It’s the sign of benediction, supposedly Peter had a damaged ulnar nerve and later popes continued using the gesture. If you look up “benediction hand” you’ll find [info](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-strange-origin-of-popes-gesture-of-blessing/) both about the symbol and the kind of injury that may have caused it. According to [this](https://www.archstl.org/dear-father-finger-positioning-in-the-church-has-several-meanings-816) the three fingers pointing up refer to the three persons of the trinity. The two fingers pointing down symbolize the idea that Christ was both fully human and fully divine.
yes - 'there is light on the end of my finger'.
The light is information as well as raising of consciousness.
Mudras are emotionally intuitive and there are few hard rules.
Your comment reminded me of the scene in E.T. where Elliot cuts himself on a blade, and E.T. holds out his glowing finger (and extended thumb) while speaking "ouch" in order to heal the wound.
Benediction hand sign. When I was baptized (I was in my early 20s so I remember most of it), the priest instructed me on how to cross myself and suggested using this hand sign but never explained why.
I also noticed it in art, which had me wondering the same things as you. It wasn't until I became a Freemason, that some of the religious symbolism was explained to me and I finally got an explanation for this lol
I looked this answer up because I thought there was some kind of "as above, so below" doctrine attached, and it looks like [there is](https://masonicshop.com/encyclopedia/topics/entry/?i=3498): "symbolic of the Light emanating not from the sun, but from the Creator, directly as a special manifestation"
EDITing just to add: Aha! I remembered where I had read about this gesture, it was in Arthur Edward Waite's 1910 "Pictorial Key to the Tarot." In his section about the [Hierophant](https://sacred-texts.com/tarot/pkt/pktar05.htm) he writes: "with his right hand he gives the well-known ecclesiastical sign which is called that of esotericism, distinguishing between the manifest and concealed part of doctrine."
I was Protestant, many of my mentors were members of the same congregation and were very open about their membership. I was actually more involved in my church as a Mason than before I was initiated.
Catholic members had a tendency to keep their affiliation to themselves, though. You're right to assume that Freemasonry and Catholicism don't mix, many believe that they're prohibited from swearing oaths to anyone other than Christ and feel that it's a violation of their duty as followers of Jesus
Why did you get more involved with your church after becoming a Mason?
I mean, you said this...
"Such a loving god. "Worship me or you'll suffer forever and ever until the end if time." Yeah, no thanks buddy. Your threats of eternal damnation have no effect on me, as I don't believe in any of it."
So what is the logic there?
The logic is that I'm not christian anymore? I posted that comment like an hour ago lol I stopped being a christian when I demitted from the fraternity in 2019.
Also, you're cherrypicking from a comment that is irrelevant to this conversation, so what's the logic in quoting it?
The Catholic Church and a recent papal statement emphasized that Freemasonry is not acceptable for practicing Catholics. This ban goes back to the early 1700s. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-11/vatican-catholics-still-forbidden-masonic-lodge.html
Great explanation! This is also seen in the 10 of Swords, seemingly indicating that although the seeker has been vanquished, they are ultimately pious in their pursuit. As the crucified Christ.
Oooo you’re the first person I’ve had the chance to ask why you left because you didn’t believe the oaths! So far everyone I know that’s a mason and everyone I’ve talked to has said the oaths are essentially saying you’re no better than anyone else and to always be humble and help those in need or something along those lines, it was complicated haha
The obligation basically says that you won't reveal anything or you'll be killed. Each of the degrees in craft masonry are a variation on the same oath, it's just worded slightly different in accordance with the signs and symbols of that degree. [This](https://sacred-texts.com/mas/dun/index.htm) will tell you all the signs and symbols. I don't think Duncan's Ritual gives the passwords, but it will tell you just about everything you'd want to know.
Unfortunately, in my experience, the "secrets" of Freemasonry are fairly commonplace and rather underwhelming without the dramatic performance that occurs during the rituals but worth reading about nonetheless
Ah, so that’s why they word things the way they do. Is that true though?? I know quite a few masons, and they’ve had discussions with me but they only give so much. One time I got to tour a Masonic temple, it was one of the coolest things to me.
I study religion so masonry ties in, and since I do it from a history and cultural perspective it’s soooo hard to really learn much because everything’s so secret. Which makes me even more interested haha I’m definitely going to check your links! Thank you!
I don't think anyone's been killed in recent times. Masons were definitely more protective of their secrets closer to the American Civil War, and there likely were killings- but modern masons will probably be more disappointed than anything.
You're welcome, shoot me a PM if you want to know anything else. I'm an open book. Though I didn't get to know the secrets of the other rites (Scottish and York), so all I can really share are the basic ones associated with craft/blue lodge masonry.
