Reference: Gestures
Hastings
The Oriental is a natural expert in appropriate and expressive gesture. To his impulsive and emotional temperament, attitude and action form a more apt vehicle for thought and feeling than even speech. Movement of feature, shrug of shoulder, turn of hand, express much, and suggest delicate shades of meaning which cannot be put in words. Conversation is accompanied by a sort of running commentary of gestures. Easterns conduct argument and altercation at the pitch of their voices; emphasis is supplied almost wholly by gestures. These are often so violent that an unskilled witness might naturally expect to see bloodshed follow.
The word does not occur in Scripture, but the thing, in various forms, is constantly appearing. Bowing the head or body marks reverence, homage, or worship (Ge 18:2; Ex 20:5; 1Ch 21:21; Ps 95:6; Isa 60:14). The same is true of kneeling (1Ki 19:18; 2Ki 1:13; Ps 95:6; Mr 1:40). This sign of homage the tempter sought from Jesus (Mt 4:9). Kneeling was a common attitude in prayer (1Ki 8:54; Ezr 9:6; Da 6:10; Lu 22:41; Eph 3:14 etc.). The glance of the eye may mean appeal, as the upward look in prayer (Job 22:26; Mr 6:41 etc.), anger (Mr 3:5), or reproach (Lu 22:61). A shake of the head may express scorn or derision (2Ki 19:21; Ps 109:25; Mr 15:29 etc.). A grimace of the lip is a sign of contempt (Ps 22:7). Shaking the dust off the feet, or shaking, however gently, one's raiment, indicates complete severance (Mt 10:14 etc.), denial of responsibility (Ac 18:16), and often now, total ignorance of any matter referred to. Rending the garments betokens consternation, real (Ge 37:29; Jos 7:6; Ac 14:14 etc.) or assumed (2Ch 23:13; Mt 26:65), and grief (Jg 11:35; 2Sa 1:11 etc.). Joy was expressed by dancing (Ex 15:20; 1Sa 30:16; Jer 31:4 etc.) and clapping the hands (Ps 47:1; Isa 55:12 etc.). Spitting upon, or in the face, indicated deep despite (Nu 12:14; Isa 50:6; Mt 26:67, etc.). See Hand, Mourning Customs, Salutation.
Some gestures in common use are probably ancient. One who narrowly escapes danger, describing his experience, will crack his thumb nail off the edge of his front teeth, suggesting Job's 'with the skin of my teeth' (Job 19:20). One charged with a fault will put his elbows to his sides, turn his palms outward, and shrug his shoulders, with a slight side inclination of the head, repudiating responsibility for an act which, in his judgment, was plainly inevitable.
W. Ewing.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and lo! three men, standing over against him, - so he looked and ran to meet them from the opening of the tent, and bowed himself to the earth;
And Reuben returned unto the pit, and lo Joseph was not in the pit, so he rent his clothes;
Then took Miriam the prophetess, sister of Aaron the timbrel in her hand, - and all the women came forth after her with timbrels and dances,
thou shalt not bow thyself down to them nor be led to serve them - For, I, Yahweh, thy God, am a jealous GOD, visiting the iniquity of fathers upon sons, unto three generations and, unto four, of them that hate me;
And Yahweh said unto Moses: If, her own father, had, but spat, in her face, would she not, have acknowledged the shame for seven days? Let her shut herself up for seven days, outside the camp, and afterwards, let her be received back.
Then Joshua rent his clothes and fell upon his face to the earth before the ark of Yahweh until the evening, he and the elders of Israel, - and they lifted up dust upon their heads.
And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said - Alas! my daughter, Thou hast, brought me low, Even, thou, hast come to be among them who trouble me, - Yet, I, opened wide my mouth unto Yahweh, and cannot go back.
And it came to pass, when Solomon had made an end of praying unto Yahweh all this prayer and supplication, that he arose from before the altar of Yahweh, from kneeling on his knees, with his hands outspread to the heavens;
Yet will I leave remaining in Israel, seven thousand, - all knees which have not bowed to Baal, and all mouths which have not kissed to him.
This, is the word that Yahweh hath spoken concerning him, - The virgin daughter of Zion, laugheth thee to scorn, mocketh thee, The daughter of Jerusalem, after thee, doth wag her head.
and looked, and lo! the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpets by the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing, and blowing with trumpets, and the singers, with instruments of song, and such as led the offering of praise, then Athaliah rent her garments, and said, Conspiracy! conspiracy!
and said, O my God, I turn pale and am ashamed, to lift up, O my God, my face unto thee, - for, our iniquities, have multiplied above the head, and our guilt hath magnified itself unto the heavens.
Unto my skin and unto my flesh, have my bones cleaved, and I have escaped with the akin of my teeth.
For, then, in the Almighty, shalt thou take exquisite delight, and shalt lift up - unto GOD - thy face;
All that see me, laugh at me, - They open wide the mouth, They shake the head: -
All ye peoples, clap your hands, Shout unto God, with the voice of triumph;
Enter! let us bow down, and bend low, Let us kneel, before Yahweh our maker;
Enter! let us bow down, and bend low, Let us kneel, before Yahweh our maker;
So, I, am become a reproach for them, They see me, they shake their head.
My back, gave I to smiters, and My cheeks, to them who pulled out the beard, - My face, hid I not from insult and spitting.
For with gladness shall ye come forth, And in peace, shall ye be led, - the mountains and the hills shall break out, before you, into shouts of triumph, And all the wild trees shall clap their hands:
Then shall come unto thee bending low, The sons of them who had humbled thee, Then shall bow down, unto the soles of thy feet, All they who had despised thee; And they shall call thee - The city of Yahweh, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Again, will I build thee and thou shalt be built, thou virgin, Israel, - Again, shalt thou deck thyself with thy timbrels, And go forth in the dance of them that make merry:
But, Daniel, when he knew that the writing, was signed, went to his own house, and, the windows being opened to him, in his chamber, toward Jerusalem, three times a day, was he kneeling upon his knees, and praying and giving thanks before his God, in like manner as he had been doing aforetime.
and said to him, All these things, will I give thee, - if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
And, whosoever shall neither welcome you, nor hear your words, as ye go forth outside that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet:
Then, the High-priest rent asunder his garments, saying - He hath spoken profanely! What further need have we, of witnesses? Lo! now, ye have heard the profanity!
Then, spat they into his face, and buffeted him; and, others, struck him smartly,
And there cometh unto him, a leper, beseeching him and kneeling, - saying unto him - If thou be willing, thou canst cleanse me;
And, looking round upon them with anger, being at the same time grieved on account of the hardening of their heart, he saith unto the man - Stretch forth thy hand! and he stretched it forth, and his hand, was restored.
And, taking the five loaves, and the two fishes, looking up into heaven, he blessed, and brake up the loaves, and began giving unto the disciples, that they might set before them, and, the two fishes, divided he, unto all.
And, the passers-by, were reviling him, shaking their heads, and saying - Aha! thou who wast pulling down the shrine, and building one in three days!
And, he, was torn from them about a stone's throw; and, bending his knees, he began to pray,
And the Lord turned, and looked at Peter; and Peter was put in mind of the declaration of the Lord, how he had said to him - Before, a cock, crow this day, thou wilt deny me thrice!
But the apostles Barnabas and Paul, hearing of it, rending asunder their own mantles, sprang forward amidst the multitude, crying aloud,
For this cause, I bow my knees unto the Father, -