What is χείρ?

[Space Merchant]

Mainstream Christians and or those of that mindset tend to focus so much on a literal since of Scripture and ignore context, in some instances, will sacrifice a passage, and or a meaning for the sake of their own understanding - something of which the Scriptures encourages us to avoid, especially those who do not know and or have any understanding of the usage of a word concerning hand(s) and it's placement in a scripture, with showing a sense of ignorance in this regard, even for Strong's Concordances - https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5495/esv/tr/0-1/

 

 

 

 

In the account of the Romans, they are quite meticulous when it comes to the crucifixion of their victims, hence the nailing of said victims, even the Christ. As stated, the anatomy of wrists has always been part of the hands, and concerning the Christ, majority of people think the nails were driven between the small bones of the wrists to prevent the stripping out the flesh, prevention of tearing, which would most likely be the case if the nails were literally have driven through the palms.  The small bone in question is called the metacarpals, the hand bones between your fingers and wrist made up of five long bones, and the the hand bones connected to the wrist joints (trapezium, trapezoid, capitate, and hamate).

 

The wrist is also referred to as the anatomical wrist - This is the area between the first and second row of carpal bones in the heel of the hand. To continue, the ligaments that join the bones together are much stronger than those that join the bones of the palm(s), so they would be better able to support the weight of a hanging victim’s body - thus forcing the victim, in this case, Jesus, to support himself in order to breathe at least, whereas it would be a struggle due to his feet being impaled too - tormented.

Other instances of the word and some parallels: 

In numerous Bible translations, the word for hands in Greek being cheir (χείρ, χειρός, ἡ) in some root is in connection to parts of the hand, and it is no different from it's Hebraic counterpart - יָד (yad). This in turn makes it correct and consistent with the usages of the word hand in Scripture, some examples would be such as Judges 15:14 concerning Samson, the legendary Israelite warrior and judge:

[When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands.]

We see here in this verse that it shows that bonds to restraint him, of which he broke out of, him were on his hands, and evidently, when people are bonded, it is by their wrists.

Another example Genesis 24:47:

[Then I asked her, ‘Whose daughter are you?’ She said, ‘The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor’s son, whom Milcah bore to him.’ So I put the ring on her nose and the bracelets on her hands.]

In this verse where the word יָד (yad) is used to point out Rebekah had bracelets placed on her hands [arms in some translations] (to be worn on her hands), obviously, bracelets are on your wrists. Granted there is no other Strong's to replace the one for יָד (yad) there is no violation, as some claim to believe.

Aside from Jesus, we have other examples like Paul and Silas in Philippi, Acts 16:25-31: 25. In verse 24, we see their feet is bounded, however in reality, the bounds are around their ankles. Peter was also another example in Acts 12:7, whereas he had bounds (removed by an Angel) on his hands - wrists.

 

Some even go about as to mentioned an item they consider a holy cloth relic that survived throughout the centuries, such as the Shroud of Turin. For many Christians they believe that the Shroud of Turin, provides even further evidence, but I see it as irrelevant.

 

Aside from that, is there an violation of Scripture in regards to a word for Hands such as Wrists, forearm, arm, etc.? The simple answer is No.

At the end of the day, what matters is not HOW the Christ dies, but WHY he died. To be reduced to the mindset of Mainstream Christianity to bring for claim is absurd, in all instances.

 

NOTES:

Crownjewel82 from CSE - The word used in the Bible can mean any part of the hand or arm. People who study crucifixion in general found that the nails most often went through the wrist and that the weight of the body would cause the nail to tear through the flesh of the hand as is most commonly depicted in Christian art. Thus, a fairly common view is that the nails actually went through the wrist.

Nail placement
Crucifixion window by Henry E. Sharp, 1872, in St. Matthew's German Evangelical Lutheran Church, Charleston, South Carolina In popular depictions of the crucifixion of Jesus (possibly because in translations of John 20:25 the wounds are described as being "in his hands"), Jesus is shown with nails in his hands. But in Greek the word "χείρ", usually translated as "hand", could refer to the entire portion of the arm below the elbow,[38] and to denote the hand as distinct from the arm some other word could be added, as "ἄκρην οὔτασε χεῖρα" (he wounded the end of the χείρ, i.e., "he wounded her in the hand".[39]

38 - In the Homeric Greek of the Iliad XX, 478–480, a spear-point is said to have pierced the χεῖρ "where the sinews of the elbow join" (ἵνα τε ξενέχουσι τένοντες / ἀγκῶνος, τῇ τόν γε φίλης διὰ χειρὸς ἔπειρεν / αἰχμῇ χακλκείῃ).

39 - χείρ. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project

Misc.: sources

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3683284/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crucifixion
• https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/19649/when-jesus-was-nailed-to-the-cross-did-the-nails-go-through-his-hands-or-throug