Religious Signing: A Comprehensive Guide for All Faiths

SIGN ENTRIESABIDE (A)This sign indicates a place where one is to remain or stay for a period of time.Formation: Move the right Y hand, palm facing down, downward in front of the right side of the body with a deliberate movement.Same sign for STAYABIDE (B) See LIVEABOVE, OVERThe hand moves to a position above the other hand and symbolizes the area on high from where God rules the world.Formation: Starting with the palm of the right open hand lying on the back of the left open hand, elbows out and palms facing down, bring the right hand upward in a spiraling movement.ABRAHAM, IBRAHIM (Hebrew)The formation of this sign represents God staying Abraham’s arm as he raised the knife to slay his son Isaac.Formation: The right A hand, palm facing left, is brought deliberately down at a forward angle from in front of the right shoulder. The left C hand, palm up, moves upward to clasp the right forearm and stop it abruptly as it descends.ABSOLUTION (A)This sign is a combination of ANNOUNCE and FORGIVE signifying the declaratory statement that sins are forgiven after confession or penance.Formation: Start with both extended index fingers touching each side of the mouth, palms facing in. Twist the wrists to bring the fingers outward past the shoulders, palms facing forward and fingers pointing upward at an angle. Then brush the fingers of the right open hand across the palm of the left open hand from heel to the fingers with a repeated movement.ABSOLUTION (B) See BLESS (A)(B), FORGIVEABSTAIN See FAST (A)ABUNDANT (A), BOUNTY, PLENTYThe hands indicate a cup that is full and overflowing.Formation: Push the palm of the right open hand, palm down and fingers pointing forward, across the thumb side of the left S hand, palm right, curving the hand downward as it goes over the left index finger.Related forms: ABUNDANCE, ABUNDANTLY, BOUNTIFUL, PLENTIFULABUNDANT (B), BOUNTIFULThe hands in this sign seem to hold a large quantity.Formation: Beginning with the fingertips of both curved hands touching in front of the body, palms facing each other, bring the hands outward to in front of each side of the chest.Related form: ABUNDANCESame sign for A LOTACCOMPLISH See FULFILLACCUSE, AT FAULT, BLAMEThis is a directional sign that seems to push responsibility or blame at whomever it is directed.Formation: Move the right A hand, palm left and thumb extended upward, in a downward arc toward the referent across the back of the left open hand, palm down.Note: If you are the one being accused, direct the right thumb back toward oneself. The left hand may be an S hand instead of an open hand.ACKNOWLEDGE See CONFESS (A)ACQUIRE See OBTAINADAM (A)This is an initialized sign in the masculine position and signifies Adam’s position as the first man.Formation: Touch the right temple with the thumb of the right hand, palm facing forward.ADAM (B)This is the Islamic sign for Adam, the father of humankind and God’s first prophet. In Islam, Adam is considered God’s ?vice-?regent (caliph) on earth.Formation: Move the right B hand, palm facing left and fingers pointing up, upward in front of the right shoulder.ADMIT See CONFESSADMONISH, WARNThe sign represents a slap on the wrist as a warning.Formation: Slap the back of the left open hand with the fingers of the right open hand, both palms facing down.Related forms: ADMONITION, WARNINGADORE See WORSHIPADULTERY (A)This is an initialized sign and the movement indicates the alternating attention that an unfaithful married person gives his or her spouse and then another person outside the marriageFormation: Tap the heel of the right A hand, palm facing forward, alternating on each finger of the left V hand held in front of the chest, palm facing in and fingers pointing up.ADULTERY (B)The sign seems to show someone slipping around the corner or behind someone’s back for an affair.Formation: Move the palm side of the right open hand, palm facing right and fingers pointing forward, around the ?little-?finger side of the left open hand, palm facing right and fingers pointing up.ADVENT, COMINGThis is a directional form of COME and signifies the birth of Christ and the preparation period of four weeks before His Coming at Christmas.Formation: Beginning with both extended index fingers pointing up in front of the head, palms facing in, bring both hands down simultaneously.ADVERSARY See ENEMYADVOCATE, FOUNDATION, SUPPORTThe action of the right hand pushing the left hand upward shows active support for a cause.Formation: Bring the knuckles of the rightS hand upward under the little-finger side of