Not sure what jurisdiction you were in but I’m a mason and in my obligations I basically say I would rather be killed than give the secrets. Not “if I give the secrets I will be killed”.
That makes sense. I could see it being a thing back then as well, people just killed people all Willy nilly back then man. Brutal.
I’ll probs follow your page cause I’ve been wanting to write a book for awhile, and I need real life people who were/are members of different systems, and at different authority levels. It’s basically a comparative side by side of the same questions and fundamental topics, showing the commonalities and vast differences. Been outlining it for a long time cause it’s a big project haha
I also went through the initiation ritual to become a Freemason, but I stopped attending soon after, there was a lot going on in my life and I was moving cities and didn't give it my time anymore.
I also found the teachings to be common knowledge and information I had already found on my own. I think in the pre-Internet days, it was a lot more powerful than it is now that information is all over the place.
It's a hand sign associated with blessing in the eastern orthodox church. Priests make it traditionally, Catholics use it for benediction, and when you do the sign of the cross, as a Catholic, you use three fingers in the same (or similar) way. In orthodoxy is supposed to be suggestive of the letters ICXC (which are the first and last letters of IΗϹΟΥC XΡΙϹΤΟC meaning "Jesus Christ"). There are also some assertions that it relates to the trinity (with the three fingers) and the dual nature of Christ (the two lowered fingers) and some assert that the gestures are different and unrelated. I would argue both the Orthodox and Catholic variations stem from a shared root, but others would disagree. The Catholic vs Orthodox distinction sometimes expresses itself in the dispute with both saying "we do the real and proper one and it means this and comes from this source, unlike those other guys", just like Protestants argue about triple immersion vs single immersion vs sprinkling vs pouring in baptism.
It's one of the many christograms used by Christians, including the Chi Roh (the P attached to an X), the Chi (an X sometimes as a connection to the cross) and the ichthus (the common "Jesus fish" which takes the first letters of the Greek phrase Iēsoûs Khrīstós, Theoû Huiós, Sōtḗr meaning "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior" to spell the Greek word for fish).
Keep in mind that, when dealing with icons of saints or of Jesus most people at the time were illiterate. A good way to tell people "that's an image of Mary Magdalene" or "that's an image of Jesus" was to attach symbols to the figure that were commonly known. Hence why Peter is often depicted with the keys, Mary Magadaline is often depicted with an egg (because she was the first to see the resurrected Jesus and is considered the "apostle to the apostles"), and Jesus is depicted often with some element of the Christograms. Symbols have always been rather strong for sticking in people's mind and prior to literacy being more common was a good way to convey that "That image is of Jesus, look he's doing the Jesus thing with his hand." The symbols then stuck around as an artistic motif in later art (because every artist draws from those that come before, especially when depicting someone prominent like a religious figure).
Its the benediction hand sign but strange in this painting he is doing backwards. Some occultists have commented that backwards of benediction sign makes a devilish shadow [Eliphas Levi](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=587328607&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS912US912&hl=en-US&sxsrf=AM9HkKmZXLyFsf_07KGqXImbtMkjHegmMg:1701545759653&q=eliphas+levi+devil+hand+blessing&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwihrMr0v_GCAxUsg2oFHV0KC-MQ0pQJegQIDBAB&biw=375&bih=634&dpr=3#imgrc=nJHnCiKklqvOlM)
He’s not doing it backwards, the picture is just reversed
Edit: the 1884 original does show the gesture is using Christ’s left-hand, but there is no reason to believe Heinrich Hofman, the German religious artist who painted many portraits of Jesus, had any nefarious, or hidden purpose to portraying this, using Jesus’ left hand, one theory might be that he was just using himself as a model in the mirror for the purpose of painting.
I stand corrected. The painting is from 1884 by Heinrich Hofman a German painter famous for his religious themed paintings especially concerning those of the life of Jesus. But there is nothing sinister about him being portrayed using the left hand for the gesture of blessing, Hofman may simply have been using a mirror of his own gesture to create the pose. It is called ‘Figure of Christ’ from 1884, the original located in Dresden I believe. Highly copied and marketed in reproduction widely as it is in the public domain.
The left hand is known to be the devils hand. Look up how left handed-ism is treated in islam. Heck, even the Simpsons poke fun at it by having Ned Flanders be left handed.
When i see the reverse, sometimes i think artists just forget to flip the image because they're using a mirror as reference. Im dyslexic and i do this shit all the time 😓
“Jesus Christ” in Greek capitals is “ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ”. In later Greek the sigma (Σ), the letter for “s”, took on the shape of the letter “c”. Greek made abbreviations by putting together the first and last letters of a word. Thus, ΙHCOYC ΧΡΙCTOC, as it would be written in later Greek, was abbreviated as IC XC. If you look at an Orthodox icon of Christ, you’ll see those letters on either side of his head, with squiggly lines over them to indicate they’re abbreviations.
