In the Bible, left-handedness is mentioned in a few notable instances, often highlighting unique characteristics or abilities of certain individuals. The term "left-handed" is used to describe individuals who predominantly use their left hand for tasks, which was less common in ancient times and often carried specific cultural connotations.

Ehud the Benjamite

One of the most prominent left-handed figures in the Bible is Ehud, a judge of Israel. Ehud is described as a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. His left-handedness plays a crucial role in the narrative of his deliverance of Israel from Moabite oppression. In Judges 3:15-21 , it is written:

"When the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Ehud had made himself a double-edged sword a cubit long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his cloak. And he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was an extremely fat man. After Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he ushered out those who had carried it. But upon reaching the idols near Gilgal, he himself turned back and said, 'I have a secret message for you, O king.' 'Silence,' said the king, and all his attendants left him. Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in the coolness of his upper room and said, 'I have a message from God for you.' And the king rose from his seat. And Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly."

Ehud's left-handedness allowed him to conceal his weapon on the opposite side, catching the guards and King Eglon off guard. This strategic advantage led to the liberation of Israel from Moabite control.

The Benjamites

The tribe of Benjamin is noted for having a significant number of left-handed warriors. In Judges 20:16 , it is recorded:

"Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select left-handers, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss."

This passage highlights the skill and precision of the left-handed Benjamites, who were renowned for their ability to use slings with exceptional accuracy. Their left-handedness is presented as a unique trait that contributed to their effectiveness in battle.

Cultural and Symbolic Considerations

In biblical times, the right hand was often associated with strength, favor, and authority, as seen in numerous passages where God's right hand symbolizes power and salvation (e.g., Exodus 15:6, Psalm 118:16). Consequently, left-handedness might have been viewed as unusual or unexpected. However, the biblical narratives involving left-handed individuals often emphasize their distinctiveness and the divine purpose in their abilities.

The accounts of left-handed individuals in the Bible serve to illustrate that God can use what may seem unconventional or atypical to achieve His purposes. The accounts of Ehud and the Benjamite warriors demonstrate that left-handedness, while rare, was a divinely appointed trait that played a significant role in the history of Israel.(Judges 3:15; 20:16), one unable to use the right hand skilfully, and who therefore uses the left; and also one who uses the left as well as the right, ambidexter. Such a condition of the hands is due to physical causes. This quality was common apparently in the tribe of Benjamin. 1. (a.) Having the left hand or arm stronger and more dexterous than the right; using the left hand and arm with more dexterity than the right.

2. (a.) Clumsy; awkward; unlucky; insincere; sinister; malicious; as, a left-handed compliment.

3. (a.) Having a direction contrary to that of the hands of a watch when seen in front; -- said of a twist, a rotary motion, etc., looked at from a given direction.

4630. Skeuas -- Sceva, a Jewish chief priest
... Sceva. Apparently of Latin origin; left-handed; Scevas (ie Scoevus), an Israelite --
Sceva. (skeua) -- 1 Occurrence. 4629, 4630. Skeuas. 4631 . ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4630.htm - 6k334. itter -- shut up, bound
... 333, 334. itter. 335 . shut up, bound. Transliteration: itter Phonetic Spelling:
(it-tare') Short Definition: left-handed. ... left-handed. ...
/hebrew/334.htm - 6k

3225. yamin -- right hand
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition right hand NASB Word Usage left-handed*
(2), right (49), right hand (75), right side (8), south (4), southward (1). ...
/hebrew/3225.htm - 6k

3027. yad -- hand
... 1), herself (1), himself (1), hold* (1), human agency (1), idle* (1), influence
(1), jaws (1), labor (1), large* (2), leadership (1), left-handed* (2), let go ...
/hebrew/3027.htm - 8k

The Story of a Divine Tragedy
... "Perhaps," the athlete said, "he bought this left-handed catapult thinking
he might throw the discus farther than I can throw it.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter x the story of.htm

The Three Several Natures -- the Material, the Animal, and the ...
... [6852] To the material, that is to say the carnal (nature), which they also call
"the left-handed," they assign undoubted destruction; to the animal (nature ...
/.../tertullian/against the valentinians/chapter xxvi the three several natures.htm

God's Use of Weak Things.
... A left-handed man uses that peculiarity to get a great victory and eighteen years
of freedom for the nation.[24] A farmer with as homely a weapon as an ox-goad ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on service/gods use of weak things.htm

Formation of the Demiurge; Description of Him. He is the Creator ...
... himself, that is, animal substances, which they also call right-handed, and those
which sprang from the passion, and from matter, which they call left-handed. ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter v formation of the demiurge.htm

Letter xiv . --To the Bishop of Melitene.
... amount of cunning invincible in power [2226] accompanies them, advanced before them
to lead their host, like some right-and-left-handed combatant, fighting ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/letter xiv to the bishop.htm

August 12 Evening
... When the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer,
Ehud, . . . a man lefthanded. After him was Shamgar, . . . ...
/.../anonymous/daily light on the daily path/august 12 evening.htm

Incidents of Childhood
... study which I liked very much. I was beginning to learn to write; but as
I was left-handed, my movements were very slow and awkward. ...
/.../cole/trials and triumphs of faith/chapter iii incidents of childhood.htm

"There, Baby!" Said Diamond; "I'M So Happy that I Can Only Sing ...
... stopped his shovelling, leaned on his spade, rubbed his forehead thoughtfully with
his left hand"-the little angels were all left-handed"-repeated the ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 25 there baby said.htm

The Voice Behind Thee
... Or it may be it is what I have described as a left-handed sin: the man was carried
on to an action which, if he had actually performed it, would have involved ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 28 1882/the voice behind thee.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Ehud the Left-handed concealed under his garments a keen dagger, and joined himself
to the Benjamite deputies who were to carry their dues to the Moabite ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Lefthanded (2 Occurrences)
... This quality was common apparently in the tribe of Benjamin. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. LEFTHANDED. ... Multi-Version Concordance Lefthanded (2 Occurrences). ...
/l/lefthanded.htm - 8k

Left-handed (3 Occurrences)
Left-handed. Lefthanded, Left-handed. Leftover . Easton's Bible Dictionary ...
(See NIV). Lefthanded, Left-handed. Leftover . Reference Bible.
/l/left-handed.htm - 8k

Ehud (12 Occurrences)
... access alone to the presence of King Eglon under pretense of a secret errand connected
with the payment of Israel's tribute, Ehud, a left-handed man, drew the ...
/e/ehud.htm - 11k

Eglon (13 Occurrences)
... 18 years of servitude the children of Israel were delivered by Ehud the Benjamite,
who like so many other Benjamites (compare Judges 20:16) was left-handed. ...
/e/eglon.htm - 13k

Left (3923 Occurrences)
... synonymous with north (Genesis 14:15 Joshua 19:27 Ezekiel 16:46 Acts 21:3). While
the left hand is considered as weaker than the right (see LEFTHANDED), it is ...
/l/left.htm - 9k

Leftover (2 Occurrences)

/l/leftover.htm - 6k

Leftest (1 Occurrence)

/l/leftest.htm - 6k

Gera (9 Occurrences)
... Judges 3:15 But when the children of Israel cried to Yahweh, Yahweh raised them
up a savior, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a man left-handed. ...
/g/gera.htm - 10k

Deliverer (29 Occurrences)
... 3:15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up
a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him ...
/d/deliverer.htm - 15k

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