Left
Left
(prop. , seml. a primitive word; Gr. ‘, lit. well-named, i.e. lucky, by euphemism for ptar , as opposed to , , the right). The left hand, like the Latin laevus, was esteemed of ill omen, hence the term sinister as equivalent to unfortunate. This was especially the case among the superstitious Greeks and Romans (see Potter’s Gr. Ant. 1:323. Adams, Romans Ant. p. 301). Among the Hebrews the left likewise indicated the north (Job 23:9; Gen 14:15), the person’s face being supposed to be turned towards the east. In all these respects it was precisely the opposite of the right (q.v.).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Left
left (, sama’l, to go to the left, to turn to the left, , , semo’l, the left hand, , sema’l, belonging to the left, situated on the left; , aristeros, and euphemistically , euonumos, literally, having a good name, of good omen): The words are chiefly used in orientation with or without the addition of the word hand. So Abraham says to Lot: If thou wilt take the left hand (semo’l), then I will go to the right; or if thou take the right hand, then I will go to the left (sama’l) (Gen 13:9). Frequently in Hebrew idiom the right hand and the left are mentioned together in order to express the idea everywhere, anywhere, altogether (Gen 24:49; Exo 14:22, Exo 14:29; Num 22:26; Deu 2:27; Deu 5:32; 2Co 6:7). In the geographical sense the left is synonymous with north (Gen 14:15; Jos 19:27; Eze 16:46; Act 21:3). While the left hand is considered as weaker than the right (see LEFTHANDED), it is the hand which holds the bow (Eze 39:3). The left hand is the side from which bad omens come, and therefore less lucky and less honored than the right hand (see HAND, note).