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αὐτόχειρ

autócheir

G849 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Acting or done with one's own hand; carried out personally by oneself. In contexts, refers specifically to performing an action directly or being personally responsible for an act, rather than delegating it to another.

Semantic Range

done with one's own hand, accomplished personally, bearing personal responsibility, written or executed by oneself (not through aides or scribes)

Root / Etymology

Compound from αὐτός ('self') and χείρ ('hand'), literally 'self-handed.' The formation is transparent in Koine.

Historical & Contextual Notes

αὐτόχειρ is a rare term in both classical and Koine Greek, with attestations primarily in literary or epistolary contexts to emphasize the personal or direct involvement in an action. In Classical Greek and Hellenistic usage, it often denotes doing something oneself, particularly with one's physical hands, as opposed to through agents or intermediaries. In New Testament usage (e.g., 1 Corinthians 16:21; Colossians 4:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:17; Philemon 1:19), Paul uses it to stress the authenticity or personal authorship of his letters ('I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand'), signaling both personal involvement and the genuineness of the communication. The English phrase 'with my own hand' is a direct equivalent, but translations may not always convey the nuance of personal responsibility or authentication implicit in the Greek. The term does not carry implications beyond the literal or idiomatic meaning of acting personally.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from αὐτός and χείρ; self-handed, i.e. doing personally:--with … own hands.

Root Family

αὐτόχειρ (autocheir) — self, hand, acting personally, done by one's own hand

Root αὐτο-χειρ self, hand, to do personally

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G849-01 αὐτόχειρες autocheires ADJ.S NOM M PL with their own hands self-handed ones with their own hands 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G849-01 Acts 27:19 αὐτόχειρες autocheires ADJ.S NOM M PL with their own hands self-handed ones with their own hands
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