“Thigh Will Be Done”

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

     What is the meaning of “placing your hand under my thigh” when making a covenant in Abraham’s circumstance?

Sincerely,
Huh?

Dear Huh,

There are two times mentioned in the Bible when someone made an agreement and sealed that agreement by “placing his hand under the thigh”.  Abraham made an agreement with his servant in Gen. 24:9, and Jacob made one with his son, Joseph, in Gen 47:29.

Little is known of this tradition of sealing agreements by placing the hand under the thigh, but that doesn’t mean we can’t understand its purpose.  When the servant placed his hand under Abraham’s thigh, it had the same effect as shaking hands today.  It sealed the agreement and bonded the two parties to fulfill it.

Share