Laying on of hands

What it is

This practice involves physically placing one or more hands upon another person. It serves as a symbolic act to convey authority, provide spiritual support, or invoke divine presence. Different faiths interpret the contact as a channel for the Holy Spirit, a transfer of wisdom, or a method to draw sickness away from a patient. The gesture is central to many religious ceremonies and traditional healing rituals.

Where it comes from

In Jewish tradition, the act dates back to the Hebrew Bible, where Moses used it to ordain Joshua and the seventy elders. This created a chain of authority known as semikhah that continued through the Second Temple period. In Christianity, the New Testament links the gesture to receiving the Holy Spirit and appointing church leaders. European monarchs later adopted a version called the royal touch to cure scrofula, a belief that persisted until the Enlightenment.

How it is done

Practitioners place their hands directly on the recipient, often on the head or body. In Jewish rites, the hand may be laid with force over a sacrificial animal before slaughter. Christian clergy use it during baptisms, confirmations, and the anointing of the sick. Healers among the San people lay hands on patients to draw illness into themselves. Monarchs performed the royal touch at large public ceremonies, often during Easter services.

Tools and materials

The primary tool is the human hand. In some Christian contexts, consecrated olive oil is applied to the head before the hands are placed. Jewish texts describe the use of hands over sacrificial goats during sin-offerings. The gesture itself is the main instrument, sometimes accompanied by prayers or declarations of innocence.

What it is for

People seek this rite for healing, ordination, or spiritual blessing. Christians ask for it during confirmation and when seeking divine healing for illness. Jews use it to confer authority on leaders or elders. Traditional healers use it to remove sickness from a patient. Monarchs used it to demonstrate their divine right to cure subjects of disease.

Who does it

Ordained clergy such as bishops, priests, and deacons perform it in Christian churches. Jewish rabbis and elders use semikhah to pass on authority. Shamans and traditional healers, like those among the !Kung people, use it for medical purposes. Monarchs historically performed the royal touch as part of their sovereign duties. Training usually involves religious education or initiation into a specific spiritual lineage.

Peoples and places

The practice is widespread across Jewish and Christian communities globally. Among Jewish groups, it marks the conferral of rabbinic authority. Christians use it in Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Baptist, Pentecostal, and Latter-day Saint traditions. Indigenous groups like the San and Navajo use similar gestures for healing. European history records its use by French and English kings.

What people believe

Believers hold that the physical contact allows a spiritual force to flow from the practitioner to the recipient. In Christianity, it is seen as a way to receive the Holy Spirit or the power of the priesthood. Jewish tradition views it as a transfer of wisdom and spirit. Traditional healers believe they can absorb sickness into their own bodies. The royal touch was believed to be a divine gift given to kings.

When it is done

The rite is performed during life events such as births, baptisms, and funerals. It is common at ordinations and confirmations. In Christian liturgy, it appears during services for the sick and at Easter. Jewish rites follow the calendar of sacrifices and leadership transitions. Monarchs performed the royal touch on holy days and during seasonal festivals.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Anthropologists study the gesture as a universal symbol of authority and connection. Historians trace its evolution from biblical times to medieval monarchy. Psychologists may view it as a form of placebo or social bonding. Skeptics regard the healing claims as unproven. Scholars note the continuity of the practice across different religious branches despite theological differences.

Compare and confuse

The gesture is similar to anointing with oil, which often accompanies it in Christian rites. It differs from prayer alone by adding physical contact. The royal touch is distinct because it was a state function rather than a purely religious one. Semikhah is specific to Jewish authority lines, while chirotony is the Christian term for ordination.

Law and persecution

The royal touch was abolished as monarchs lost claimed divine powers. Modern religious practices are generally protected under freedom of religion laws. Traditional healing practices may face legal scrutiny if they conflict with medical standards. No specific laws ban the gesture itself, but regulations may apply to health-related claims made during its performance.

Today

The practice remains active in many churches and synagogues worldwide. Pentecostal and Evangelical groups use it frequently for healing services. Jewish communities continue the tradition of semikhah for new rabbis. Traditional healers in Southern Africa still use the gesture for medical care. The royal touch survives only as a historical curiosity.

Questions people ask about Laying on of hands

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle

• Laying on of hands on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data