Lexical Definition

‎χείρ‎ cheír (khire) hand ^G:N-F
perhaps from the base of ‎χειμών‎ in the sense of its congener the base of ‎χάσμα‎ (through the idea of hollowness for grasping)

hand.

• the hand (literally or figuratively (power)
• especially (by Hebraism) a means or instrument)

Abbott-Smith

χείρ, gen., χειρος (acc., χεῖραν, I Pe 5:6 T), ἡ, [in LXX chiefly for יָד ;]
the hand: Mt 3:12, Mk 3:1, Lk 6:6, al. mult.; ἡ χ., acting subject, Lk 22:21; pl., Ac 17:25 20:34, I Jo 1:1; τ. ἔργα τῶν χ., Ac 7:41, Re 9:20; ὁ ἀσπασμὸς τ. ἐμῇ χ., I Co 16:21, Col 4:18, II Th 3:17; prepositional phrases, esp. those without art., similar to Heb. constructions (Bl., §32, 4; 40, 9; 46, 9), ἐν χ.; c gen. (Lft., in l.), Ga 3:19; σὺν χ. ἀγγέλου, Ac 7:35; διὰ (τῶν) χειρῶν (διὰ χειρός), Mk 6:2, Ac 5:12 7:25, al.; ἐπὶ χειρῶν, Mt 4:6, Lk 4:11; ellipse of χ. (ἡ δεξία, ἀριστερα; Bl., § 44, 1), Mt 6:3, al. By meton., for the power or activity of an individual, Mt 17:22, Mk 9:31, Lk 9:44, Jo 10:39, Ac 12:11, al.; metaph., of the activity or power of God: Lk 1:66 23:46, Jo 10:29, Ac 11:21 13:11, al.

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

χείρ, ἡ, χειρός, χειρί, χεῖρα,

dual χεῖρε, χεροῖν, plural χεῖρες, χερῶν, χεῖρας, penultimate being regularly short, when the ultima is long; dative plural regularly χερσί (χειρσί occurs in codex Vat. of [LXX], and late Inscrr. as [χείρεσι (ν) once in 8th c.BC: Homerus Epicus, 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 20.468, also 4th c.AD(?): Quintus Smyrnaeus Epicus 2.401, 5.469 (variant); χείρεσσι 8th c.BC: Ilias Homerus Epicus “Illiad” 12.382, 5th c.BC: Pindarus Lyricus “O.” 10(11).62, 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Antigone” 976 (Lyric poetry), 1297 (Lyric poetry)">Refs 8th c.BC+], and once in trimeter, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; χέρεσσι (ν) [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—Doric dialect nominative χέρς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; χήρ [Refs 5th c.BC+] (also, ={δίψακος}, Ps.-[Refs 7th c.BC+]:— the hand, whether closed, παχεῖα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; or open, flat, χερσὶ καταπρηνέσσι, χειρὶ καταπρηνεῖ,[Refs 8th c.BC+]: frequently in plural where a single hand is meant, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; reversely, singular where more than one hand is spoken of, e.g. [Refs 8th c.BC+]; dual joined with plural, ἄμφω χεῖρας [Refs 8th c.BC+]

