Gospel Sign Language
Vocabularies
Four Thursdays worth
of gospel vocabularies
to go over in ASL.
ABRAHAM

ABUNDANT
ACCEPT
ADAM
ADMONISH
ADULTERY
ADVENT

Advent is signed in one of three ways
depending on what you mean:
–
–
–
1. 2nd COME
2. ARRIVE
3. COME (sign as in come to you “yourself”)
ADVOCATE

Similar to “Support”
–
–
But if it is a person, you sign “support” then
“person”
If it is a verb, sign “support”
AGENCY

Spread out your fingers and use the opposite
to pick each finger.
ALMIGHTY
ALTAR

Sign “kneel” and “podium”
AMEN
ANGEL

Use both flat hands at the shoulder and
pretend you rush out shoulder and design its
wings.
ANOINT

At the fist of your hand facing palms down,
use the other hand with thumbs extend out
and motion with counter-clockwise circle.
Like the fist a head and the other thumb
extend out as bottle of oil.
APOSTASY

Forefinger point directly to opposite person
and the other forefinger point the same way,
but then one moves away. Like the sign for
“same”, but a forefinger moves away from
not moving finger.
APOSTLE

Two signs
–
–
Sign “Follow” “person”
Flat hands facing sideways, and use the other
hand with “a” onto the flat hand starting from top
to bottom. Like a commandment in “C”.
APPEAR (PRESENCE)
ARISEN
ASSEMBLE
ATONEMENT
ATTEND

Similar to “go” in sign, but do it twice.
BAD
BAPTIZED


Use both hands in fist with both thumbs extend out.
Each thumbs facing up to the sky and move into the
“imaginary-water” like you were baptizing or
“dunking” a person.
Another description from www.valleybible.net: With
both "a" hands in front of the body, palms facing
each other, dip the hands to the right and then back
to the original position.
Hint: represents someone being dipped in the water.
BEG

Flat hand palm face down and the other in
clawed motion, but upside down. Almost like
“want” in signs, but only one hand above the
flat hand.
BEHOLD
BELIEVE
BELONG
Same as “connect” in ASL
BETHLEHEM

Sign “blue” and then “city”. When you sign
“City” make sure it’s in body motion shifting
from left to right (if you are right handed).
BIBLE
There’s two different signs:
“Jesus book”
“b” across the hand
BIRTH
BLASPHEMY

saying bad things about God and sacred
things
BLESS (ORDAIN)

Start with the thumbs of both "a" hands at the
lips. Move both hands forward and
downward while changing them to palmdown flat hands.
BLOOD
BROTHER
First version of "brother" using BOY + RIGHT.
Second version of "brother" using BOY + SAME:
CALLING (INVITE/WELCOME)
CALLING (SUMMON)
CALVARY

Right hand, sign “C” across left extended
arm and transform the “C” into “Hills”
CATHOLIC

Forefinger and middle finger together, with
that pretend to draw a cross on the forehead.
CELEBRATION

Both hands out, show forefingers in crooked
manner or pretend you are holding
something with both hands. Then rotate both
as if you were turning the party toy in circles.
Left hand should be rotate counter-clockwise
and right clockwise.
CHAPTER
CHARITY

Similar to “love” in ASL, but with the letter
“C”s on both hands.
CHOIR
“music”
“group”
CHRISTIAN
“Christ” “person”
CHRISTMAS
Hint: Think of showing the inside edge of a wreath.
OR
CHRISTMAS: Think of showing an initialized form of the sign "TREE." (No, this sign doesn't mean "Christmas Tree." To indicate a Christmas tree,
sign CHRISTMAS + TREE
CHURCH
COLLECTION
COMFORT

Almost in “build” but all fingers out. As in
trying to keep your hand off of surfaces of
your hands back and forth.
COMMAND
COMMANDMENTS
This sign can be initialized with an "R" to mean rule, a "P" to mean principle, or a "C" to mean constitution or
commandment (as in the ten commandments). A combination of a "C" that changes to an "E" is used to indicate
"Code of Ethics."
CONFESS

Both hands touch the chest with the flat open
hand. They are then swung up and out,
ending with both palms facing up in front of
the body.
Hint: To get something off your chest.
CONFIRMATION

Start with the tip of your finger at the lips and
move out and away from lips. As you move
out, change your hand flat to the other flat
hand. As if you were giving a blessing on the
head of the person.
CONGREGATION

Same sign as “gather together”
CONVERT

Use both hands with “C” and touch both
thumbs together. Shift the “C” down almost
like in “change”.
COUNSEL
COVENANT (AGREE)

The index finger of the right "d" hand, palm
back, touches the forehead and then the two
index fingers, both in the "d' position, palms
down are brought together so they are side
by side, pointing away from the body.
Hint: The sign for Agree.
COVET
Same sign as “desire” or “wish”
CREATE

