Nails through the palms of the hands?

Question

and one through the feet

Honestly....do you REALLY think that 3 nails--2 through the palms of the hands.. could hold up the body of a person?

Answer 1

Tests done wtih cadavers shows that this is impossible. More likely through the wrists.

But lets be honest here - its not like Christianity concerns itself with details or facts.

Answer 2

A possibility that does not require tying is that the nails were inserted just above the wrist, between the two bones of the forearm (the radius and the ulna). The nails could also be driven through the wrist, in a space between four carpal bones. The Gospel word χείρ (cheir), translated as "hand", can include everything below the mid-forearm: Acts 12:7 uses this word to report chains falling off from Peter's 'hands', although the chains would be around what we would call wrists. This shows that the semantic range of χείρ is wider than the English hand, and can be used of nails through the wrist.

Another possibility, suggested by Frederick Zugibe, is that the nails may have been driven in at an angle, entering in the palm in the crease that delineates the bulky region at the base of the thumb, and exiting in the wrist, passing through the carpal tunnel.

Answer 3

It was 1 through both feet and 1 on each WRIST. The bones in the hands couldn't hold weight.

Many of the painters and most of the sculptors of crucifixion, also show the nails through the palms. Historical Roman accounts and experimental work have established that the nails were driven between the small bones of the wrists (radial and ulna) and not through the palms. Nails driven through the palms will strip out between the fingers when made to support the weight of the human body. The misconception may have come about through a misunderstanding of Jesus' words to Thomas, "Observe my hands." Anatomists, both modern and ancient, have always considered the wrist as part of the hand.

Answer 4

Hi, really don't think so. I have seen shows, studied that same question. They used cadavers, and it cannot support the weight of the body. In this same study, they went through the wrists! Now that can support the weight, it has been proven in the study. I think you should take a look at the Shaw of Tehran. Tehran is a city in Italy where the church keeps it. It is supposed to be the cloth that covered Jesus after his crucifixion. In it you can see a image of a crucified man. The holes in this image shows the nails went through the wrists. I went to school and studied anthropology. I also searched for that answer. When the Romans crucified someone. They would nail someone to a cross, and also use rope around the wrist area to give the body support. Just do a little research and you will find out what I just told you. If you want me to I can provide you with more information so you can look for yourself. Michael

Answer 5

Actually, you're all wrong. The Romans were masters at inflicting pain. The common practice for crucifixion in the first century was...yes, they did go through your hands, but the used wooden washers so it would support most of your weight. They did NOT use a platform, instead they drove spikes (yes, one on each side) through your ankles into the side of the post. This was extremely painful, most people only lasted a day or so, but a few people actually suffered for upwards of a week.

Answer 6

The nails went through the wrists as the Shroud of Turin confirms. The person being crucified actually suffocates to death.

Hanging in that position, with their arms supporting their weight and their shoulders probably dislocated, they can inhale but can't exhale. In order to exhale they have to lift themselves up by their legs, pushing on the nail in the feet.

Answer 7

The Greek term that was used was interpreted hands, but it went down into the area of the wrist. So the nails went in the area between the two bones of the wrist.

Answer 8

Actually I heard that it was 2 nails through the wrists. That's how you know that all those self proclaimed messiahs are false. Most of them say they experience stigmata on their palms.

Answer 9

not through the hands... that is the artistic license of early painters... the documented method was to place the nails through the wrist... there was a foot rest placed for minimal support and the nail through the ankles was just to keep them in place.

also many time they were just tied up there and left to hang... that actualy brought death faster and was concidered a mercy.

Answer 10

It will do it if you go through the wrists below the heavy cartilage but not through th palms. The Romans would have known that.

Answer 11

There are people in Mexico and South America who VOLUNTARILY go through this sort of treatment every year around Easter time....

And if you saw "TheLast Temptation of Christ", you'd see that it wasn't just the nails -- they sandwiched Jesus' hands between the beam and another piece of wood, then lashed his arms to the crossbeam with rope....