger in the blood, shaking drops
of it before the Lord seven times, in front of the veil of the holy place. ...
/s/shaking.htm - 35k

Dip (17 Occurrences)
... Priests when offering a sin offering were required to dip a finger into the blood
of the sacrificed bullock and "to sprinkle of the blood seven times before ...
/d/dip.htm - 14k

Dipped (17 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Leviticus 4:6 and the priest hath dipped his finger in the blood, and sprinkled
of the blood seven times before Jehovah, at the front of the vail of the ...
/d/dipped.htm - 12k

Bottom (33 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:12 And thou shalt take of the blood of the bullock, and put it upon the
horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bottom ...
/b/bottom.htm - 20k

Drops (27 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Leviticus 4:6 And the priest is to put his finger in the blood, shaking drops
of it before the Lord seven times, in front of the veil of the holy place. ...
/d/drops.htm - 14k

Draining (20 Occurrences)
... Exodus 29:12 Then take some of the blood of the ox, and put it on the horns of the
altar with your finger, draining out all the rest of the blood at the base ...
/d/draining.htm - 13k

Sprinkled (55 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 4:6 and the priest hath dipped his finger in the blood, and sprinkled
of the blood seven times before Jehovah, at the front of the vail of the ...
/s/sprinkled.htm - 24k

Bible Concordance

Finger (35 Occurrences)

Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 7:33 He took him aside from the multitude, privately, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat, and touched his tongue.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 11:20 But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come to you.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 11:46 He said, "Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to carry, and you yourselves won't even lift one finger to help carry those burdens.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 15:22 "But the father said to his servants, "'Fetch a good coat quickly--the best one--and put it on him; and bring a ring for his finger and shoes for his feet.
(WEY NIV)

Luke 16:24 He cried and said,'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.'
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 8:6 They said this testing him, that they might have something to accuse him of. But Jesus stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 8:8 Again he stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground.
(WEB ASV RSV)

John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
(KJV WEY BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, "Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don't be unbelieving, but believing."
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:42 And Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck.
(See NIV)

Exodus 8:19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God:" and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he didn't listen to them; as Yahweh had spoken.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 29:12 You shall take of the blood of the bull, and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger; and you shall pour out all the blood at the base of the altar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 31:18 He gave to Moses, when he finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, stone tablets, written with God's finger.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 4:6 The priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before Yahweh, before the veil of the sanctuary.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 4:17 and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before Yahweh, before the veil.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 4:25 The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering. He shall pour out the rest of its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 4:30 The priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; and the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 4:34 The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; and all the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 8:15 He killed it; and Moses took the blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement for it.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 9:9 The sons of Aaron presented the blood to him; and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 14:16 The priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 14:27 and the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 16:14 He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 16:19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Numbers 19:4 and Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle her blood toward the front of the Tent of Meeting seven times.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 9:10 Yahweh delivered to me the two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which Yahweh spoke with you on the mountain out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 12:10 The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, "Thus you shall tell this people who spoke to you, saying,'Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter to us;' you shall say to them,'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 10:10 The young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus you shall tell the people who spoke to you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it lighter on us; thus you shall say to them, My little finger is thicker than my father's waist.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Esther 3:10 The king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
(See NIV)

Job 1:12 And the Lord said to the Satan, See, I give all he has into your hands, only do not put a finger on the man himself. And the Satan went out from before the Lord.
(BBE NIV)

Proverbs 6:13 who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers;
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 3:21 the finger-rings, and the nose-rings;
(DBY NAS)

Isaiah 58:9 Then you shall call, and Yahweh will answer; you shall cry, and he will say,'Here I am.' "If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 10:16 Then one whose form was like the sons of men put his finger on my lips; and opening my mouth, I said to him who was before me, O my lord, because of the vision my pains have come on me, and I have no more strength.
(BBE)

Subtopics

Finger

Finger: Six on One Hand

Fingerbreadth: A Unit of Measurement

Related Terms

Finger-rings (3 Occurrences)

Finger-work (1 Occurrence)

Shaking (162 Occurrences)

Dip (17 Occurrences)

Dipped (17 Occurrences)

Bottom (33 Occurrences)

Drops (27 Occurrences)