What does the Bible teach about a handshake? In Job 17:3 ( KJV; with center-column references ), it is written, " 3 Lay down now, put me in a 1surety with me; who is he that awill 2strike hands with me? " The equivalent translation for the word " 2strike, " here, is the word " 2shake. "1
Thus, in this context, God defines a handshake as striking hands. The phrase " awill 2strike hands with me, " has three cross-references: ( 1 ) Proverbs 6:1, ( 2 ) 17:18, and ( 3 ) 22:26. The first cross-reference reads as follows, namely: " 6 My son, aif thou be 1surety for thy friend, if thou hast 2striken thy hand with a stranger. "
The second cross-reference reads as follows, namely: " 18 aA man 1void of 2understanding 3striketh hands, and becometh 4surety in the presence of his friend. " The third cross-reference reads as follows, namely: " 26 aBe not thou one of them that 1strike hands, or of them that are 2sureties for debts. " In this latter passage of Scripture, the equivalent translation for the word " 1strike " is the phrase " 1Shakes hands in a pledge. "2
God says that a handshake represents an agreement, for example. We must be careful, as Christians, not to agree or pledge to something sinful ( see Romans, chapter 2 ( especially verses 7 and 8, for example ), for example ). When we examine the Scriptures daily ( see Acts 17:10, 11, for example ), then we will understand the motives of James, Cephas, and John, regarding why they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and Paul.