Laying on of Hands

Concept

The laying on of hands is a symbolic ritual act in both Testaments in which a person places their hands on another to convey blessing, appointment, healing, or the communication of the Spirit. In the OT, the practice accompanied the ordination of the Levites (Num. 8:10), the installation of Joshua as Moses's successor (Num. 27:18–23; Deut. 34:9), and the offering of sacrifices (Lev. 1:4). In the NT, Jesus laid hands on children to bless them (Matt. 19:13–15), on the sick to heal them (Mark 6:5; Luke 4:40), and on blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:52 implied). The apostles and early church used the laying on of hands in connection with the reception of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17–19; 19:6), healing (Acts 9:17; 28:8), and commissioning for ministry (Acts 6:6; 13:3). Paul instructs Timothy in the laying on of hands for ordination to church office (1 Tim. 4:14; 5:22; 2 Tim. 1:6) and lists it as one of the foundational Christian teachings (Heb. 6:2). The practice continues in Christian ordination and anointing for healing in most church traditions.