7673.“你伸手”表能力的行使。这从“伸”和“手”的含义清楚可知：“伸”论及掌控，如下文所述；“手”是指能力（参看878，3387，4931-4937，5327，5328，5544，6292，6947，7011，7188，7189，7518节）。“伸手”之所以表示能力的行使，是因为手或臂在伸出时拥有能力，因此，当经上论及耶和华说，“祂伸出手或臂膀”时，所表示的是在运行中的无穷或无限能力。这解释了为何当要行神迹时，耶和华如此频繁地对摩西说，他要“伸手或杖”，如在以下经文中：
伸手在埃及的水以上，它们就会变作血。（出埃及记7:19）
又：
把你的手伸出来在溪以上，使青蛙上来。（出埃及记8:1，2）
又：
伸出你的杖击打地上的尘土，使尘土变作虱子。（出埃及记8:12）
又：
你向天伸手，埃必有冰雹。（出埃及记9:22）
若非“伸手”在至高意义上表示耶和华的全能，这些话永远不这么说的。
约书亚被吩咐要“伸出他的短枪”表示同样的事物，如我们在约书亚记所读到的：
耶和华对约书亚说，你向艾城伸出手里的短枪；约书亚就向艾城伸出手里的短枪，伏兵就从他们的地方急忙起来，他一伸手，他们就跑进城去，夺了它；约书亚没有收回伸出短枪的手，直到把艾城的一切居民尽行杀灭。（约书亚记8:18-19，26）
由于这是神之全能的代表，故这个代表行为和其它一切代表行为一样，当在那个时代被吩咐时，就拥有力量。
在许多经文中，“耶和华伸手”或“祂张手”或“张开臂膀”，也描述了全能。在以下经文中，“耶和华伸手”就描述了全能：
耶和华的怒气向祂的百姓发作，祂向他们伸手，击打他们，群山就震动。（以赛亚书5:25）
以西结书：
我必向他伸手，将他除灭。（以西结书14:9，13）
又：
我伸手攻击你，将你交给列族作为掳物。（以西结书25:7）
又：
我必伸手攻击以东，把人与牲畜从其中剪除，我必伸手攻击非利士人，剪除……（以西结书25:13，16）
还有其它地方（以西结书35:3；以赛亚书31:3；西番雅书1:4；2:13）。在以下经文中，“伸出手”描述了全能：
耶和华的手向众族伸出，谁能转回呢？（以赛亚书14:26-27）
耶利米书：
我要在怒气、忿怒中，用伸出来的手，并大能的膀臂，与你们争战。（耶利米书21:5）
以赛亚书：
祂的手仍然伸出。（以赛亚书9:12，17；10:4）
在这些经文中，“伸出来的膀臂”也描述了全能：
我用大能和伸出来的膀臂，创造大地和人、牲畜。（耶利米书27:5）
同一先知书：
你曾用大能和伸出来的膀臂创造天地，在你面前没有难成的事。（耶利米书32:17）
在这些经文中，“伸出来的膀臂”明显表示全能；在其它许多经文中也是如此，在那里，经上说“用大能的手和伸出来的膀臂”（如申命记4:34；5:15；7:19；9:29；11:2；26:8；列王记上8:42；列王记下17:36；耶利米书32:21；以西结书20:33，34）。
也有些地方，经上论到耶和华说，“祂铺张穹苍”；在这些地方，“铺张”也表示全能；也就是说，祂扩张天界，使那里的居民充满生命和智慧，如在以下经文：
耶和华铺张穹苍如幔子，展开诸天如可住的帐棚。（以赛亚书40:22）
又：
耶和华铺张穹苍，将地一并铺开，赐灵魂给地上的人，又赐灵性给行在其上的人。（以赛亚书42:5）
耶利米书：
耶和华用能力创造大地，用智慧建立世界，用聪明铺张穹苍。（耶利米书51:15）
撒迦利亚书：
耶和华铺张诸天，建立地基，形成人中间他的灵。（撒迦利亚书12:1）
此外还有其它地方（如以赛亚书44:24；45:12；诗篇104:2）。
由此可见摩西为何被吩咐伸手和杖，当他如此行时，神迹就行出来了；因此，“伸手”表示能力的行使，在至高意义上表示全能。
Potts(1905-1910) 7673
7673. Stretch out thy hand. That this signifies the rule of power is evident from the signification of "stretching out" as being predicated of rule (of which presently); and from the signification of "hand" as being power (see n. 878, 3387, 4931-4937, 5327, 5328, 5544, 6292, 6947, 7011, 7188, 7189, 7518). That "to stretch out the hand" denotes the rule of power is because the hand or arm has power when it is stretched out; and therefore when it is said of Jehovah that "He stretches out the hand" or "arm," there is signified power unlimited or infinite in act. This is the reason why Jehovah so often said to Moses when miracles were to be done, that he should "stretch out his hand" or "rod," as in the following passages:
Stretch out thy hand over the waters of Egypt, and they shall be blood (Exod. 7:19). Stretch out thy hand over the streams, and cause frogs to come up (Exod. 8:5). Stretch out thy rod and smite the dust of the land, and it shall be lice (Exod. 8:16). Stretch out thy hand toward heaven, and there shall be hail (Exod. 9:22). It would never have been so said unless by the stretching out of the hand, in the supreme sense, there was signified the omnipotence of Jehovah. [2] So with what was said to Joshua, that he should "stretch out his spear," as we read in that book:
Jehovah said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand against Ai; and when Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand against Ai, those in ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he stretched out his hand, and came unto the city, and took it; Joshua drew not back his hand which he stretched out with the spear until he had given all the inhabitants of Ai to the curse (Josh. 8:18-19, 26);
as this was a representative of Divine omnipotence, it therefore had force, as had all representatives at that time, when commanded. [3] In many passages also omnipotence is described by "Jehovah stretching out His hand," as also by "His outstretched hand," and by "His outstretched arm"-by "Jehovah stretching out the hand," in the following passages:
