### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **thingánō**, represented by `{{G2345}}`, is defined as a prolonged form of an obsolete primary meaning to finger; to manipulate, i.e. have to do with; by implication, to injure. It is most frequently translated as **handle** or **touch**. It appears **3 times** across **3 unique verses**, indicating a highly specific usage. The term consistently implies a form of contact that is either prohibited or results in harm.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In its biblical applications, `{{G2345}}` is used to denote a forbidden or dangerous contact. In [[Hebrews 12:20]], it describes the Old Covenant command that if even a beast were to **touch** the holy mountain, it must be stoned. The word is also central to the account of the Passover, where faith and the sprinkling of blood were necessary so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not **touch** the Israelites [[Hebrews 11:28]]. Finally, it appears in a list of ascetic prohibitions in [[Colossians 2:21]], where believers are warned against rules such as "Touch not; taste not; **handle** not."
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the specific meaning of `{{G2345}}`:
* `{{G680}}` **háptomai** (touch): Defined as to attach oneself to, i.e. to touch, this word appears alongside `{{G2345}}` in the list of prohibitions in [[Colossians 2:21]], suggesting a related but distinct type of contact.
* `{{G1089}}` **geúomai** (taste): This word, meaning to taste or experience, is also used in the same prohibitive list in [[Colossians 2:21]], placing the act of handling within a broader context of forbidden sensory interactions.
* `{{G3645}}` **olothreúō** (destroy): This word, meaning to spoil or slay, identifies the agent whose fatal **touch** `{{G2345}}` was prevented during the Passover, reinforcing the injurious implication of the word [[Hebrews 11:28]].
* `{{G4102}}` **pístis** (faith): It is through **faith** that the Israelites were protected from the destructive touch of the destroyer, linking obedience and belief to divine protection from harmful contact [[Hebrews 11:28]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G2345}}` is centered on the concept of boundaries and consequences.
* **Prohibited Contact:** The word is consistently used in the context of a prohibition. It defines a boundary, whether physical or spiritual, that cannot be crossed without consequence, as seen with Mount Sinai [[Hebrews 12:20]].
* **A Harmful Touch:** Unlike a neutral word for contact, `{{G2345}}` carries the implication of injury or defilement. The touch of the destroyer at Passover was lethal, and it is this type of harmful manipulation that the word conveys [[Hebrews 11:28]].
* **Law and Ritual:** The word is used in connection with both divine law [[Hebrews 12:20]] and human-made regulations [[Colossians 2:21]]. It serves to articulate what is forbidden, establishing a clear line between the permitted and the prohibited in a ritual context.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G2345}}` is a precise term that goes beyond simple contact. Used sparingly in Scripture, **thingánō** consistently signifies a touch or handling that is forbidden and implicitly harmful. It is a word that carries the weight of legal prohibition and negative consequence, illustrating the sharp distinctions between the holy and profane, the safe and the dangerous, and the actions of faith versus empty regulation.
TRV