__2 hand and arm, arm [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐν χερσὶ γυναικῶν πεσέειν into the arms, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: hence, words are added to denote the hand as distinct from the arm, ἄκρην οὔτασε χεῖρα [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__3 of the hand or paw of animals, ὅσα [ζῷα] χεῖρας ἔχει [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πορεύεσθαι ἐπὶ χειρῶν go on all fours. [LXX]; so of monkeys, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of the fore-paws of the hyena, [Refs]; of the bear, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II Special usages:
__II.1 to denote position, ποτέρας τῆς χερό; on which hand? [χείρ is often omitted with δεξιά, ἀριστερά,">Refs 8th c.BC+] as we say the right, the left).
__II.2 frequently in dative of all numbers with Verbs which imply the use of hands, λάβε χειρί, χερσὶν ἑλέσθαι, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; χειρί, χεροῖν ψαῦσαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: sometimes this dative is added pleonastic by way of emphasis, ὄνυξι συλλαβὼν χερί [Refs]
__II.3 genitive, by the hand, χειρὸς ἔχειν τινά [Refs 8th c.BC+]; γέροντα δὲ χειρὸς ἀνίστη he raised him by the hand,[Refs 8th c.BC+]
__II.4 the accusative is used when one takes the hand of a person, χεῖρα γέροντος ἑλών [Refs 8th c.BC+]; χεῖράς τ᾽ ἀλλήλων λαβέτην, in pledge of good faith, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__II.5 other uses of the accusative:
__II.5.a in prayer or entreaty, χεῖρας ἀνασχεῖν [θεοῖς] [Refs 8th c.BC+]; χ. ἀνατείνειν (see. ἀνατείνω [Refs]
__II.5.b τὰς χεῖρας αἴρειν to hold up hands in token of assent or choice, of persons voting, [Refs 8th c.BC+] to reach them one's hand in help, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__II.5.c [Ἰλίου] χεῖρα ἑὴν ὑπερέσχε held the hand over as a protector, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: less frequently τισι, [Refs]
__II.5.d in hostile sense, χεῖρας or χεῖρα ἐπιφέρειν τινί, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__II.5.e χεῖρας ἀπέχειν keep hands off, λοιμοῖο βαρείας χεῖρας ἀφέξει [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__II.5.f χεῖρας ἐπιτιθέναι τινί, in token of consecration, [NT]
__II.6 with Preps.:
__II.6.a ἀνὰ χεῖρας ἔχειν τινάς to be intimate with.., [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; τὰ ἀνὰ χεῖρα πράγματα the matters in hand, [Refs 1st c.AD+] the current period, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; τὰ ἀνὰ χ. what comes his way, Ps.-[Refs 1st c.BC+]; ἀνὰ χ. τῆς πύλης hard by.., [LXX]
__II.6.b ἀπὸ χειρὸς λογίσασθαι to reckon off-hand, roughly, [Refs 5th c.BC+] by hand, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__II.6.c διὰ χερῶν ἔχειν, λαβεῖν, literally, to have or take between the hands, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; διὰ χειρὸς ἔχειν to hold in the hand, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; to have in hand, i. e. under control, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ τῶν ξυμμάχων keep under control, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: later, to have a work in hand, be engaged in it, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; of arms, διὰ χειρὸς εἶναι [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; διὰ χ. ἔχειν, with participle, to be continually doing, [NT+1st c.AD+]
__II.6.d ἐς χεῖρας λαβεῖν τι literally, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; to take a matter in hand, undertake it, πρᾶγμ᾽ ἐς χέρας λαβόντ᾽ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; δοῦναί τινι ἐς χέρας, εἰς χεῖρα, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of persons, ἵκεο χεῖρας ἐς ἁμάς thou hast fallen into our hands, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: generally, to have to do with any one, converse with him, [Refs 5th c.BC+] to come to blows or close quarters with.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; συνιέναι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also ἐς χειρῶν νόμον (perhaps νομόν) ἀπικέσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν χειρῶν νόμῳ (perhaps νομῷ) ἀπόλλυσθαι [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἐν χειρὸς νόμῳ [LXX+4th c.BC+]; ἐν χεροῖν δίκῃ conjecture in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also εἰς χεῖρας δέχεσθαί τινας to await their charge, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.6.e ἐκ χειρός by hand of man, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: from near at hand, at close range, ἐκ χειρὸς βάλλειν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀμύνασθαι[Refs 1st c.BC+] tim.4; οὐ μὴ σωθῇ ἐκ χ. σιδήρου [LXX]; ἡ ἐκ χ. δίκη lynch law, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] closerange reading, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; so of time, out of hand, off-hand, forthwith, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
__II.6.f δέπας μητρὶ ἐν χειρὶ τίθει [Refs 8th c.BC+] though found in most codices, was condemned by the critics in Il.