In various cultures and religions, symbolism holds significant meaning. The Bible, Christianity’s holy book, is no exception. One intriguing aspect of biblical symbolism is the mention of left-handedness. Throughout history, there have been debates and misconceptions surrounding the idea of being left-handed, often linking it to sin or evil. This article aims to delve into the symbolism behind left-handedness as portrayed in the Bible, separating fact from fiction and shedding light on its true meaning.
The Historical Perspective of Left-Handedness in Ancient Times
There are various theories and viewpoints about left-handers and their place in history. What we know is that right-handedness was held in higher regard because of the religious and cultural significance it carried. This is evident when we look at the symbolism of left-handedness in the Bible.
Aside from just symbolism, the people who were born left-handed faced many disadvantages during ancient times. They were often shunned with some cultures even forcing them to become right handed. There are various ancient texts and artifacts that depict how left-handers were considered to be evil or unfavorable. In fact, the Latin word for left is “sinister,” which literally translates to “unfavorable” or “evil.”
Another theory is that since cultures like the Greeks and the Romans put a lot of importance on order and discipline, anything that was different was automatically deemed as negative. The right hand was considered to be more dexterous and skilled, so naturally, left-handedness was frowned upon as it indicated an inability to conform to the societal order.
Left-handedness in ancient times was also associated with lower classes because they were often made to do manual labor. This also lead to making it taboo for noble or higher class people to do things with their left hand.
Here’s a closer look at some famous historical figures who were left-handed:
Picasso
Pablo Picasso was known for his art work even after his death in 1973. He was a painter, sculptor, ceramicist, stage designer, poet and playwright who co-founded the popular Cubist movement. Although he did not fulfill his elementary education because schoolwork bored him, he attended fine arts school when he was 13 years old.
Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great is known for expanding his empire across Asia, Europe and Africa from 336-323 BC. His legacy was so powerful that he became an iconic figure in both Western and non-Western cultures.
Julius Caesar
The Roman ruler Julius Caesar gained power after his role as a Roman general and someone who played a major role in the events that would lead to the fall of Roman Republic and the rise of Roman Empire.
Henry Ford
The automotive industrialist Henry Ford founded Ford Motor Company and played a big part in getting cars into mass production.
The Bible’s Mention of Left-Handed Individuals
We’ve learned that the Bible has plenty of left-handed references, but none of them actually suggest that being left-handed is sinful. Instead, the sin is often tied to the left-handed person’s action, intention or place.
We’ll start with the most famous left-handed Bible story: Ehud.
Ehud
Perhaps the most famous biblical account of a left-handed person is in the Book of Judges. The Bible introduces Ehud, a judge of Israel raised up by God who was also left-handed.
One day, Ehud was tasked with delivering an important message to the king of Moab and he used his left-handedness to his advantage. The king was an obese man and Ehud told him he had a secret message for him. As he walked toward him, he pulled out a two-edged sword from his right thigh and thrust it into the King’s belly and killed him. Ehud then escaped and warned the Israelites about an approaching army before it could take action.
To put it simply, Ehud assassinated a king so his sin does not involve his handedness. It’s also worth noting that God chose Ehud as judge at a time when the Israelites needed salvation from their enemies. So not only is being left-handed not sinful in this story, but it is actually a positive.
Benjaminite Warriors
In Judges 20:16, the Bible mentions 700 Benjaminite warriors who were ambidextrous. They could sling stones from their left hand and not miss. So again, no mention of any wrongdoings because they were left-handed.
New Testament
In our previous section, we mentioned that Jesus often sat to the right of God. But we also see verses that talk about Jesus’ habit of blessing with His right hand.
The people brought children to Jesus so He could place His hands on them and bless them. When His disciples saw it, they rebuked them but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them. For such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” And after He laid His hands on them, He departed (Matthew 19:13-15).
In many instances in the Old Testament, we see mention of God reaching out with His right hand for different reasons such as, delivering punishment or providing help. So while there are no direct mentions suggesting that being left-handed is sinful in Christianity, the right hand is certainly considered superior.
Exploring Symbolism: Left-Handedness in the Bible
Now we will take a closer look at the symbolism surrounding left-handedness in the Bible. Let’s clear the air by saying that no, left-handedness is not a sin. But it’s true that lefties were often viewed differently than right-handed people. Historically, people thought left-handers were evil, wrong or possessed (there are still some people who believe this, but we choose to think they’re choosing to be ignorant on the topic). It wasn’t until the 20th century that being left-handed wasn’t such a bad thing. That’s because society has changed and is now more understanding and accepting.
Paul: The Only Lefty Mentioned in the Bible
The only person directly mentioned as being left-handed in the Bible is Paul. And he refers to other people being left-handed. Depending on the source you read or which translation of the Bible you use, some mention that Paul is referring to the others as being weak and/or unremarkable rather than mentioning that they are lefthanded. This confusion comes from translations of the original Greek word έυθρός, which can mean either weak or left handed. Paul uses it figuratively in this context to express that God chooses those who are considered weak to shame stronger, wiser or more powerful things.