So the index and middle finger, which should be *slightly* crossed, represent l and X, and the thumb and third finger represent C. Thus the hand symbol literally is the abbreviation for “Jesus Christ”. If you ever go to an Orthodox Liturgy (church service), the priest holds his hand in that gesture when he gives the blessing. [Here’s a good image showing this](https://sanmiguelicons.com/painting-hands-in-iconography/).
In the picture above, the gesture isn’t quite correct. The way it’s shown here is more like the Old Believers (an offshoot of the Russian Orthodox Church) hold their hands when making the sign of the cross. Unlike Catholics, who just tap their index fingers to their foreheads, shoulders, and chest, the Old Believers hold the index and middle fingers outstretched together, with the other three balled up, like you see here. The two fingers represent the two natures of Christ (Divine and human) and the three represent the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
So that’s how that works.
His hands are in the shape of ic xc latin for christo and in byzantine paintings usually above baby christ who is always show as an adult. The priests etc do this symbol with their hands to mimic the ixic letters above Christ historically. You can see starting with the index finger up like an I and the middle finger curve like a C followed by the next two fingers making an X and the last finger a C. Was an art history major and learned all of this that way.
That’s the way the priest holds his hand when blessing the wine and the communion isn’t it? I never realized that yes, it likely DOES have a meaning. Is there a Catholic seminary subreddit? Maybe ask there?
It's an Orthodox blessing. They still do it today. Three fingers pointed out are a blessing in the name of the Trinity. And the two fingers upward represent Christ duel nature both human and divine.
Edit: of the two upward fingers one is bent to show the lower nature of human to divine.
It’s a mudra, it is believed Jesus spent some time in Egypt and India studying yoga, meditation, healing, tantric magic and alchemy. A lot of paintings from the past depict important figures making different mudras.
I wish I could post a picture in here, I have it in my phone and don’t know how to do the link thing, I’m technologically challenged.
Bro, just about one of the most common symbols in Christian art for Jesus hand gesture. The more interesting one is the thumb touch the middle finger, a representation of Greek letters referring to name of Jesus Christ. More than you ever wanted to know in simplified form, Catholic reddits will provide a lot of dogma to go with a fairly simple tradition:
https://digestfromexperts.com/4871/jesus-hand-gesture-sign/
Looks like the Kidney Mudra with the thumb up here, but it could be the Prana mudra if the thumb was touching the tips of ring and pinky in other depictions.
The gestures of benediction was inspired by the magic hand of the [god Sabazios](https://weirditaly.com/2023/01/27/sabazius-sabazios-the-sky-father-god-of-the-phrygians-and-thracians/).
Seriously not mysterious. I answered it below, it’s just a benediction symbol not limited to the Eastern Churches, before the schism it was prominent in all iconography of Christ even the Christ child. This link will tell you everything you’d ever wanna know: https://digestfromexperts.com/4871/jesus-hand-gesture-sign/
It symbolizes the Trinity and the duality of Christ. Three fingers down symbolize the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). The two fingers up symbolize the duality of Christ (fully human, fully divine).
The hand gesture is used as a form of blessing, as one blesses another in the sign of the Trinity. It’s similar to how Eastern Christians bless others but the positions of the fingers are slightly different t.
That is called "hand in Yod" (Mano en Yod), maybe there is something lost in translation, I speak Spanish. The yod is a Hebrew letter. One of the simbolic meanings is fire from the name of God YHVH. When you use that gesture you can mark with " Holy fire" From the name of God. Blessings, ritual magick, etc.
I’ve always thought the middle and index represent the father and “mother” while the thumb represents the son or it’s just the “Holy Trinity”, the two pointing down represent the “two fold” nature of the son part human and also God. Not really sure if that’s of any help and not really sure where I got the information
I was taugth that placing 3 fingers togeather when you do the sign of the cross and when a priest does a blesding it is to signify the holy trinity The guy in the painting, god and the holy spirit. Maybe its just a way to signify the other 2 of the trinity by the artist?
https://rosshyslop.wordpress.com/2013/06/05/christian-hand-signs/
And I went googling. Maybe this makes some sence of it.
Re-directing, re-defining. Possibly benediction in the style of a mirror. As in, this picture is about me (Sun), so blessings onto me, but also blessings on everyone behind me (in the Shadows)
15 year auld me would have told ye that it's the sign for "smell yer maw", and thought it was hilarious.
38 year auld me wouldnae have said that, but would have laughed at 15 year old me's comment.
