what is laying of hands for?

Question

when we pray for someone, we lay our hands for them.. but what is that for?

Answer 1

some people call it reiki--a healing practice--it works through Gods energy and our intention through prayer

Answer 2

A laying of hands is a very beautiful and spiritual practise of focusing all your energy and prayers on the person being blessed or prayed over.

The Laying on of Hands has great significance as a Covenant Rite in the Bible. This is the method used to bestow a special Divine blessing or a special form of recognition. It can be a formal family/public announcement or blessing relating to a point of honor, or a special spiritual request. Even if there is no audience, the Angels are watching and recording.

For thousands of years the Bible described the “laying on of hands” being performed on the sick to restore health.

Answer 3

This has been a practice in all the major religions of the world. I neither see any pervertedness in this practice nor see any direct special benefit.

But in India, a respectful elder allows himself to do so to any young one (in age) either to show his/her affection, as a mark of blessing.

It can be just seen as a gesture. Say for example, if you want to call a man at a distance- How would you call him? - You scream and wave at his direction. And similarly there are too many physical movements and gestures we make during every day activities.

Laying of hands is one such gesture, mostly associated with cultural and religious beliefs. When we say a belief, then it means it stands as a belief. No body investigates in to it as to whether any special power or energy is getting transfered or not.

When our parents or elders bless us, we (Indians at least) feel happy and blessed. That enthuses us and gives us a fresh energy to work better. This way it is a psychological benefit. Not only that, even people use this to curse others. So we feel bad and work oppositely.

Answer 4

I know as laying on hands as being in agreement with the person you are praying for. You are showing a unity/ bond among each other about what you are praying for.

Answer 5

Timothy I 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Acts ordaining ministers

OT was to offer a sacrfice:
Leviticus 3:2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.

Godliness of Jesus' hands
Matthew 9:18 While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

Answer 6

It is a tradition/ritual from the bible. For example in 2 Samuel, God sent Samuel to go and lay hands on David and anoint him.

So i think it's sort of a powerful gesture when praying for someone.

Answer 7

Usually laying on of hands can mean dedicating someone to ministry or for healing. Now this is not supposed to symbolize that someone is getting healed through people touching him, but it is usually a sign of support.

Answer 8

You lay hands during a transfer of power(Faith, Holy Spirit, God's Anointing). This could be an anointing, Healing, or setting aside someone for service to God.

Answer 9

Laying on of hands is to heal by the power of god.

Answer 10

It shows the communities togetherness, Power of the Holy Spirit, warmth of the community. In the sacrament of ordination of priest it confers the Holy Spirit along with the words of ordination. It is part of Apostolic Succession in the sacrament of orders.

Answer 11

If you are a Christian, thru him we have holy hands, and laying them on a person transmits the healing in our hands to them.