Judges 3:15-23: Left-Handedness in Combat
The story of Judah vs Eglon (Judges 3:15-23) is one of those cases where we can see how being left-handed was viewed during this time period. The people of Israel were oppressed by Eglon, an obese king from Moab. They decided to send an envoy to his palace with tribute money. This envoy was from a group called Benjamin, which actually means “son of my right hand”. In modern times when we call someone our right-hand man, it means we trust them implicitly or that they are our most helpful person. It was also a term for being tough.
The Israelites sent this envoy with their tribute money so that Eglon would help them against Moab, although in Judges 3:21 Eglon sends away his men so he can share a secret message with the envoy. When they’re finally alone together, Ehud takes out a sword with his right hand and stabs Eglon in the gut. The sword sinks into Eglon’s blubber, and Ehud leaves, locking the doors behind him before running away.
Ehud escaped before Eglon’s men knew what happened because they assumed he wasn’t coming out of the room yet because he was using the bathroom (the word for “relief” in Judges 3:24 and “relieving himself” in Judges 3:24 are from the same root word). By hiding a sword on his right side (the side they didn’t check because Ehud was lefthanded), Ehud was able to slay Eglon and escape.
The Positive Connotations of Left-Handedness in Scripture
Among the Bible’s 2,000 mentions of right hand, we find 25 references to the left hand. These mentions in the Bible cover a wide range of positive and negative symbolism. Let’s look at the noteworthy positive ones:
Children of Israel Entering the Promised Land
The first instance is in Deuteronomy 33:7, where Moses pronounces a blessing to Judah that says: “Hear, Lord, the cry of Judah; bring him to his people. With his own hands he defends his cause. Oh, be his help against his foes!” The mention of Judah defending himself with his left hand is powerful imagery of reconciling with enemies and overcoming persecution.
Poor Widow and Her Coin Offering
The second instance is in Mark 12:41-44, where Jesus observed how people dropped money into the temple treasury. The chapter begins with Jesus watching rich people giving vast sums of money. But Jesus points out that it was a poor widow who gave the smallest amount that made the biggest impact. He said: “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” As such, her intentional decision to give all her money left a lasting impression and inspired even the rich folk to give more. This passage shows that the left hand can also be a vehicle for great charity.
Moses’ Staff Changing into a Snake
The third instance is in Exodus 4:2-4, where Moses turns his staff into a snake before he was sent to deliver God’s message to Pharaoh. After God directs him to use his staff as part of His miracles, Moses demonstrates how it can change shape and be used as a weapon against enemies:
Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it.
As we can see from these passages, “left”-handed people are often aligned with those who fight battles using the Word as their shield. Their calculated actions are symbolized by their left hand when they choose to stand up against others who wish them harm.
The Misinterpretation of Left-Handedness as Sinful
There are many examples in the Bible of things that we take out of context in our current culture. Many things in the Bible have a different cultural context and don’t mean the same thing to believers now as it did to those who wrote it.
So it isn’t surprising that many people who haven’t read the Bible believe it has bad things to say about left-handed people. It can be hard to take the time to learn about a religion that isn’t your own and what you hear on the internet isn’t always accurate.
The reality is that the Bible doesn’t say anything at all about left-handed people being a sign of evil intent or a sinful nature. The only mention of left-handedness in the Bible is seen as a way for God to act.
Instead of viewing you as a sinner, the Bible actually views you as special.
The truth is that the Bible has instances where someone being left-handed is seen as an advantage, not a disadvantage. In Judges and 1 Chronicles, left-handed people are used as a way for God to facilitate his will. So it would be foolish to interpret left-handedness as something bad when it’s actually something good.
But this isn’t always clear to believers. In some instances, when we translate something from its original text into a language like English, things get lost. This means that sometimes people get left-handedness wrong in historical accounts, too.
But there are some more modern interpretations of the use of left-handedness in the Bible where it’s viewed as something bad.
For example, being left-handed is mentioned by Augustine as something Satan equates with darkness. But this is something he added himself, not something that the Bible says.
You might even hear there are more left-handers now because we have more sinners than we did back then. But according to your hands being tied behind your back isn’t feasible, and sinners or not, they would have had a hard time killing off all of them by doing so. You can find out more about that here.
The text only suggests that people were ambidextrous instead of viewing it negatively or positively, indicating that both are acceptable ways in which He has created us.
While some may view left-handers negatively, others may view them positively. For example, many religions perceive that their leaders were left-handed. In cultures where leading with your right hand is viewed as superior or correct action and something God created you to do, left-handers do it differently and are therefore special.
Understanding God’s Guidance and Unconventional Choices
Considering the present social context, there’s no doubt that left-handed people will receive less discrimination. But ultimately, there shouldn’t be any negative bias towards left-handedness since it is a natural phenomenon.
Furthermore, we should give up the idea that God has a preference for right-handedness. The Bible doesn’t show any favoritism for either hand. As we can see from the verses above, both right and left are equally honored in the Bible. Both symbols can be easily used to describe God’s might and power.