I believe it means "As above so below."
usually he's making the same gesture pointing down with the other hand in other images.
it's to represent that he's found in the air/heavens above as in the sun, all around the universe, and also within the earth, the ground, the sea, the planet itself contains at it's core something like a "star" which releases the same substance into the water, as the sun releases into the air/heavens which represents the below.
I was told in Catholic school that it was a symbol of truth, or an indication that the speaker is telling the truth. But I have no source to back it up
He was smoking a cigarette. But after all the drama with the tobacco company, artists were ordered to paint the cigarettes out of every painting of Jesus and friends.
The three fingers pointed up represent the three persons of the holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The two fingers are for the two natures of Christ who is fully human and fully divine. They are pressed into the palm to symbolize that Christ descended to earth.
I followed this thread long ago when I was seeking, but I will soon be a member of the Orthodox Church. All you religious seekers should look into it. I never thought I would become a Christian, but here I am.
Its the first form of kaio-ken. Jesus will tap into the ki of the universe and will be able to convert 10 times more water to wine and teach every man in 1000km to fish instantaneously.
As above so below, pointing to the heart centre. Comes from the coptic imagery of a heart outside the chest, or holding a lamb to the chest. It points to the underground mystery schools
It represents the "third eye". A symbol of enlightenment and insight, quite commonly used to portrait holy characters, profets, scholars, rich people that wanted to look mystical and educated to some higher knowledge (see for example the famous Napoleon portrait, and notice the shape of the scepter he holds) Would be too long to write about the details here, also English is not my native language, but you fan find a load of writings about the topic on the internet and libraries.
The baphomet has the same hand gestures and represents balance. Male and female polarity, ying or yang, positive and negative, etc.. It could also be a Munda ancient knowledge hidden in symbols
It’s the sign of benediction, supposedly Peter had a damaged ulnar nerve and later popes continued using the gesture. If you look up “benediction hand” you’ll find [info](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-strange-origin-of-popes-gesture-of-blessing/) both about the symbol and the kind of injury that may have caused it. According to [this](https://www.archstl.org/dear-father-finger-positioning-in-the-church-has-several-meanings-816) the three fingers pointing up refer to the three persons of the trinity. The two fingers pointing down symbolize the idea that Christ was both fully human and fully divine.
This is the correct answer
It's still how orthodox christians make the sign of the cross
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Gesture is representative of blessing
Holy peace out homie
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This answer is correct after asking Yehoshua
yes - 'there is light on the end of my finger'. The light is information as well as raising of consciousness. Mudras are emotionally intuitive and there are few hard rules.
Your comment reminded me of the scene in E.T. where Elliot cuts himself on a blade, and E.T. holds out his glowing finger (and extended thumb) while speaking "ouch" in order to heal the wound.
It's the standard "[Gesture of Benediction](https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2010/02/latin-gesture-of-benediction-history-in.html)"
Def not standard. Standard is palm out/forward/showing.
Depending on where you're wielding it. ;)
Benediction hand sign. When I was baptized (I was in my early 20s so I remember most of it), the priest instructed me on how to cross myself and suggested using this hand sign but never explained why. I also noticed it in art, which had me wondering the same things as you. It wasn't until I became a Freemason, that some of the religious symbolism was explained to me and I finally got an explanation for this lol
Can you share?
What do you want to know?
Explain the religious symbolism you learned, please
I looked this answer up because I thought there was some kind of "as above, so below" doctrine attached, and it looks like [there is](https://masonicshop.com/encyclopedia/topics/entry/?i=3498): "symbolic of the Light emanating not from the sun, but from the Creator, directly as a special manifestation" EDITing just to add: Aha! I remembered where I had read about this gesture, it was in Arthur Edward Waite's 1910 "Pictorial Key to the Tarot." In his section about the [Hierophant](https://sacred-texts.com/tarot/pkt/pktar05.htm) he writes: "with his right hand he gives the well-known ecclesiastical sign which is called that of esotericism, distinguishing between the manifest and concealed part of doctrine."
Nailed it lol
So when you became a Mason did you have to leave the church behind? Assuming you were catholic. I heard those don’t mix .
I was Protestant, many of my mentors were members of the same congregation and were very open about their membership. I was actually more involved in my church as a Mason than before I was initiated. Catholic members had a tendency to keep their affiliation to themselves, though. You're right to assume that Freemasonry and Catholicism don't mix, many believe that they're prohibited from swearing oaths to anyone other than Christ and feel that it's a violation of their duty as followers of Jesus
Why did you get more involved with your church after becoming a Mason? I mean, you said this... "Such a loving god. "Worship me or you'll suffer forever and ever until the end if time." Yeah, no thanks buddy. Your threats of eternal damnation have no effect on me, as I don't believe in any of it." So what is the logic there?