The anger of Jehovah is kindled against His people, and He hath stretched out His hand over them, and hath smitten them, and the mountains quaked (Isa. 5:25). I will stretch out My hand against him, and will destroy him (Ezek. 14:9, 13). I will stretch out My hand against thee, and will give thee for a spoil to the nations (Ezek. 25:7). I will stretch out My hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it, I will stretch out My hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off (Ezek. 25:13, 16; also Ezek. 35:3; Isa. 31:3; Zeph. 1:4; 2:13). Omnipotence is described by "an outstretched hand" in the following passages:
The hand of Jehovah is stretched out upon all nations, and who shall press it back? (Isa. 14:27-28). I will fight with you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury (Jer. 21:5). His hand is stretched out still (Isa. 9:12, 17; 10:4). Also by "an outstretched arm" in these passages:
I have made the earth, the man, and the beast, by My great power, and by My stretched out arm (Jer. 27:5). Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power, and by Thy stretched out arm, no word is impossible before Thee (Jer. 32:17). That in these passages by "an outstretched arm" is signified omnipotence is manifest; and so in many other passages, where it is said "by a strong hand and a stretched-out arm" (as Deut. 4:34; 5:15; 7:19; 9:29; 11:2; 26:8; 1 Kings 8:42; 2 Kings 17:36; Jer. 32:21; Ezek. 20:33, 34). [4] It is also said of Jehovah that "He stretches out the heaven," and here also by "stretching out" is signified omnipotence; that is, that He enlarges the boundaries of heaven, and fills its inhabitants with life and wisdom, as in the following passages:
Jehovah who stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in (Isa. 40:22). Jehovah that stretcheth out the heavens, that spreadeth out the earth, that giveth soul to the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein (Isa. 42:5). Who maketh the earth by His power, He prepareth the world by His wisdom, and by His understanding He stretcheth out the heavens (Jer. 51:15). Jehovah stretching out the heavens, and laying the foundation of the earth, and forming the spirit of man in the midst of him (Zech. 12:1). Besides elsewhere, as in Isa. 44:24; 45:12; Ps. 104:2. From all this it can now be seen why Moses was commanded to stretch out his hand and rod, and that then miracles were done; and that thus by "stretching out the hand" is signified the rule of power, and in the supreme sense omnipotence.
Elliott(1983-1999) 7673
7673. 'Stretch out your hand' means an exercising of power. This is clear from the meaning of 'stretching out' as that which is connected with the exercising of control, dealt with below; and from the meaning of 'hand' as power, dealt with in 878, 3387, 4931-4937, 5327, 5328, 5544, 6292, 6947, 7011, 7188, 7189, 7518. The reason why 'stretching out the hand' means the exercising of power is that there is power in the hand or arm when it is stretched out. When therefore Jehovah is said to stretch out His hand or arm, boundless or infinite power in action is meant. This explains why Jehovah told Moses on so many occasions, when miracles were to be performed, to stretch out his hand or his rod; for example,
Stretch out your hand over the waters of Egypt, and they will be blood. Exod 7:19.
