yad denotes a bodily limb and, in clauses of giving or holding, authority or what is in someone’s possession.

The occurrences chiefly denote the bodily limb, including hands involved in cutting, writing, and stretching out. They also occur in clauses of being given or delivered into someone’s control and in expressions for breath, law, wisdom, or work being in someone’s possession or charge.

1. The bodily limb in visible action · dominant

   The dual absolute forms in Daniel 2:34 and Daniel 2:45 occur where the stone is cut “not by hands” or “by no human hands.” In Daniel 5:5 the singular construct forms appear with fingers that write and the palm seen by the king; Daniel 5:24 likewise refers to the palm sent from God’s presence, while Ezra 6:12 describes a king or people stretching out the limb to alter or destroy the house.

   Daniel 2:34Daniel 2:45Daniel 5:5Daniel 5:24Ezra 6:12
2. Control exercised over persons or realms · common

   Singular or plural construct forms occur in clauses of transfer or deliverance: Daniel 2:38 says the beasts and birds are given “into your hand,” and Daniel 3:15 and Daniel 3:17 set deliverance from the king’s hand against deliverance by God. Daniel 7:25 and Ezra 5:12 similarly describe people being delivered or given into another ruler’s hand.

   Daniel 2:38Daniel 3:15Daniel 3:17Daniel 7:25Ezra 5:12
3. What is held or carried out by someone · occasional

   Daniel 5:23 places breath and all ways in God’s hand. Ezra 5:8 says the work prospers “in their hands,” and Ezra 7:14 and Ezra 7:25 describe God’s law and wisdom as being in Ezra’s hand.

   Daniel 5:23Ezra 5:8Ezra 7:14Ezra 7:25

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB presents the term with “hands,” “hand,” and “palm” in bodily scenes, and with phrases such as “into your hand” and “in your hand” in clauses of control or possession. Its contribution is not visibly isolated in Daniel 4:32 or Daniel 6:28.