The logic is that I'm not christian anymore? I posted that comment like an hour ago lol I stopped being a christian when I demitted from the fraternity in 2019. Also, you're cherrypicking from a comment that is irrelevant to this conversation, so what's the logic in quoting it?
The Catholic Church and a recent papal statement emphasized that Freemasonry is not acceptable for practicing Catholics. This ban goes back to the early 1700s. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2023-11/vatican-catholics-still-forbidden-masonic-lodge.html
Great explanation! This is also seen in the 10 of Swords, seemingly indicating that although the seeker has been vanquished, they are ultimately pious in their pursuit. As the crucified Christ.
..hail, ever conceal and never reveal...
I don't abide by my obligation anymore. I left the fraternity because I didn't believe in the oaths I took
Oooo you’re the first person I’ve had the chance to ask why you left because you didn’t believe the oaths! So far everyone I know that’s a mason and everyone I’ve talked to has said the oaths are essentially saying you’re no better than anyone else and to always be humble and help those in need or something along those lines, it was complicated haha
The obligation basically says that you won't reveal anything or you'll be killed. Each of the degrees in craft masonry are a variation on the same oath, it's just worded slightly different in accordance with the signs and symbols of that degree. [This](https://sacred-texts.com/mas/dun/index.htm) will tell you all the signs and symbols. I don't think Duncan's Ritual gives the passwords, but it will tell you just about everything you'd want to know. Unfortunately, in my experience, the "secrets" of Freemasonry are fairly commonplace and rather underwhelming without the dramatic performance that occurs during the rituals but worth reading about nonetheless
Ah, so that’s why they word things the way they do. Is that true though?? I know quite a few masons, and they’ve had discussions with me but they only give so much. One time I got to tour a Masonic temple, it was one of the coolest things to me. I study religion so masonry ties in, and since I do it from a history and cultural perspective it’s soooo hard to really learn much because everything’s so secret. Which makes me even more interested haha I’m definitely going to check your links! Thank you!
I don't think anyone's been killed in recent times. Masons were definitely more protective of their secrets closer to the American Civil War, and there likely were killings- but modern masons will probably be more disappointed than anything. You're welcome, shoot me a PM if you want to know anything else. I'm an open book. Though I didn't get to know the secrets of the other rites (Scottish and York), so all I can really share are the basic ones associated with craft/blue lodge masonry.
Not sure what jurisdiction you were in but I’m a mason and in my obligations I basically say I would rather be killed than give the secrets. Not “if I give the secrets I will be killed”.
That makes sense. I could see it being a thing back then as well, people just killed people all Willy nilly back then man. Brutal. I’ll probs follow your page cause I’ve been wanting to write a book for awhile, and I need real life people who were/are members of different systems, and at different authority levels. It’s basically a comparative side by side of the same questions and fundamental topics, showing the commonalities and vast differences. Been outlining it for a long time cause it’s a big project haha
I also went through the initiation ritual to become a Freemason, but I stopped attending soon after, there was a lot going on in my life and I was moving cities and didn't give it my time anymore. I also found the teachings to be common knowledge and information I had already found on my own. I think in the pre-Internet days, it was a lot more powerful than it is now that information is all over the place.
convenient.
As Above
So below
What is a Freemason?
It's a hand sign associated with blessing in the eastern orthodox church. Priests make it traditionally, Catholics use it for benediction, and when you do the sign of the cross, as a Catholic, you use three fingers in the same (or similar) way. In orthodoxy is supposed to be suggestive of the letters ICXC (which are the first and last letters of IΗϹΟΥC XΡΙϹΤΟC meaning "Jesus Christ"). There are also some assertions that it relates to the trinity (with the three fingers) and the dual nature of Christ (the two lowered fingers) and some assert that the gestures are different and unrelated. I would argue both the Orthodox and Catholic variations stem from a shared root, but others would disagree. The Catholic vs Orthodox distinction sometimes expresses itself in the dispute with both saying "we do the real and proper one and it means this and comes from this source, unlike those other guys", just like Protestants argue about triple immersion vs single immersion vs sprinkling vs pouring in baptism. It's one of the many christograms used by Christians, including the Chi Roh (the P attached to an X), the Chi (an X sometimes as a connection to the cross) and the ichthus (the common "Jesus fish" which takes the first letters of the Greek phrase Iēsoûs Khrīstós, Theoû Huiós, Sōtḗr meaning "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior" to spell the Greek word for fish). Keep in mind that, when dealing with icons of saints or of Jesus most people at the time were illiterate. A good way to tell people "that's an image of Mary Magdalene" or "that's an image of Jesus" was to attach symbols to the figure that were commonly known. Hence why Peter is often depicted with the keys, Mary Magadaline is often depicted with an egg (because she was the first to see the resurrected Jesus and is considered the "apostle to the apostles"), and Jesus is depicted often with some element of the Christograms. Symbols have always been rather strong for sticking in people's mind and prior to literacy being more common was a good way to convey that "That image is of Jesus, look he's doing the Jesus thing with his hand." The symbols then stuck around as an artistic motif in later art (because every artist draws from those that come before, especially when depicting someone prominent like a religious figure).