Similar to “make” in ASL.
CROSS
CROWN

Body language by placing a crown on your
head.
CRUCIFIED
DAMNATION

Sign similar to “hell” but with the letter “D”.
DEATH or DEAD

Hold both flat hands to the front with the left
palm down and the right palm up. Move both
hands in an arc to the left while reversing the
palms orientation.
DELIVERANCE

Same as “save” but in letter “d”. Almost like
“divorce”, but more open.
DENIAL

Sign “not accept” or sign both hands in “not”
form, such as thumbs extend out of under the
chin. Both out at the same time.
DESIRE
Same as “wish” or “hungry”
DEVIL

Touch the temple with the thumb of the right
"3" hand with palm facing forward. Bend and
unbend the index and middle fingers a few
times.
DISCIPLE

Place both "d" hands to front, left slightly
ahead of right. Move them forward, right
hand following left. Follow with the person
indicator.
Hint: Same sign as for follow but with the
initialized "d" hands.
DIVINE

Similar to the sign “clean” but with the letter
“D” in washing motion from fingertip to heel
of hand.
DOCTRINE

Position both "d" hands at the front and sides
of the forehead, then move them forward and
back a few times.
Hint: Similar to the sign for Teach with the
initialization for Doctrine.
DOUBT

The right "v" hand faces the nose. The index
and middle fingers bend as a cynical
expression is assumed. The downturned "s"
hands swing alternately up and down.
EARN (DESERVE)
Start with the hand in air while your other flat hand stays, then do the same sign
as the images below.
EARTH
EASTER
EGYPT

With the right palm forward, using a "x" hand,
place it on the forehead.
EMMANUEL

Move the flat right hand in a backwarddownward arc toward self with the palm
facing left. Both "a" hands come together in
front of the body with palms touching. The
right index finger touches the right shoulder
then moves in a semi circle and touches the
left shoulder.
Hint: the signs for God, With and Us.
ENDURE
Same as “continue”
ENEMY
Sign in as “opposite” and then “person”
EPISCOPAL

Hold the left arm in front of the chest with the
palm down and the hand closed. Touch the
underside of the left forearm with the right
index finger at the wrist; then dip the right
index hand before touching the left elbow.
Hint: Suggests the enlarged sleeve of a
priests robe.
EPISTLE

Same sign as “letter” in ASL.
ETERNAL

Use forefinger and start from right scalp
extend out and swirl forward.
EVE

Sign the letter “E” with your right hand and
place it at the right side of your chin.
EVIL
EXCOMMUNICATE

Sign “church” and then use left flat hand
palms face down and the right hand over the
left with its thumbs out to flip out. Kind of like
flipping your watch out. Sign almost as in
“remove”
EXALT

Both bent hands with fingertips facing each
other are raised from forehead height to
above the head.
EXODUS

Two different signs I found on
http://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi and
http://www.valleybible.net/DeafMinistry/ASL_Dictiona
ry/asl_exodus.php
–
–
The right index finger starts between the fingers of the left
flat hand with palm facing down. It then moves out from the
fingers in a sharp motion.
Sign “Egypt” and then “leave” (in a higher motion to
heaven).
FAITH

Two different signs:
OR
FAITHFUL

Move the right index finger from touching the
right side of the forehead downward while
changing into an "f" hand on the index side of
the left "f" hand and bouncing forward a few
times.
FALSE
FASTING

The right "f" fingers move across the lips
from left to right.
FATHER (God himself)

Same sign as “father” but with both hands
together. Hands on top of one another.
FEAR

Sources from the web as well, various signs.
This one is common one:
The other signs, “fear God” are pretending to shield to heaven, as if
you try to block you face.
FEAST

The right and left hand alternately move
toward the mouth.
–
Similar to this photos, but in a humble way.
(It’s the actual sign for food, in a dramatic
expressions)
FELLOWSHIP


Both "a" hands with thumbs out circle around
each other.
OR do the same way as above, but wiggle all
of your fingers around each other in circle
motion. Your fingers are like little people
going around each other.
FLESH (BODY)

Use both hands flat your palms facing you
and start from top below shoulder and move
hands out down to your tummy.
FLESH (MEAT)

Similar sign for “meat”, then shake your sign.
FLOOD

The right "w" hand touches the chin. Both
open hands with palms facing down rise from
hips to shoulders while puffing out the
cheeks.
FORBID

With a sharp movement, hit the left open
hand, palm facing right with the right “L" hand
two times.
FORGIVE
FORSAKE

Wipe the palm side of the right open hand
across the forehead from left to right then
throw both hands to the right.
Hint: It is like forgetting something and
throwing it aside.
FREE
FREEWILL (THINK-SELF)

Sign “free” and then “willing” but with one
hand.
FUNERAL

Both "v" hands with fingers pointing up, right
hand following left, move them forward with a
soft bouncing motion.
Hint: Represents people moving forward in a
line.
GENTILE(S)

