Laying on of hands

Laying on of hands is placing hands on a person or an animal to bless, heal, commission, or set apart. This page lists verses on its use in blessing, healing, commissioning for service, receiving the Holy Spirit, and offering sacrifices, and on how the letters speak of it.

Blessing

• Genesis 48:14
  And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger; and crossing his hands, he put his left on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was the firstborn.
  Show context · Read Genesis 48 →
• Mark 10:13-16
  ¹³And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.Now people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them. ¹⁴But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.
  Show context · Read Mark 10 →
• Matthew 19:13-15
  ¹³Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them. ¹⁴But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ¹⁵And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.
  Show context · Read Matthew 19 →

Healing

• Mark 6:5
  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.
  Show context · Read Mark 6 →
• Luke 4:40
  Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them.
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• Luke 13:13
  And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.Then He placed His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and began to glorify God.
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• Mark 5:23
  And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”
  Show context · Read Mark 5 →
• Mark 16:18
  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”
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• Acts 28:8
  And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man.
  Show context · Read Acts 28 →

Commissioning for service

• Numbers 27:18-23
  ¹⁸And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. ¹⁹And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight. ²⁰And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.Confer on him some of your authority, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him. ²¹And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.” ²²And Moses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. He took Joshua, had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, ²³And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses.and laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD had instructed through Moses.
  Show context · Read Numbers 27 →
• Deuteronomy 34:9
  And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.
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• Acts 6:5-6
  ⁵And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, as well as Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. ⁶Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
  Show context · Read Acts 6 →
• Acts 13:2-3
  ²As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
  Show context · Read Acts 13 →
• 1 Timothy 4:14
  Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders.
  Show context · Read 1 Timothy 4 →
• 2 Timothy 1:6
  Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
  Show context · Read 2 Timothy 1 →

Receiving the Holy Spirit

• Acts 8:14-19
  ¹⁴Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money. ¹⁹Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.“Give me this power as well,” he said, “so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
  Show context · Read Acts 8 →
• Acts 9:17
  And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.So Ananias went to the house, and when he arrived, he placed his hands on Saul. “Brother Saul,” he said, “the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
  Show context · Read Acts 9 →
• Acts 19:6
  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
  Show context · Read Acts 19 →

Sacrifices and offerings

• Leviticus 1:4
  And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, so it can be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him.
  Show context · Read Leviticus 1 →
• Leviticus 3:2
  And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.He is to lay his hand on the head of the offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood on all sides of the altar.
  Show context · Read Leviticus 3 →
• Leviticus 4:4
  And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock’s head, and kill the bullock before the Lord.He must bring the bull to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting before the LORD, lay his hand on the bull’s head, and slaughter it before the LORD.
  Show context · Read Leviticus 4 →
• Leviticus 16:21
  And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:Then he is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task.
  Show context · Read Leviticus 16 →
• Numbers 8:10-12
  ¹⁰And thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:You are to present the Levites before the LORD and have the Israelites lay their hands upon them. ¹¹And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the Lord.Aaron is to present the Levites before the LORD as a wave offering from the sons of Israel, so that they may perform the service of the LORD. ¹²And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the Lord, to make an atonement for the Levites.And the Levites are to lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and offer to the LORD one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, to make atonement for the Levites.
  Show context · Read Numbers 8 →

In the teaching of the letters

• Hebrews 6:1-2
  ¹Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God, ²Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 6 →
• 1 Timothy 5:22
  Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
  Show context · Read 1 Timothy 5 →

See also

• Healing
• Blessing
• Holy Spirit
• Calling
• Anointing

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.