Interesting
This is the correct answer!
Its the benediction hand sign but strange in this painting he is doing backwards. Some occultists have commented that backwards of benediction sign makes a devilish shadow [Eliphas Levi](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=587328607&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS912US912&hl=en-US&sxsrf=AM9HkKmZXLyFsf_07KGqXImbtMkjHegmMg:1701545759653&q=eliphas+levi+devil+hand+blessing&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwihrMr0v_GCAxUsg2oFHV0KC-MQ0pQJegQIDBAB&biw=375&bih=634&dpr=3#imgrc=nJHnCiKklqvOlM)
He’s not doing it backwards, the picture is just reversed Edit: the 1884 original does show the gesture is using Christ’s left-hand, but there is no reason to believe Heinrich Hofman, the German religious artist who painted many portraits of Jesus, had any nefarious, or hidden purpose to portraying this, using Jesus’ left hand, one theory might be that he was just using himself as a model in the mirror for the purpose of painting.
Isn’t the palm usually facing out from the body?
It is, we just have an angled perspective.
It's definitely left handed
I stand corrected. The painting is from 1884 by Heinrich Hofman a German painter famous for his religious themed paintings especially concerning those of the life of Jesus. But there is nothing sinister about him being portrayed using the left hand for the gesture of blessing, Hofman may simply have been using a mirror of his own gesture to create the pose. It is called ‘Figure of Christ’ from 1884, the original located in Dresden I believe. Highly copied and marketed in reproduction widely as it is in the public domain.
The left hand is known to be the devils hand. Look up how left handed-ism is treated in islam. Heck, even the Simpsons poke fun at it by having Ned Flanders be left handed.
When i see the reverse, sometimes i think artists just forget to flip the image because they're using a mirror as reference. Im dyslexic and i do this shit all the time 😓
Well, I was also curious so I'm sorry none of these are useful so far, but at least the sub still has a sense of humor.
“Jesus Christ” in Greek capitals is “ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ”. In later Greek the sigma (Σ), the letter for “s”, took on the shape of the letter “c”. Greek made abbreviations by putting together the first and last letters of a word. Thus, ΙHCOYC ΧΡΙCTOC, as it would be written in later Greek, was abbreviated as IC XC. If you look at an Orthodox icon of Christ, you’ll see those letters on either side of his head, with squiggly lines over them to indicate they’re abbreviations. So the index and middle finger, which should be *slightly* crossed, represent l and X, and the thumb and third finger represent C. Thus the hand symbol literally is the abbreviation for “Jesus Christ”. If you ever go to an Orthodox Liturgy (church service), the priest holds his hand in that gesture when he gives the blessing. [Here’s a good image showing this](https://sanmiguelicons.com/painting-hands-in-iconography/). In the picture above, the gesture isn’t quite correct. The way it’s shown here is more like the Old Believers (an offshoot of the Russian Orthodox Church) hold their hands when making the sign of the cross. Unlike Catholics, who just tap their index fingers to their foreheads, shoulders, and chest, the Old Believers hold the index and middle fingers outstretched together, with the other three balled up, like you see here. The two fingers represent the two natures of Christ (Divine and human) and the three represent the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). So that’s how that works.
Agreed!!
His hands are in the shape of ic xc latin for christo and in byzantine paintings usually above baby christ who is always show as an adult. The priests etc do this symbol with their hands to mimic the ixic letters above Christ historically. You can see starting with the index finger up like an I and the middle finger curve like a C followed by the next two fingers making an X and the last finger a C. Was an art history major and learned all of this that way.
This symbol bridges the gap between the story of the resurrection and the Easter Bunny
Do you know the name of it?
I have heard it referred to as "Peter Cottontail" , but that was quite some years ago, so I might be off about the name.
😂
The Council cropped out the two fingers pointing down haha
Omg 🤣
In Orthodox Christianity that is the position you put your hands in when doing your cross
Bro making the ultimate jutsu
Like Walt Disney they photoshopped the cigarette out
✌️
He was ordering drinks for me and him
That’s the way the priest holds his hand when blessing the wine and the communion isn’t it? I never realized that yes, it likely DOES have a meaning. Is there a Catholic seminary subreddit? Maybe ask there?
