And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. (Genesis 48:14)
This is the first Scriptural record of the imposition of hands being a symbol of blessing. Though not essential to the transmission of blessing, the act is not without an appropriate fitness as being a symbol of the invisible fact. Accordingly, it became the recognized mode of conveying spiritual powers, or gifts. This procedure was employed in the OT period for the dedication of Joshua (Num. 27:18, 23; Deut. 34:9), as in the time of the NT church for the ordination of officers (Acts 6:6; 8:17; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6), and in the performance of many miracles (Mark 6:5; 8:23, 25; Acts 9:17; 19:6; 28:8).