the left S hand, both palms facing in, pushing it upward in front of the chest.Same sign used for ADVOCACY, IN FAVOR OFSee also HELP and VICAR for signs formed in a similar manner.AFFILIATE See UNITEAFFLICTION, PATIENT, SUFFERThe movement of the hand in this sign indicates a person keeping quiet or without complaint while enduring suffering.Formation: Move the thumb of the right A hand, palm facing left, downward from the mouth to the chin.Same sign for BEAR, ENDURE, TOLERATEAFRAID See FEAR (A)(B)(C)AGAPEThis sign is a combination of GOD and LOVE signifying the Greek word meaning “selfless love.”Formation: Move the right B hand, palm left, from above the front of the head downward in an arc toward the forehead and down in front of the face. Then with both palms facing the body, hold the right S hand across the left S hand, which is held on the chest over the heart.AGONY See SUFFER (B)AISLE, WAYThe hands outline a passageway, such as between rows of seats in a church.Formation: Move both open hands forward simultaneously, palms facing each other and fingers pointing forward and held several inches apart in front of the waist.Same sign for PATH, ROADALIVE See LIVEALLAH, GODThis is the foremost name for the supreme being according to Islamic belief. Humans are called to worship and devote their faith only to him; hence he is the object of Islam (“submission”).Formation: Move the extended right index finger, palm facing left and finger pointing up, upward in front of the right shoulder.ALLELUIA, HALLELUJAHAs an expression of praise of thanksgiving to God, this sign is a combination of PRAISE and CELEBRATION.Formation: Bring both open hands, palms facing each other and fingers pointing up, together in front of the chest. Then raise both modified A hands near each shoulder, moving them in small circles outward.ALMIGHTY (A), OMNIPOTENTThis sign is a combination of ALL and POWER, an attribute referring to God’s unlimited universal power.Formation: With the right open hand, palm facing forward, near the left shoulder, make a large loop to the right ending in the upturned palm of the left open hand. Then move both S hands, palms facing in, from near each side of the chest forward with a deliberate movement, ending abruptly.See also POWER and MIGHTY for alternate signs.ALMIGHTY (B) See POWER (A)(B)ALONEThe single finger moving in a circle is an emphatic form of the sign ONE.Formation: With the right extended index finger pointing up, palm facing in, rotate the arm and hand in a counterclockwise circle.ALTARThe sign is an initialized form of TABLE. The hands outline the shape of the altar, the structure before which the divine offices are recited and upon which the Eucharist is celebrated.Formation: With the thumbs of both A hands touching each other in front of the chest, palms facing forward, move the hands apart to about shoulder width and then downward a short distance without changing orientation.ALWAYS, CONSTANTLY, EVERThe circular motion of this sign shows something never ending.Formation: Move the extended right index finger, palm angled up, in small clockwise circles near the right shoulder.See also ETERNAL for an alternate sign.AMAZE See ASTONISHAMEN See PRAYAMISH See MENNONITEANGEL, CHERUB, SERAPHThe hands represent the movement of wings traditionally attributed to angels, the immortal spiritual beings attending to God’s will.Formation: Touch the fingertips of both bent hands to the shoulders, palms facing down and elbows close at the sides. Turn the wrists outward and bend the hands up and down.Same sign for WINGSANGER, FURY, RAGE, WRATHThe tense fingers represent angry emotions rased up in the body.Formation: Bring both claw hands, palms facing in and fingers pointing toward each other, upward from near each other at the waist and out toward each shoulder.ANGLICAN CHURCH, THE CHURCH OF ENGLANDThis sign is a combination of ANOINT (A) and CHURCH and refers to the form of Christianity that was shaped when, during the reign of Henry the VIII, England broke away from the Catholic Church by dissolving allegiance to the Pope.Formation: Draw the thumbnail of the right A hand, palm down, first downward on the forehead a short distance and then from left to right. Then tap the thumb side of the right C hand on the back of the left open hand, palm facing down.ANNOUNCE, ANNUNCIATION, CONFESS (FAITH), DECLARE, EVANGELISM,NOEL, PROCLAIMThe fingers indicate taking words from the mouth and declaring them broadly.Formation: Start with both extended index fingers touching each side of the mouth, palms facing in. Twist the wrists to bring the fingers