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Hand Motions for the Books of the Bible

Here is an instruction sheet that is a great tool for CBC, AWANA and Sunday school classes.  With it, you can teach children the books of the Bible in a memorable way, with motions.  It may be easier to divide them up in 9 or 10 sections, teaching section each a week.  Review all previous books learned every 2-3 weeks, before proceeding to the next section to keep it fresh in their memory.

 

Old Testament 

 

Name of Book

Motions

 

Reason

 

Genesis

Both arms extended in dome

over head.

God created the heavens and the Earth. (Gen.1:1)

 

Exodus
"Egyptian Exit Stance"

Exit of God's people from Egypt.

 

Leviticus

Palms together in prayer lifted to heaven.

Laws about offerings and sacrifices.

 

Numbers

Hold up three fingers of right hand.

Taken from the three numberings

of God's people.

 

Deuteronomy

Right index finger points

to forehead.

A repeat of the laws of Exodus thru

Numbers to emphasis remembrance

and obedience.

 

Joshua

Pretend to be holding a bow  

and drawing back the string.

Joshua is the warrior leading the Israelites

into the Promised Land.

 

Judges
Left palm is open facing up, right fist slaps down.  (Like a judge's gavel.)

Israel is ruled by judges during pre-king period. 

     
Ruth

Two fingers of right hand make a flip curl in back of head.  "Ruth" pronounced in a high voice.

God preserves the line of Christ through Ruth the Moabitess, during the Judges period.
     
I & II Samuel
Right hand makes a "beard" motion from chin after holding up one finger then two saying "First…" Written by the prophet Samuel. He anoints Israel's first two kings.
     
I & II Kings
Both hands pretend to place a crown on your own head, after holding up one finger then two, saying "First…" 

History of the kings of Israel & Judah. 

     
I & II Chronicles Pretend to be opening a newspaper (Chronicle).  History of Judah's kings.
     
Ezra
Right index finger points and pretends to count heads.  Numbering the people to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. 
     
Nehemiah
Slap fist on open left palm then smoothes right across left palm. (brick-laying)  Nehemiah leads more people back to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around the city. 
     
Esther
Right index finger circles above head. (Crown)  Esther, a Jewish queen in Persia saves her people from being destroyed. 
     
Job
Both hands cover face, head is bowed.  Job suffers tremendous loss. 
     
Psalms
Both hands lifted up to heaven.  A book of praise to God. 
     
Proverbs
Both hands reach to the left and snatch imaginary wisdom back towards the body.  "Get wisdom" 
     
Ecclesiastes
Both hands throw imaginary wisdom back towards left.  Solomon the wisest man who ever lived tells of not using that God given wisdom. 
     
Song of Solomon
Right hand over heart.  (sigh while saying book)  A love story. 
     
Isaiah
Right hand over eyes like a salute.  "I saw the Lord…" (Is. 6:1) 
     
Jeremiah
Right arm extended out front and index finger pointing.  Jeremiah warns Judah of doom for their disobedience. 
     
Lamentations Right hand index finger draws a tear down cheek from right eye.  Jeremiah weeps over Jerusalem being destroyed. 
     
Ezekiel
Right index finger draws the shape of a wheel in the air.                 Ezekiel dreams of fiery wheels.  (among many other things) 
     
Daniel
Head rests on hands as if sleeping.  Daniel interprets dreams and has dreams of his own. 
     
Hosea
Right arm motions "cracking a whip."  Hosea reminds Israel of God's judgment for disobedience. 
     
Joel
Cross arms over chest scratching forearms with fingers.  A plague of locusts is a judgment from God. 
     
Amos
Hands are used in a "card-dealing" motion.  (passing out money)  Amos had an occupation as a herdsman/farmer.  The only prophet we know his way of income. 
     
Obadiah
Both arms up toward right with hands splayed, as if shielding oneself from punishment. Obadiah explains the fate of any nation who goes against God's people. 
     
Jonah
Plug nose with right forefinger and thumb.  Jonah disobeys God and is swallowed by a fish. 
     
