ἐπίθεσις (epithesis)
epithesis
laying on
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun epithesis literally means a laying on, derived from the verb for placing something upon another surface. In the New Testament, it appears four times, primarily in the Pastoral Epistles and Hebrews, where it describes the physical act of placing hands on someone. This usage is not merely symbolic but refers to a tangible gesture, such as when Paul reminds Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God received through the laying on of hands (2 Timothy 1:6).
While its primary biblical sense is this ritual contact, the word also carries a secondary meaning of attack or assault in extra-biblical literature like Second Maccabees. In Scripture, however, the focus remains on the deliberate act of imposition. It appears alongside other foundational teachings in Hebrews 6:2, listing it as one of the elementary doctrines that early Christians were expected to understand clearly.
Translators typically render this term simply as "laying on," preserving the physicality of the original Greek. The word highlights the concrete nature of apostolic commissioning and blessing, distinguishing the act from abstract prayer by emphasizing the bodily connection between the sender and the recipient.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word epithesis points to a simple, physical act: placing hands upon someone. In the New Testament, this gesture is not just a symbol but a tangible moment where blessing, commissioning, or the reception of spiritual gifts takes place. It reminds us that faith is lived out in community and through concrete acts of connection.
When Paul tells Timothy to stir up the gift given through the laying on of his hands (2 Timothy 1:6), he highlights how God uses human instruments to convey divine grace. This practice connects believers across generations, linking the apostolic witness with those who follow. It is a reminder that spiritual authority and blessing are often passed down through visible, shared moments.
Hebrews 6:2 lists this act among the elementary teachings of the faith, showing its foundational role in early Christian life. For you today, it invites reflection on how God works through people—through mentors, leaders, and fellow believers who lay hands in prayer or blessing. It is a humble, yet powerful way to experience God’s presence and commissioning in your own walk.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- laying on2×
- about laying on1×
- [the] laying on1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐπιθέσεως3×
- ἐπιθέσεώς1×
Key Verses
-
II Timothy 1:6
For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
This verse shows the word describing the specific channel through which Paul passed a spiritual gift to Timothy, linking personal ministry to divine empowerment.
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Acts 8:18
Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
Here the term identifies the apostolic action that visibly mediated the Holy Spirit’s descent, highlighting the tangible nature of spiritual authority in the early church.
-
Hebrews 6:2
of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
The word appears in a list of basic doctrines, indicating that the practice of laying on hands was a standard, understood element of Christian instruction and identity.