outward past the shoulders, palms facing forward and fingers pointing upward at an angle.Related form: ANNOUNCEMENTANNUL See CONDEMN (A)ANNUNCIATION (A)This sign is a combination of ANNOUNCE and MARY and refers to the angel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary that she would bear a son, Jesus.Formation: Start with both extended index fingers touching each side of the mouth, palms facing in. Twist the wrists to bring the fingers outward past the shoulders, palms facing forward and fingers pointing upward at an angle. Then bring the right M hand, palm down, in an arc following the shape of the head from the top of the left side of the head to the right shoulder.ANNUNCIATION (B) See ANNOUNCEANOINT (A), LENTThe sign symbolizes how a priest anoints a person’s forehead with oil as a sign of consecration in a religious ceremony.Formation: Draw the thumbnail of the right A hand, palm down, first downward on the forehead a short distance and then from left to right.ANOINT (B), ATONE, OILThe hand seems to pour oil over another as is done as a sign of consecration in a religious ceremony.Formation: Move the thumb of the right A hand over the back of the left A hand, both palms facing down.Related form: ATONEMENTANOINTING THE SICKThis sign is a combination of ANOINT and SICK. It is used in the Roman Catholic Church to indicate the sacrament formerly known as Last Rites, which is administered to terminally ill people.Formation: Draw the thumbnail of the right A hand, palm down, first downward on the forehead a short distance and then from left to right. Then touch the bent middle finger of the right 5 hand to the forehead while touching the bent middle finger of the left 5 hand to the stomach, both palms facing in.ANSWER, REPLY, RESPONDThe sign shows words directed from the mouth in reply.Formation: Beginning with the right extended index finger in front of the mouth and the left extended index finger somewhat lower and forward, bring both fingers downward simulta?neously by bending the wrists forward.Note: RESPONSE and REPLY are often initialized with R hands.Related form: RESPONSESee also COMMAND (A) for a related sign formed in a similar manner.ANTHEM See HYMNANTICHRISTThis sign is a combination of OPPOSITE and CHRIST and refers to an enemy of Christ who usurps Christ’s name and rights.Formation: Beginning with the fingertips of both extended index fingers pointing toward each other in front of the body, palms facing in, pull the hands apart sharply. Then touch the ?index-?finger side of the right C hand, palm left, first to near the left shoulder and then to near the right hip.APOLOGETICSThis sign is a combination of PROVE and TRUE and refers to the defense of a faith based on intellectual grounds. The word comes from a Greek term meaning “defense.”Formation: Move the fingertips of the right open hand, palm facing in, from in front of the mouth downward, ending with the back of the right hand on the palm of the left open hand, both palms facing up in front of the chest. Then bring the right extended index finger, palm facing left and finger pointing up, forward from in front of the mouth.APOSTASY See BACKSLIDE, STRAY (A)APOSTLE See DISCIPLE (B)APOSTOLICThis sign is a combination of SINCE and FOLLOW, indicating Christians follow the faith, teachings, and practices of the apostles.Formation: Begin with both extended index fingers touching near the right shoulder. Move the fingers forward in an arc, ending with the fingers pointing forward and palms facing up. Then with the right A hand behind the left A hand, palms facing each other, move both hands forward.APPEARThe right index finger popping up through the left hand indicates a sudden coming into view.Formation: Push the right extended index finger, palm facing forward, upward deliberately between the index and middle fingers of the left open hand held in front of the chest, palm facing down.Related form: APPEARANCESame sign for SHOW UP, POP UPSee also PRESENCE for the sign to use if referring to an appearance that is less sudden.APPEARANCE See PRESENCEAPPOINT (A), CHOSEN, ELECT, SELECTThe fingers seem to select one out of available options.Formation: Bring the bent thumb and index finger of the outstretched right 5 hand back toward the right shoulder while closing the thumb to the index finger.Same sign for PICK, CHOOSEAPPOINT (B), CHOSEN, ELECT, SELECTThe fingers seem to pick one out of many.Formation: Bring the bent thumb and index finger of the right 5 hand from touching the palm of the left open hand back toward the right shoulder while closing the thumb to the index finger.