Stretch out your hand over the rivers, and cause frogs to rise up. Exod 8:1, 2.a
Stretch out your rod and strike the dust of the land, and it will then be lice. Exod 8:11, 12.b
Stretch out your hand towards heaven, and there will be hail. Exod 9:22, 23.
Such words would never have been used but for the meaning of 'stretching out the hand' in the highest sense as Jehovah's almighty power.
[2] The same thing is meant by Joshua's being told to stretch out his javelin, described in his book as follows,
Jehovah said to Joshua, Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand towards Ai. When therefore Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand towards Ai, the ambush rose up quickly out of their place and ran, as soon as he stretched out his hand, and came to the city and took it. Joshua did not withdraw his hand which he had stretched out together with the javelin until all the inhabitants of Ai had been utterly destroyed. Josh 8:18, 19, 26.
Being representative of God's almighty power, this too, like all other representative actions when they were commanded in those times, had force.
[3] There are a number of other places in which almighty power is described when it says that Jehovah 'stretches out His hand', or else His 'outstretched hand' or His 'outstretched arm' is spoken of. It is described by Jehovah stretching out His hand in Isaiah,
The anger [of Jehovah] has been roused against His people, and He has stretched out His hand over them and struck them, and the mountains were shaken. Isa 5:25.
In Ezekiel,
I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him. Ezek 14:9, 13.
In the same prophet,
I will stretch out My hand against you, and give you as plunder to the nations. Ezek 25:7.
I will stretch out My hand over Edom, and cut off from it man and beast. I will stretch out My hand over the philistines, and cut off . . . Ezek 15:17, 16.
Other places like these are Ezek 35:3; Isa 31:3; Zeph 1:4; 2:13.The use of 'outstretched hand' to describe almighty power occurs in Isaiah,
Jehovah's outstretched hand is over all the nations; who will turn it back? Isa 14:26, 27.
In Jeremiah,
I will fight with you with an outstretched hand and a strong arm, and in anger and in fury. Jer 21:5.
In Isaiah,
Still His hand is outstretched. Isa 9:11,17; 10:4.
The use of 'outstretched arm' occurs in Jeremiah,
I have made the earth, man, and beast by My great strength and by My outstretched arm. Jer 27:5.
In the same prophet,
You have made heaven and earth by Your great power and Your outstretched arm; there is no matterc that is too impossible for You. Jer 32:17.
Here it is self-evident that 'outstretched arm' means almighty power. The same applies to many other places in which the expression 'by a strong hand and an outstretched arm' is used, such as Deut 4:34; 5:15; 7:19; 9:29; 11:2; 26:8; 1 Kings 8:42; 2 Kings 17:36; Jer. 32:21; Ezek. 20:33, 34.
[4] There are places too in which Jehovah is said to 'stretch out the heavens', and in these places also 'stretching out' means almighty power; that is to say, He expands the limits of heaven and fills those who are there with life and wisdom, as in Isaiah,
Jehovah is He who stretches out the heavens like a thin veil, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. Isa. 40:22.
In the same prophet,
Jehovah is He who stretches out the heavens, spreads out the earth, gives breathd to His people upon it, and spirit to those who walk on it. Isa. 42:5.
In Jeremiah,
. . . He who makes the earth by His power, prepares the world by His wisdom, and stretches out the heavens by His intelligence. Jer. 51:15.
In Zechariah,
Jehovah is He who stretches out the heavens, and founds the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him. Zech. 12:1.
There are still more places besides these, such as Isa. 44:24; 45:12; Ps. 104:2.
From all this one may now see why Moses was commanded to stretch out his hand and rod, that miracles were performed when he did so, and that 'stretching out the hand' for that reason means the exercising of power, and in the highest sense almighty power.