[same place], [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of a gift, ἐν χερσὶ τίθει [Refs]; ἐν ταῖς χ. ἔχειν, literally, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but ἐν χερσὶν ἔχειν also, to have in hand, be engaged in, τὸν γάμον [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ ἐν χερσὶ πόλεμος the war in hand, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; περιτειχισμὸς ἐν χερσὶν ὤν[Refs 2nd c.AD+]; frequently of fighting, ἐν χερσί hand to hand, ἐν χ. ἦν ἡ μάχη [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν χ. γίγνεσθαι τοῖς ἐναντίοις [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἡ ἐν χερσὶν [δυστυχία] [Refs 1st c.AD+]: also in dual, τἀν χεροῖν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν χειρί τινος by the hand of.., [LXX+NT]
__II.6.g ἐπὶ χειρὸς ἔχειν on or in one's hand, [Refs 6th c.BC+]; ἐπὶ χεῖράς τινων ἐκφέρουσι put into their hands, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; also ἐπὶ χεῖρά τινος next to, [LXX]
__II.6.h κατὰ χειρός, of washing the hands before meals, ὕδωρ κατὰ χειρός (i.e. φερέτω τις), [Refs 5th c.BC+]; (without ὕδωρ) κατὰ χ. ἐδόθη [Refs 4th c.BC+]: proverbial of that which is easily come by, [Refs 5th c.BC+]at hand, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also κατὰ χειρῶν δοῦναι, χέειν, λαβεῖν, [Refs 5th c.BC+] in deed or act, κατὰ χ. γενναιότατοι [Refs 1st c.BC+]; opposed to συνέσει, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; κατὰ χεῖρά σου according to thy will, [LXX] by her side, [Refs]
__i μετὰ χερσὶν ἔχειν between, i.e. in, the hands, [Refs 8th c.BC+] to have in hand, be engaged in, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__k λάβε παρὰ χεῖρα take in hand, [LXX]; but τὸ πὰρ χειρός the work in hand, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__l πρὸ χειρῶν close before one, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πρὸ χειρὸς εἶναι conjecture in [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__m πρὸς χειρός τινος by his hand, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; πρὸς ἐμὴν χεῖρα at the signs given by my hand, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πρὸς χεῖρα ὑποβορβορύζοντες on pressure, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__n ὑπὸ χερσὶ ἁλοῦσα under, i.e. by, another's hands, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὑπὸ χεῖρα ποιεῖσθαι to bring under one's power, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ ὑπὸ χ. persons in one's power, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ὑπὸ τὴν χ. ἐλθεῖν to come into one's hand, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ὑπὸ χ. in hand, i.e. in stock, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; but also, at hand, i.e. at once, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; τὰ ὑπὸ χ. [Refs 1st c.AD+]; ὁ ὑπὸ χ. the attendant, [Refs 1st c.AD+]extempore, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; also καθύπο χεῖρα κινῶν [τὰς οὐσίας], in Alchemy, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__III the hand often receives the attributes of the person using it, χ. μεγάλη, of Zeus, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; χ. ὑπερμήκης, of the 'long arm' of the king, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; θοὴ χ., of one throwing, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; εὐσεβεστέρα, εὐφιλής, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; κάρβανος[Refs 5th c.BC+]: to denote wealth or poverty, πλειοτέρῃ σὺν χ. [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__III.2 it is represented as acting of itself, χεῖρες μαιμῶσιν [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__III.3 plural, in theurgy, name for spiritual powers, αἱ δημιουργικαὶ [τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος] δυνάμεις ἃς θεουργῶν παῖδες χεῖρας ἀποκαλοῦσιν [Refs 5th c.AD+] P., compare [same work] in R.[Refs]
__IV to denote act or deed, opposed to mere words, in plural, ἔπεσιν καὶ χερσὶν ἀρήξειν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; μνῆμ᾽ Ἑλένης χειρῶν of her handiwork, her art, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τῇ χειρὶ χρᾶσθαι to use one's hands, i.with be active, stirring, opposed to ἀργὸς ἐπεστάναι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰς χ. προσφέρειν to apply force, [χείρ 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Prometheus Vinctus” 619 ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; μιᾷ χειρί single-handed, [Refs 8th c.BC+], especially of using the hands in a fight, compare above [Refs], e, f; of deeds of violence, πρὶν χειρῶν γεύσασθαι before we try force, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἀδίκων χ. ἄρχειν to give the first blow, [Refs 5th c.BC+] violent measures, force, ἐπίσχετε θυμὸν ἐνιπῆς καὶ χειρῶν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὅπως θανάτοιο βαρείας χ. ἀλάλκοι, variant for{κῆρας}, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__V a number, band, body of men, especially of soldiers, χεὶρ μεγάλη [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἰκεία χείρ, for χεὶρ οἰκετῶν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__VI handwriting, τὴν ἑαυτοῦ χεῖρα ἀρνήσασθαι [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τῇ ἐμῇ χ. Παύλου [NT]: copy, counterpart of a document, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; deed, instrument, ἡ χ. ἥδε κυρία ἔστω [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__VI.b handiwork of an artist or workman, γλαφυρὰ χ. [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__VII of any implement resembling a hand:
__VII.1 a kind of gauntlet, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__VII.2 χ. σιδηρᾶ grappling-iron, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also of an anchor, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__VII.3 axle-tree, [LXX]
__VII.4 in LXX, pillar or cairn, as it were a finger pointing to heaven, χεὶρ Ἀβεσσαλώμ [LXX]; also ἀνέστακεν αὐτῷ χεῖρα, i.e. trophy,[LXX]
__VII.5 χεῖρες ἐλάτιναι, of oars, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__VII.6 catch of a trigger, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__VII.7 instrument of torture, [LXX]
__VIII handful, κορώνῃ χεῖρα πρόσδοτε κριθέων [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__IX ointment containing five ingredients, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]. (Cf. Armenian jein (dzern), [Refs 2nd c.AD+] dore, Tocharian (A-dialect) tsar, (B-dialect) sar, all = hand.)

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.Judg.7.19 ☩ LXX.1Chr.5.10 ☩ LXX.Lev.11.27 ☩ 1Tim.5.22 ☩ LXX.2Kgs.15.2 ☩ LXX.Josh.17.4 ☩ Acts.7.25 ☩ LXX.Job.20.24 ☩ LXX.Josh.21.2 ☩ Acts.7.35 ☩ LXX.Neh.3.4 ☩ 1Cor.16.21 ☩ Col.4.18 ☩ LXX.2Kgs.18.18 ☩ LXX.1Kgs.15.12}