יָד (yad)
yad
hand
H:NQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1,255 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun yad literally means "hand," but its usage extends far beyond anatomy to symbolize power, authority, and capability. In the Old Testament, it frequently denotes strength or agency, as when God’s hand is described as the force behind creation or judgment. This figurative sense appears often in historical books like 1 Samuel, where military victories are attributed to the strength of a leader or nation.
Yad also carries spatial and distributive meanings. It can refer to a side or portion of land, indicating direction or territory. In technical contexts, such as the construction of the tabernacle, it describes structural components like axletrees or tenons. The word’s versatility allows it to convey both physical reach and abstract influence, making it one of the most common and significant terms in biblical Hebrew.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word yad, meaning hand, appears over a thousand times in Scripture because it captures so much of human experience. It is not just an anatomical part but a symbol of power, authority, and capability. When the Bible speaks of God’s hand, it describes His active presence in creation, judgment, and comfort. This imagery reminds us that our lives are held within His capable reach.
In our daily lives, yad also reflects our own agency and responsibility. We use our hands to work, to help others, and to make covenants. The story of Abraham stretching out his hand to sacrifice Isaac shows the depth of trust required in faith. Yet, even in moments of intense testing, God’s hand is often seen intervening with mercy, as He did when stopping Abraham.
Understanding yad helps us see that every action we take has weight and consequence. It invites us to acknowledge our dependence on God while also recognizing the dignity of our own labor. Whether holding a tool or extending a helping hand, we participate in the physical world God created. This awareness brings a sense of purpose to our ordinary tasks.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1,255 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hand/ his137×
- in/ [the] hand of119×
- by/ [the] hand of96×
- from/ [the] hand of91×
- hand/ your84×
- [the] hand of79×
- in/ hand/ your59×
- in/ hand/ his46×
- hand/ my46×
- hands/ their37×
- hands/ his35×
- [the] hands of33×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/יַד\־93×
- יַד\־41×
- מִ/יַּ֥ד31×
- יָד/וֹ֙31×
- בְּ/יַ֣ד31×
- מִ/יַּ֣ד30×
- בְּ/יַ֖ד29×
- יָד֖/וֹ28×
- בְּ/יַד֙20×
- בְּ/יַ֥ד20×
- יַ֣ד19×
- יָד֔/וֹ18×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 22:12
He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
This verse highlights the moment God’s hand intervenes to preserve life, showing that true faith is tested and then upheld by divine mercy.
-
Genesis 19:16
But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, Yahweh being merciful to him; and they took him out, and set him outside of the city.
Here, God’s hand actively grabs Lot to save him, demonstrating that His power is not just abstract but physically protective in times of judgment.
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Genesis 22:10
Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son.
Abraham stretching out his hand illustrates the tension between human obedience and divine command, a pivotal moment where trust meets action.
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Genesis 9:5
I will surely require accounting for your life’s blood. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, I will require the life of man.
This passage uses yad to establish accountability, showing that human life is sacred and that justice is administered through the agency of others.
-
Genesis 14:20
Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all.
Melchizedek blesses Abram by acknowledging God as the one who delivers enemies into his hand, linking military victory directly to divine authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word yad mean?
How is yad different from zroa (arm)?
Why does the Bible mention God’s hand so often?
Every Occurrence (1,255 verses across 34 books)
Genesis 77 verses
Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand,…
Genesis 4:11Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
Genesis 5:29He named him Noah, saying, “This one will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, caused by the ground…
Genesis 8:9but the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned into the ship to him, for the waters were on the surface…
Genesis 9:2The fear of you and the dread of you will be on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the sky. Everything…
Genesis 9:5I will surely require accounting for your life’s blood. At the hand of every animal I will require it. At the hand of…
Genesis 14:20Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all.
Genesis 14:22Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth,
Genesis 16:6But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your hand. Do to her whatever is good in your eyes.” Sarai dealt…
Genesis 16:9Yahweh’s angel said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hands.”
Genesis 16:12He will be like a wild donkey among men. His hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. He will…
Genesis 19:10But the men reached out their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut the door.
Genesis 19:16But he lingered; and the men grabbed his hand, his wife’s hand, and his two daughters’ hands, Yahweh being merciful to…
Genesis 21:18Get up, lift up the boy, and hold him with your hand. For I will make him a great nation.”