Latin(1748-1756) 7673
7673. `Extende manum tuam': quod significet dominium potentiae, constat (c)ex significatione `extendere' quod {1}praedicetur de dominio, de qua sequitur; et ex significatione `manus' quod sit potentia, de qua n. 878, 3387, 4931-4937, 5327, 5328, 5544, 6292, 6947, 7011, 7188, 7189, 7518. Quod `extendere manum' sit dominium potentiae, est quia potentia manui {2}seu brachio est cum extenditur; {3}idcirco cum dicitur de Jehovah quod extendat manum seu brachium, significatur potentia illimitata seu infinita actu. Inde est quod Jehovah toties dixerit ad Moschen, cum miracula fierent, quod extenderet manum aut baculum, sicut Extende manum tuam super aquas Aegypti, et erunt sanguis, vii 19:Extende manum tuam super flumina, et fac ascendere ranas, viii 1, 2 [A.V. 5, 6]:
Extende baculum tuum, et percute pulverem terrae, et erit in pediculos, viii 11, 12 [A.V. 16, 17]:
Extende manum tuam versus caelum, et erit grando, ix 22, 23;
{4}ita nequaquam dictum fuisset, {5}nisi per `extensionem manus' in supremo sensu' significaretur omnipotentia Jehovae. 2 Similiter per quod dictum Joschuae, {6}quod extenderet lanceam, de qua ita apud illum, Dixit Jehovah ad Joschuam, Extende lanceam quae in manu tua versus Ajam; cum ergo extenderet Joschua lanceam quae in manu illius versus Ajam, insidiae surrexerunt ocius e loco suo, et cucurrerunt, cum primum extenderet manum suam, et venerunt ad urbem, et ceperunt illam: Joschua non retraxit manum suam quam extendit cum lancea, usque dum devotioni dati omnes habitatores Ajae, viii 18, 19, 26;
quia hoc fuit repraesentativum omnipotentiae Divinae, etiam vim habuit, prout omnia repraesentativa cum mandata illo tempore. 3 Pluribus quoque in locis {7}describitur omnipotentia per quod `Jehovah extendat manum,' tum per `manum Ipsius extensam,' et per `brachium Ipsius extensum'; per quod `Jehovah extendat manum,' (m)apud Esaiam, Accensa est ira contra populum Suum, et extendit manum Suam super illum, et percussit illum, et commoti sunt montes v. 25:(n) apud Ezechielem, Extendam manum Meam contra illum, et perdam illum xiv 9, 13:
apud eandem, Extendam manum Meam contra te, et dabo te in praedam gentibus, xxv 7:
Extendam manum Meam super Edomum, et exscindam ex illa hominem et bestiam. Extendam manum Meam super Philisthaeos, et exscindam, ibid. vers. 13, 16:
pariter Ezech. xxxv 3; Esai. xxxi 3; Zeph. i 4, ii 13: describitur omnipotentia per `manum extensam' apud Esaiam, Manus Jehovae extensa super omnes gentes, quis reprimet illam? xiv 27, 28:
apud Jeremiam, Pugnabo (x)vobiscum per manum extensam, et per brachium forte, et in ira et in furore, (x)xxi 5:
apud (x)Esaiam, Adhuc manus Ipsius extensa est, ix 11, 16, x 4. Tum per `brachium extensum' apud Jeremiam, Ego feci terram, hominem, et bestiam, per virtutem Meam magnam, et per brachium Meum extensum, xxvii 5:
apud eundem, Tu fecisti caelum et terram per virtutem Tuam magnam, et brachium Tuum extensum; non impossibile est prae Te ullum verbum, xxxii 17;
quod hic per `brachium extensum' significetur omnipotentia, patet; similiter pluribus aliis in locis ubi dicitur `per manum fortem et brachium extensum,' ut Deut. iv 34, v 15, vii 19, ix (x)29, xi 2, xxvi 8; 2 Reg. viii 42; 2 Reg. xvii 36; Jer. xxxii 21; Ezech. xx 33, 34. 4 {8}Dicitur etiam de Jehovah quod `extendat caelos' et tunc quoque per `extendere' significatur omnipotentia, quod nempe limites caeli amplificet, et impleat illos qui ibi vita et sapientia, ut apud Esaiam, Jehovah Qui extendit sicut tenue caelos, et expandit illos sicut tentorium ad habitandum, xl 22:
apud eundem, Jehovah extendens caelos, expandens terram, dans animam populo super illa, et spiritum ambulantibus in illa, xlii 5:
apud Jeremiam, Qui facit terram virtute Sua, parat orbem sapientia Sua, et intelligentia Sua extendit caelos, li 15:
apud Sachariam, Jehovah extendens caelos, et fundans terram, et formans spiritum hominis in medio (c)ejus, xii 1;
praeter alibi, ut Esai. xliv 24, xlv 12; Ps. civ 2. Ex his nunc constare potest cur Moschi mandatum ut extenderet manum (c)et baculum {9}, et quod tunc miracula facta sint; quodque sic per `extendere manum' significetur dominium potentiae, et in supremo sensu omnipotentia. @1 sit dominium$ @2 et$ @3 ideo quoque,$ @4 quod$ @5 si non$ @6 d quod i ut$ @7 omnipotentia Jehovae describitur per extendere manum, per manum extensam, et per brachium extensum; per extendere manum$ @8 Vox extendere etiam alibi praedicatur de omnipotentia, ut quod Jehovah extendat coelos, per quod significatur quod limites amplificet et illos qui ibi impleat vita et sapientia$ @9 i suum$