In the Bible, right-handed people might have had a social advantage. But God doesn’t discriminate between the two hands. As we’ve pointed earlier, He uses different types of individuals for His purposes. He doesn’t favor the strong over the weak. Instead, He brings out hidden strengths in those whom society sees as weak.
Let’s take Ehud as an example. In Judges 3:15-30, God uses this left-handed judge to break Israel free from Moab’s 18-year rule. Ehud may have been a lefty, but that didn’t stop him from being a strong warrior. He was brave and capable enough to face Moab’s King Eglon and eventually kill him.
With how the Bible portrayed him, it’s obvious that God had great plans for Ehud all along.
The same thing goes for spiritual matters. Left-handedness and right-handedness aren’t means to measure someone’s faith or spirituality. What matters most is someone’s relationship with God and how they live up to His teachings. These play a more significant role in determining a person’s character over their physical attributes.
It’s also crucial that we embrace our own weaknesses and limitations as individuals. Rather than fixate on our faults, we should strive to harness our own strengths. In doing so, we can develop a greater sense of compassion for others who are struggling themselves.
According to research, southpaws are often more artistic and creative than their right-handed counterparts. But they can also become more anxious about certain things or situations. This just goes to show that we have to be mindful of our attitudes towards other people like them.
In no way should we judge others simply based on their handedness or any physical trait they may possess.
Modern Perspectives: Embracing Left-Handedness
After reviewing the scriptural references to left-handedness, one has to wonder how people can misconstrue those messages and use them to justify discrimination.
Although it might not seem like a big deal, left-handed people still face challenges worldwide. In some cultures, lefties are forced to switch, frequently scolded or referred to as evil or dirty. As the video states, there are even “anti-southpaw” pacifiers with messages like “I may be left-handed, but I’m always right.” These behaviors can lead to lower self-esteem and a sense of disconnection.
It’s important for us to recognize biases that exist in our culture and work together to end them. Thankfully, there are many organizations that support left-handed individuals and advocate for equal treatment. Not only does Left-Handers Day help shed light on these issues, but it also gives people an opportunity to show their appreciation for everyone who’s unique in their own way.
The world can be a challenging place for left-handed children who might struggle with basic things that most people take for granted. But with the right support system, they can learn strategies that allow them to function in a world that’s designed for righties. Some teachers even have students switch desks throughout the year so that they learn to adapt and use both hands more frequently.
There’s some evidence to suggest that people have become more accepting of southpaws in recent years. In fact, being left-handed might make you more employable since it’s associated with creativity. Whether it’s due to the fact that struggles make you stronger or because they’re forced to think outside the box on a daily basis, researchers have found that many lefties are successful entrepreneurs.
There are plenty of celebrities who are also part of this elite group like Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie and Tom Cruise. They’ve all managed to make a name for themselves and become extremely successful despite facing the same challenges as everyone else.
Applying Symbolism to Personal Growth and Faith
In the dictionary, “sinister” (sometimes known as “lefthanded”) has more than one definition. In addition to meaning “wickedness or evil,” “sinister” can be defined as “presaging ill” or “ominous.” Some Christian denominations have historically believed that left-handed people are evil because of the symbolism in the Bible. Obviously, it’s now generally accepted that being left-handed is not a sin. However, this doesn’t make the conversation about symbolism in the Bible and their interpretations any less relevant.
When we talk about sin, we often talk about it in a broad sense. It is important to remember that sin is relative. What is considered a sin by one person may not be considered a sin by another. This is not said to suggest that people have the ability to define right from wrong, but serves as a reminder that we each have our own perspective and belief systems that dictate where we draw the line.
As we work to acquire wisdom and develop our faith, it’s important to remember to be open-minded and respectful of others’ beliefs. We should also try not to let symbolism cloud our judgment or get in the way of our personal growth.
Sin is an interesting topic because it can be both religious and secular. For example, in Christianity, one of the seven deadly sins is pride. In everyday conversation, however, it’s perfectly acceptable to feel proud of your accomplishments. Your personal interpretation of each of the seven deadly sins plays a key role in how you choose to avoid them.
While faith plays a big role in personal growth and religion can be an excellent tool for developing your spiritual muscles, part of what makes personal growth so powerful is that anyone can benefit from it regardless of their beliefs.
Sinful desires are a part of human nature. They’re unavoidable and normal. That being said, we all have the ability to choose to act on those desires or let them go. Whether you draw the line at gluttony, wrath or something else altogether is up to you.
The Bible encompasses a rich tapestry of symbolism, often requiring careful interpretation to fully grasp its intended message. The mention of left-handedness within the Scriptures is no exception. It is important to approach these instances with an open mind and a willingness to understand the deeper symbolism behind them. Being left-handed is not inherently sinful or evil, and it does not carry any negative connotations in the eyes of God. Instead, it is a reminder that God can work through anyone, regardless of their differences or perceived limitations. By exploring the symbolism in the Bible, we gain a deeper understanding of its teachings and the diverse ways in which it conveys its messages of faith, love, and redemption.
