What does "right hand" mean?

[maw444]

Often in the Bible we read of people being at the right hand of a person (or God in the case of Christ) and I had always thought that this related to a postion of power, strength, and authority.

I went to a Bible study last night and the person there said it related to a Jewish custom at meal times. The right hand side was where a person of great trust, love, and respect was - usually the son of heir or the wife, and then the left hand side was the person with most trust, as they leant in the direction when eating.

What is right?

 

[football5680]

It goes back further than any Jewish custom or anything. Most people are right handed which is probably where it originated. You use your right hand more so it would be more valuable and everything else probably originated from this point. It has just always been viewed as a more honoring direction.

 

[Purge187]

Often in the Bible we read of people being at the right hand of a person (or God in the case of Christ) and I had always thought that this related to a postion of power, strength, and authority.

I went to a Bible study last night and the person there said it related to a Jewish custom at meal times. The right hand side was where a person of great trust, love, and respect was - usually the son of heir or the wife, and then the left hand side was the person with most trust, as they leant in the direction when eating.

What is right?

Probably both. They seem compatible.

 

[ebedmelech]

Often in the Bible we read of people being at the right hand of a person (or God in the case of Christ) and I had always thought that this related to a postion of power, strength, and authority.

I went to a Bible study last night and the person there said it related to a Jewish custom at meal times. The right hand side was where a person of great trust, love, and respect was - usually the son of heir or the wife, and then the left hand side was the person with most trust, as they leant in the direction when eating.

What is right?

We can overdo bible exposition. That's what this person has done. He/she has taken a Jewish custom and tied it to something the scripture does not.

The 'right hand" refers to a position power. Most people are right handed and therefore if their right hand were to be lost what can they do? Very little...they are almost powerless...their right hand being their "strong hand".

You are correct in what you always thought. As you read the scripture and it refers to "God's right hand"...it is a position of rule and authority.

It's where Christ is right now as we are told in Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, Hebrews 8:1, Hebrews 10:12, and Hebrews 12:2.

Hold to what you have always thought.

 

[pshun2404]

I think of it not only in this sense of a place of power and authority but in a place of trustworthiness...like your righthand man...one you can rely on...

Just a thought...

Paul