8066. 'And it shall be for you as a sign on your hand' means that it shall be constantly in their will. This is clear from the meaning of 'a sign' as constant recollection (for an object serving as a sign or one serving as a memorial acts as a constant reminder; and the purpose of 'a sign on the hand' was that every time they moved their hand or did anything they would be reminded of it, and the purpose of 'a memorial between the eyes' was that every time they looked at something they would be reminded of it); and from the meaning of 'hand' as power, dealt with in 878, 3387, 4931-4937, 5327, 5328, 5544, 6292, 6947, 7011, 7188, 7189, 7518, 7673, here as the will because every action and the power of action exercised by the hand comes from the will.

6292. 'Place your right hand on his head' means that good should accordingly occupy the first place. This is clear from the meaning of 'placing the right hand on a head' as considering to occupy the first place, as above in 6269, 6287. The placing of his hand by one on the head of another when he was going to bless belonged to a custom received from the ancients. For the head is where a person's actual powers of understanding and will reside, whereas the body is where actions in response and in obedience to them are located. Thus 'placing a hand on the head' was a representative act, denoting that a blessing should be imparted to a person's understanding and will, thus to his real self. That same custom originating in those ancient times remains even to this day and is followed at ordinations as well as in blessings.