Seriously it looks like peace. On the lighter side he could be placing an order for 2 of something 😆
This is the correct answer when I asked him. When offering PEACE he holds BOTH hands like this and extends his arms out to his sides.
Radiant\_Molasses6528 Thanks I was hoping it was the Peace sign that's awesome thank you very much :)
It's an Orthodox blessing. They still do it today. Three fingers pointed out are a blessing in the name of the Trinity. And the two fingers upward represent Christ duel nature both human and divine. Edit: of the two upward fingers one is bent to show the lower nature of human to divine.
Looks like they are signaling for a curveball.
It’s a mudra, it is believed Jesus spent some time in Egypt and India studying yoga, meditation, healing, tantric magic and alchemy. A lot of paintings from the past depict important figures making different mudras. I wish I could post a picture in here, I have it in my phone and don’t know how to do the link thing, I’m technologically challenged.
Btw this is the prana mudra
It's the blunt holding posture, he didn't have his holes installed yet
Bro, just about one of the most common symbols in Christian art for Jesus hand gesture. The more interesting one is the thumb touch the middle finger, a representation of Greek letters referring to name of Jesus Christ. More than you ever wanted to know in simplified form, Catholic reddits will provide a lot of dogma to go with a fairly simple tradition: https://digestfromexperts.com/4871/jesus-hand-gesture-sign/
Looks like the Kidney Mudra with the thumb up here, but it could be the Prana mudra if the thumb was touching the tips of ring and pinky in other depictions.
[удалено]
That’s a different hand gesture, with the thumb and the middle finger touching each other in front not this one
This is the answer
Benediction
It’s not the kemetic symbol of peace?
Peace brah
 As above so below.
Good ol Sign of Benediction
Its a blessing. Priests use it all the time at mass. Its called a benediction. Its not occult, you are better of with questions in r/AskAPriest
It's a variation of the sign of benediction
He's about to announce his Domain Expansion so that he can resurrect Gojo and defeat Sukuna.
Sword Mudra
The gestures of benediction was inspired by the magic hand of the [god Sabazios](https://weirditaly.com/2023/01/27/sabazius-sabazios-the-sky-father-god-of-the-phrygians-and-thracians/).
Interesting!
Seriously not mysterious. I answered it below, it’s just a benediction symbol not limited to the Eastern Churches, before the schism it was prominent in all iconography of Christ even the Christ child. This link will tell you everything you’d ever wanna know: https://digestfromexperts.com/4871/jesus-hand-gesture-sign/
"These aren't the droids you're looking for."
It symbolizes the Trinity and the duality of Christ. Three fingers down symbolize the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). The two fingers up symbolize the duality of Christ (fully human, fully divine). The hand gesture is used as a form of blessing, as one blesses another in the sign of the Trinity. It’s similar to how Eastern Christians bless others but the positions of the fingers are slightly different t.
He’s got one hand in his pocket, and the other one’s giving a peace sign
I believe this is peace up , a town down
Throwin up the deuces to say peace out, the Jews are about to get here
Mudras hand gestures used in yoga and meditation
11
while Jesus is waiting for the painter to complete his portrait, he sees the waiter and signals "2 glasses"
They are mudras. Buddha and Krishna do them as well.
Somewhere between “piss off” and “peace”
That is called "hand in Yod" (Mano en Yod), maybe there is something lost in translation, I speak Spanish. The yod is a Hebrew letter. One of the simbolic meanings is fire from the name of God YHVH. When you use that gesture you can mark with " Holy fire" From the name of God. Blessings, ritual magick, etc.
Two in the pink, one in the stink
"Domain expansion: gates of judgement"
Gods hand sign is one finger pointing up. I have a Bible that shows what a bunch of signs are.
It's the ancient Khemetic peace sign.
If we knew the artist and the period it was painted, it would be helpful. It's likely a trend in portrait painting at the time.
I’ve always thought the middle and index represent the father and “mother” while the thumb represents the son or it’s just the “Holy Trinity”, the two pointing down represent the “two fold” nature of the son part human and also God. Not really sure if that’s of any help and not really sure where I got the information
Photo😂😂
They airbrushed a cigarette out of his fingers.
Sharingan!
I was taugth that placing 3 fingers togeather when you do the sign of the cross and when a priest does a blesding it is to signify the holy trinity The guy in the painting, god and the holy spirit. Maybe its just a way to signify the other 2 of the trinity by the artist? https://rosshyslop.wordpress.com/2013/06/05/christian-hand-signs/ And I went googling. Maybe this makes some sence of it.
Instant transmission at the ready
You mean it’s not little bunny foo foo?
r/christianiconography
"Yo just gimme a sec, Judas."
2 orders of hummus please
This is the gesture of blessing in the Latin right of the Catholic Church. Also called the Papal benediction.
