Before Getting a Hamsa Bracelet - Let's Find Out the Meaning of the Hamsa Hand

The Hamsa hand is a familiar image thought to protect against the evil eye as well as offer a blessing and good luck to its owner.  It has become a popular accessory on everyday items such as key chains, mobile phones, and Jewish jewelry.  Hamsas are also found in home décor as it is available in a number of shapes, sizes, and styles.

According to archaeologists, the Hamsa hand is believed to have originated thousands of years ago with its first appearances in relation to the Moon goddess Tanit, one of the patron goddesses of Carthage.  More recently, the Hamsa hand symbol and name has been assumed by Judaism and Islam, though the Hamsa is not a religious symbol.  It is used for its original purpose, which is to protect the owner from any negative energy against them. 

So What's the Meaning of Hamsa?

The Semitic name Hamsa means “five” in Arabic.  The five most likely refers to the five stretched fingers of the symmetrical five-finger hand that has two thumbs. 

Hamsas are known as the Hand of Miriam.  Miriam is known in the book of Exodus as the older sister of Moses and Aaron.  She watched over Moses as a baby in a basket and played an important role in the Israelite’s escape from Egypt.  It was her extraordinary well that spared the Israelites from dehydration in the desert.

Hamsa is also referred to as the Hand of God, or the Protective Hand of God.  The number five is also significant in Jewish tradition as the five fingers of the Hamsa may also symbolize the five books of the Torah.

In Islam, on the other hand, the Hamsa hand is known as the Hand of Fatima or Eye of Fatima.  The name Fatima comes from the daughter of the Islamic prophet Mohammed.  The hand of Fatima symbolizes faith and tolerance based on folklore.  According to the story, Fatima was stirring hot milk when her husband unexpectedly entered the room with another woman.  She was so caught off guard by the incident that the spoon dropped into the boiling liquid.  Fatima did not notice as she continued stirring the milk with her own hand instead of the spoon.

 Which Way is the Hamsa Hand Suppose to Face?

The direction the Hamsa points will draw the type of energy you seek.  For example, it is believed that the downward-facing Hamsa draws positive female energies as well as good luck and blessing.  The upward-facing Hamsa draws the male energies and is believed to bring safety and keep out the evil eye.  Whether it is as a personal accessory or a gift for the house of a newlywed or new neighbor, the Hamsa will look good and bring an energy to the owner.

Hamsa Bracelet and The Meaning Behind It

Hamsa bracelet is a popular type of protection bracelets. Protection bracelets depicting the Hamsa hand have become popular gifts items for many around the world. They are used as gifts for birthdays, holidays and Valentine’s Day or any other celebrated days. This is understandable, given the fact that the Hamsa is designed for specific purposes. What better way to communicate to your loved one that personal message of your concern for their well-being, than by giving a Hamsa bracelet as a gift?

What is a Hamsa bracelet?

Although a common motif in evil eye bracelets, the Hamsa, though ancient has gained popularity and has been adapted by societies in the West. Historically, the Hamsa hand has been used as protection against harmful influences. Traditional belief is that people can be hurt by the evil stare and the ill intent of other people. That is why the Hamsa jewelry pieces have become so popular because they are viewed as the ideal in changing one’s luck from bad to good and to offer protection against bad luck.

Designers of Hamsa bracelets usually include more than one motif in designing the jewelry piece as a protective measure against the evil eye. These bracelets usually contain the images of eyes and fish since the evil eye is believed to offer protection to fish. Interestingly, many claim that this is possible because the fish is wet and this wetness enables them to be protected against the evil eye. The Jews believe that the fish is protected simply because they live in deep water and are not seen humans. A Hamsa bracelet may include one protection motif or more. It may sometimes includes motifs that are auspicious of abundance, success, fertility and so on.

Kabbalah inspired Hamsa bracelet

The Kabbalah speaks to the possibly harmful powers of the evil eye; hence the Kabbalah’s inspired powerful protection motifs. The designers utilize the teachings of the Kabbalah and inscribe Hebrew words, codes or portions of psalms from holy sources on jewelry pieces. The seventy-two Names of God is the most popular motif in the Kabbalah inspired evil eye bracelets.  These seventy-two names found in numerous Hamsa bracelets are the Kabbalah codes which are used to find the answers to different aspects of life, such as love, health and prosperity. The Hebrew three-letter sequence such as the Aleph-Lamed-Dalet (אלד) is used for protection against the evil eye and can be found on many Kabbalah lucky charm necklaces, pendants and bracelets.