What does יָד · טוֹב mean in the Bible?
יָד · טוֹב: Hand as the primary agent of power, agency, and control across literal and figurative domains.
Hebrew · H3027, H2896
יָד
יָד · טוֹב: Hand as the primary agent of power, agency, and control across literal and figurative domains.
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
יָדH3027a hand (the open one [indicating power , means , direction , etc.], in distinction from 3709 , the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote [as follows]
Pronunciationyād
Open hand signifies power, control, and agency; extends from literal grasp to dominion and divine authority throughout Scripture.
Open lexicon entry →טוֹבH2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
What does יָד (yad tovah) mean in the Bible?
Full entry for יָד (H3027, H2896) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H3027, H2896?
H3027, H2896 is connected to 2,192 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. Hand as the primary agent of power, agency, and control across literal and figurative domains.
Source Gloss
a hand (the open one [indicating power , means , direction , etc.], in distinction from 3709 , the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote [as follows]
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Sampled Scripture Occurrences
Representative Scripture witnesses for this entry: passage, original form, and sense in context.
Old Testament Witnesses
A metaphor for God’s active favor and empowering providence.
Word Origins
יָד is a primitive word - no further derivation.
Why This Word Matters
The phrase anchors the narrative in divine causation. Success flows from God’s gracious activity, not human leverage.Nehemiah 2:1-10