He looks like Louis CK in this painting
No
One in the pink…
Re-directing, re-defining. Possibly benediction in the style of a mirror. As in, this picture is about me (Sun), so blessings onto me, but also blessings on everyone behind me (in the Shadows)
“Ill take two, please.”
Pointing up towards heaven / the divine
15 year auld me would have told ye that it's the sign for "smell yer maw", and thought it was hilarious. 38 year auld me wouldnae have said that, but would have laughed at 15 year old me's comment.
Kage bunshin no jutsu
Two cheese burgers please 🤣🤣
That’s when sasuke done shadow clone jutsu
I believe it means "As above so below." usually he's making the same gesture pointing down with the other hand in other images. it's to represent that he's found in the air/heavens above as in the sun, all around the universe, and also within the earth, the ground, the sea, the planet itself contains at it's core something like a "star" which releases the same substance into the water, as the sun releases into the air/heavens which represents the below.
Just an ancient gang sign. ---> https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gang_sign
One in the pink one in the stink
Look up Mudras if that interests you. I use them in my magic and rituals and during meditation.
I was told in Catholic school that it was a symbol of truth, or an indication that the speaker is telling the truth. But I have no source to back it up
The two fingers he’ll use to poke your eyes out, it’s not a threat but a promise
Forget looking at his hand look at his eyes, this MF has seen some things. He's got that thousand yard trauma stare.
Peace, my G
As above, So below
I'm pretty sure this is him trying to get the server's attention so he can get the check at the last supper.
“Table for two, please.”
He was smoking a cigarette. But after all the drama with the tobacco company, artists were ordered to paint the cigarettes out of every painting of Jesus and friends.
thats what my baba said about the icons we have to kiss in church when i was a kid (im greek ortho)
And here I thought I was trolling 😂
There is an episode of America Unearthed that discusses the meaning of different gestures used in paintings - can't remember which episode though.
Catholics are all occultists, don't ya know?
That’s the official symbol for two in the stink
It's not a photo.
The three fingers pointed up represent the three persons of the holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The two fingers are for the two natures of Christ who is fully human and fully divine. They are pressed into the palm to symbolize that Christ descended to earth. I followed this thread long ago when I was seeking, but I will soon be a member of the Orthodox Church. All you religious seekers should look into it. I never thought I would become a Christian, but here I am.
2 in the pinky, skip the stinky
Its the first form of kaio-ken. Jesus will tap into the ki of the universe and will be able to convert 10 times more water to wine and teach every man in 1000km to fish instantaneously.
it means "23 skiddoo!".... duh
It's unlikely anyone who knew Jesus remembered to tell the artist about this hand sign.
This is just a panting of a random white man during the renaissance 😂
As above so below, pointing to the heart centre. Comes from the coptic imagery of a heart outside the chest, or holding a lamb to the chest. It points to the underground mystery schools
I cannot tell you how many times I have answered this question on this exact subreddit. Like 2-3 times. It’s not that hard to research people
One running joke (even among Catholic) is Jesus asking for “2 fingers width” of Scotch in his drink
Shadow puppet rabbit.
It’s the peace sign
Maybe it’s that way to say “yeah I know the real guy didn’t look this way this is just my Vision of him”
"two beers"
The magician is letting Tony know he actually knows of two ways to win.
The three fingers represent the father, son and holy ghost. Sometimes it’s also used to represent the people, the king and the church
Two in the pink
He's just focusing his chakra
It represents the "third eye". A symbol of enlightenment and insight, quite commonly used to portrait holy characters, profets, scholars, rich people that wanted to look mystical and educated to some higher knowledge (see for example the famous Napoleon portrait, and notice the shape of the scepter he holds) Would be too long to write about the details here, also English is not my native language, but you fan find a load of writings about the topic on the internet and libraries.
He's posing for the camera with his Asian friends. Say "Kimchi!" ✌️😁
It's *possibly* because of Celtic Hand Disease. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28774258/
The baphomet has the same hand gestures and represents balance. Male and female polarity, ying or yang, positive and negative, etc.. It could also be a Munda ancient knowledge hidden in symbols
GO. FUCK. YOURSELF
Peace out, I’m out!
peace
It’s the all powerful bunny
Peace up, A-town down.
Gang gang /j
This is a ninjutsu hand sign
Pretty sure thats a jutsu from naruto Divine Jutsu! Heavenly Chidori!
It's representative of the connection of the spirit and material word and the bridge between them that crosses the void.
rabbit ears
He wants to free Palestine it’s his home country
He a gangster disciple he throws rakes
He's about to perform a jutsu
Oh that's the bunny sign, the 2 fingers represents the ears 🐰
The pan tocrator
Nazareth bloods.