Nails In His Hands

What the Bible’s Original Language Teaches Us About the Location of the Nail Marks of Jesus

When we picture the crucifixion of Jesus, most of us imagine the nails driven through the palms of His hands. This image has been passed down through centuries of Christian art and tradition, and it’s deeply familiar.

But here’s a thoughtful Bible-study question worth exploring:

“Does Scripture itself actually tell us where the nails were placed?”

Let’s take a closer look—by going back to the original language of the New Testament.

Click HERE to read a DTS Research White Paper on this subject.

A Moment After the Resurrection

The key passage comes after the resurrection, when Jesus appears to His disciple Thomas. Thomas struggles to believe until he can see and touch the wounds himself.

Jesus says to him in John 20:27 (KJV):

“Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.”

At first glance, this seems simple: Jesus shows Thomas His hands. But understanding what the Bible teaches sometimes requires us to ask how words were used in the original language.

What Does the Greek Word for “Hand” Mean?

The New Testament was written in Greek, and the word translated as “hand” in this passage is χείρ (cheir).

Here’s the important point for Bible students: χείρ does not always mean “palm only.”

In everyday Greek usage—including in the New Testament—the word “hand” can refer to the whole hand region, including the area near the wrist.

Scripture Explaining Scripture

We can see this clearly elsewhere in the Bible. In Acts 12:7, Peter is chained in prison. When an angel frees him, the Bible says the chains fell “from his hands.”

But chains aren’t fastened to someone’s palms—they’re placed around the wrists or forearms.

Yet Scripture still uses the word “hands.”

This shows us that, biblically speaking, “hand” can include the wrist area. The Bible itself defines how the word works.

Returning to Thomas and the Nail Marks

When John’s Gospel says the “mark of the nails” was “in” Jesus’ hands, the Greek grammar tells us two key things:

1. The nails are connected to the “mark,” not anatomically to a specific sub-part of the hand.
2. The location is identified broadly as the “hand region,” without narrowing it further.

In other words, the text tells us where the wounds were visible—but not exactly which part of the hand they were in.

Why This Is Helpful for Christian Learning

This study isn’t about challenging faith or tradition. It’s about understanding Scripture more carefully and accurately.

The Bible does not insist on a palm-only interpretation, nor does it require a wrist-only one. Instead, it uses language that allows for either—based on how Greek actually works.

That’s a good reminder for all of us:

“Sometimes Scripture gives us theological truth without supplying every anatomical detail.”

And that’s okay.

A Faith-Strengthening Conclusion

By examining the Bible in its original language, we learn that:

• The New Testament clearly teaches that Jesus bore real, physical wounds.
• The Greek word translated “hands” is broad enough to include the wrist area.
• Scripture itself does not force a single anatomical picture.

This kind of careful study doesn’t weaken faith—it strengthens it. It helps us trust that God’s Word is reliable, meaningful, and worthy of close attention.

And it reminds us that the most important truth remains unchanged:

“Jesus truly suffered, truly died, and truly rose again.”