Genesis 21:30He said, “You shall take these seven ewe lambs from my hand, that it may be a witness to me, that I have dug this well.”
Genesis 22:6Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. He took in his hand the fire and the knife.…
Genesis 22:10Abraham stretched out his hand, and took the knife to kill his son.
Genesis 22:12He said, “Don’t lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not…
Genesis 24:2Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please put your hand under my…
Genesis 24:9The servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
Genesis 24:10The servant took ten of his master’s camels, and departed, having a variety of good things of his master’s with him. He…
Genesis 24:18She said, “Drink, my lord.” She hurried, and let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink.
Genesis 24:22As the camels had finished drinking, the man took a golden ring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her…
Genesis 24:30When he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister,…
Genesis 24:47I asked her, and said, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to…
Genesis 25:26After that, his brother came out, and his hand had hold on Esau’s heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old…
Genesis 27:16She put the skins of the young goats on his hands, and on the smooth of his neck.
Genesis 27:17She gave the savory food and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob.
Genesis 27:22Jacob went near to Isaac his father. He felt him, and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but the hands are the hands of…
Genesis 27:23He didn’t recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him.
Genesis 30:35That day, he removed the male goats that were streaked and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and…
Genesis 31:29It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that…
Genesis 31:39That which was torn of animals, I didn’t bring to you. I bore its loss. Of my hand you required it, whether stolen by…
Genesis 33:10Jacob said, “Please, no, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have…
Genesis 33:19He bought the parcel of ground where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father,…
Genesis 34:21“These men are peaceful with us. Therefore let them live in the land and trade in it. For behold, the land is large…
Genesis 35:4They gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob…
Genesis 37:21Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, “Let’s not take his life.”
Genesis 37:22Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he…
Genesis 37:27Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.” His…
Genesis 38:18He said, “What pledge will I give you?” She said, “Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” He…
Genesis 38:20Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, but…
Genesis 38:28When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This came…
Genesis 38:29As he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out, and she said, “Why have you made a breach for yourself?”…
Genesis 38:30Afterward his brother came out, who had the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.
Genesis 39:1Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him…
Genesis 39:3His master saw that Yahweh was with him, and that Yahweh made all that he did prosper in his hand.
Genesis 39:4Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and Potiphar made him overseer over his house, and all that he…
Genesis 39:6He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate.…
Genesis 39:8But he refused, and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, my master doesn’t know what is with me in the house, and he has…
Genesis 39:12She caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me!” He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside.
Genesis 39:13When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside,
Genesis 39:22The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there,…
Genesis 39:23The keeper of the prison didn’t look after anything that was under his hand, because Yahweh was with him; and that…
Genesis 40:11Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into…
Genesis 40:13Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You will give Pharaoh’s cup…
Genesis 41:35Let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and store grain under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the…
Genesis 41:42Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen,…
Genesis 41:44Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh. Without you, no man shall lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.”
Genesis 42:37Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons, if I don’t bring him to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will…
Genesis 43:9I’ll be collateral for him. From my hand will you require him. If I don’t bring him to you, and set him before you,…
Genesis 43:12and take double money in your hand, and take back the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it…
Genesis 43:15The men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and got up, went down to Egypt, and…
Genesis 43:21When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and behold, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our…
Genesis 43:22We have brought down other money in our hand to buy food. We don’t know who put our money in our sacks.”
Genesis 43:26When Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves down…
Genesis 43:34He sent portions to them from before him, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. They drank,…
Genesis 44:16Judah said, “What will we tell my lord? What will we speak? How will we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity…
Genesis 44:17He said, “Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he will be my slave; but as…
Genesis 46:4I will go down with you into Egypt. I will also surely bring you up again. Joseph’s hand will close your eyes.”
Genesis 47:24It will happen at the harvests, that you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four parts will be your own, for seed of…
Genesis 47:29The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in…
Genesis 48:14Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on…
Genesis 48:17When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He held up his father’s…
Genesis 48:22Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword…
Genesis 49:8“Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies. Your father’s sons will bow down…
Genesis 49:24But his bow remained strong. The arms of his hands were made strong, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (from…