Hands in the Bible represent power, the force with which things are put into action. To be specific, they represent the power of spiritual good -- which is the love of others and serving others -- expressed through spiritual truth -- which is an understanding and knowledge of what it is to love and serve others. This is in contrast to the feet, which represent power on the natural level, and a “rod,” which represents the power of the hand passed down into external or natural ideas. In a few cases in the Bible, hands also represent communication and a drawing together. This is true when people lift their hands to heaven or to Jehovah, and also when the Lord touches children or touches people to heal them.

8599. 'With the rod of God in my hand' means that this will be a source of power. This is clear from the meaning of 'the rod of God' as Divine power, dealt with in 4013, 4015, 4876, 4936, 7026; and from the meaning of 'hand' also as power, 8595 (end). The reason why he says that the rod of God would be in his hand is that 'the rod' means outward power and 'hand' inward power, or 'the rod' means natural power and 'hand' spiritual power, 6947, 7011. The expression a source of power is used because truth engaged in conflict has power within it, derived from good; for all the power that truth possesses is derived from the good within it. The reason for this is that the Divine is within good, and through good He is within truth; but He is not within truth devoid of good. For the fact that all the power truth possesses is derived from good, see 3563, 4931; and the fact that all the power good possesses is derived from the Divine is self-evident.