Micah
Make "cradle" motion with both arms.  Prophesy of Christ's birth. 
     
Nahum
Head down, fold both hands across back of neck.  Nahum pronounces God's judgment on Ninevah. 
     
Habakkuk
Fold hands and raise them to the sky.  Habakkuk sings a song of praise.(Ch. 3) 
     
Zephaniah

Show the "ok" sign with the right

index finger and thumb making

a circle by connecting.

Although Judah is in hard times

now, when the Messiah comes

everything will be righted and

things will be "ok" (actually much

better!)

 

Malachi

Both hands draw a mask design

over eyes (like a robber).

Malachi sights God's anger over

his people "robbing" Him of what 

he has given them in the first place

 

New Testament

 

Name of Book

 

Motions

 

Reason

 

Matthew  Both hands place a crown on your head.

Matthew emphasizes the

Kingship of Christ.

 

Mark 

Arms down, hands crossed in front,

head bowed.

Mark emphasizes Christ's

Servant hood.

     
Luke 

Fingers and thumb of right hand circle front of neck,

then trail down to a point by the breastbone.

The symbol of a stethoscope.  Luke was a doctor. 
     
John  Cradle arms then point to the sky with right index finger and forearm. John emphasizes that Jesus is the Son of God. 
     
Acts  First two fingers of right hand "walk" up and down left arm.  Acts give the accounts of the many missionary journeys. 
     
Romans  Shake fist with index finger pointing.  (teaching posture)  This is an instructional book. 
     
I & II Corinthians  Hold up Right index finger while saying "First…" then two fingers while saying, "second…" then do a "spanking" motion with right hand on your backside. Paul is writing to correct (admonish) many problems. 
     
Galatians  Shake head as you rub crossed index fingers.  ("tsk-tsk" motion)   Paul is reminding the Galatians that adding anything to Christ's work for salvation is wrong and dangerous. 
     
Ephesians  Hold up your two index fingers then bring them together and entwine.  The two becoming one.  (Eph. 2:11-21) 
     
Philippians  Lean body forward with arms extended back. ("breaking-the-tape" posture)  Pressing on toward the goal.  (Phil. 3:13-14) 
     
Colossians  Extend arms out into "cross" position then up to place a crown on your head.  Christ's elevation from the cross to the crown. 
     
I & II Thessalonians  Hold up right index finger while saying, "first…" two fingers while saying, "second.." then pretend to bring a trumpet to your lips and blow.  Paul teaches of Christ's second coming. 
     
I & II Timothy  Hold up right index finger while saying, "First..etc."  Pretend to put your arm around someone's shoulders, and squeeze slightly a few times.  (like a father would do to a son.)  Paul is writing to, and encouraging his "son in the Faith", Timothy. 
     
Titus  Extend arms, open palms up and together, first to the left then center then right.  (Like you are distributing something to lots of people.)  Devote (yourselves) to doing what is good. (Titus 3:8)
     
Philemon  Arms bent at your sides and pretend the "jogging" motion.  Philemon is urged by Paul to welcome back his runaway slave as a free brother in Christ. 
     
Hebrews  Pretend to be sitting on a throne.  Hebrews emphasizes Christ as the one High Priest of the Church. 
     
James  Point to your tongue.  James speaks of "taming the tongue" (James 3:1-12)
     
I & II Peter  Point right index finger to the inner corner of the right eye and trail an imaginary tear down right cheek point two fingers of left hand to the inner corner of the left eye… while saying "first and second…"  Peter addresses the sufferings of the early church.
     
I & II & III John  Hold up first one then two then three fingers of your right hand while saying, "First, second, third…", then cross both arms over your heart while you say, "John".  Emphasis on the love of God.
     
Jude  Bend knees, arms out and hands splayed.  "Beware" stance.                  Warning to beware of false teachers 
     
Revelation  Pretend to be knocking on a door with your right fist.  "Behold I stand at the door and knock…" (Rev. 3:20) 

 

 

 
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