This concept refers to someone who is not a
member of one's own religion. Typically in
the new testament it has been used to refer
to "non-Jewish" people.
Hindus and Mormons also use this concept
to some extent to refer to people not of their
faith
GET (OBTAIN)
GHOST
GIVE
GLORY
Both open hands come up in front of the face
and touch. The right hand is drawn back with
fingers wiggling.
OR

GOD
GOOD (WELL)
GOSPEL
GRACE
GRIEF

Use both hands in fist and pretend to tear
over your heart like a paper in half.
GUILT (CONSCIENCE)

Use your right arm and sign “g” over your left
chest, just over your heart.
HALLELUJAH

Clap the hands; then hold up both closed
hands with the thumb tips and index
fingertips touching. Make small circular
movements.
HEART
OR
Outline the shape of a heart on the chest with both index or middle fingers.
HEAVEN
OR
Both hands with fingertips facing each other, circle around each other once
and then move away from each other over the head.
HEBREW

Place the right open fingers and thumb on
the chin with the palm facing self. Draw the
hand down below the chin and form an "and"
hand.
Hint: Symbolizes the beards worn by Jewish
men.
HELL

With the right hand signed “h”, start at the left
shoulder and move down and across.
HELP
HOLY
OR
Make a right "h" hand; then move the right flat palm across the left flat palm
from heel, to fingertips.
HONOR
OR
HOPE
OR
HUMBLE

Point the left flat hand to the right with palm
down. Touch the lips with the index finger of
the right "b" hand and move it down and
forward under the left hand.
HUNGRY (WILL)
HYMN

Sign “music” and then “book”
HYPOCRITE

The left hand is placed over the back of the
right hand and pushes it down and a bit in
toward the body.
IN
INNOCENT

Use both fore and middle fingers together
both hands at lips and extend out.
INSPIRE

Start at the stomach with both hands, almost
as if you’re holding the shirt. Then slide up to
your chest. As you slide spread your fingers
out
INTERPRET
ISAIAH

Move the right "I" hand palm facing left, from
in front of the chest forward in an arc under
the down turned left open hand, held in front
of the chest. Both open flat hands with palms
facing each other move from shoulders to
hips.
Hint: Same sign as for Prophet but with the
"I" initialization.
ISRAEL

The right "I" hand brushes down the left side
of the chin and then the right side of the chin.
JEHOVAH

The word "Jehovah" is signed "JH" in the
same area that you would sign "god" around the forehead or above.
JERUSALEM


Make a "j" with the right hand. Make the point
of a triangle with both flat hands in front of
the chest. Repeat a few times while moving
the hands to the right.
Hint: sign “J” then to “city”
JESUS
JEW or JEWISH
JOIN (BELONG)
OR
JUDAISM

Sign “jewish” and then “Belief” or “Believe”
JUDGE
Kill

Left flat hands palm facing down sideways
and use right hand with forefinger pointed,
slit across the left palm.
Kindness
King
Kingdom

Move the right "k" hand from the left shoulder
to the right waist; then circle the right flat
hand, palm facing down, in front of the body
in a counterclockwise direction.
Kneel

Sign “stand” and then bend your joint of fore
and middle finger down of your left palm.
Like a person kneeling down on his knees.
Language (Tongue)

Sign both hands with “L”s and start together
in front of you and scribble across hands
going away from each other.
Latter-Day-Saint

Finger-spell “LDS”
Law
Lecture (Give Lesson)
Lie
Life
Light
Live
Lord
Love
Manage (Rule)
Manna


Both index fingers alternately flick down in
front of face. The fingertips of the left hand
are drawn down over the back of the right
hand several times.
sign feast, sky, sprinkle around top to down,
jewish and then open mouth to feast.
Marriage
Mary
Similar to “virgin” as the image below, but with the letter “M”.
Meeting
Member
Mercy
:
Millennium

After making the "1" hand, the fingertips of
the right hand touch the middle of the palm of
the left hand. The right "s" hand moves from
on top of the left "s" hand, around the left
hand, ending back on top of the left "s" hand.
Hint: Signs for 1,000 and Year.
Miracle
Mission
Missionary
Mock
Mormon

Sign “m” but move to jaw in almost as
“experience” in movement.
Moses

The right thumb and index finger begin on
the right forehead and moves out and away
ending with the thumb and index finger
touching.
Music (Hymn)
Nazareth

Sign "n" followed by the sign for city. Make
the point of a triangle with both flat hands in
front of the chest. This is repeated a few
times while moving the hands to the right.
New Testament
OR
Oath
Obey
"Obey"
Obey God
Offering

SUGGEST / OFFER / RECOMMEND:
The palm-up flat hands move in an arc forward and up and then down a bit.
Think of "laying an offer on the table."
Old Testament
Parable

Same sign as “story”
Patient (Endure)

Put your thumbnail on your chin and drag it downward about 2 inches.
Paul

Fingerspell his name.
Peace
Persecute
Peter
Pharisee
Poor
Power (Authority)
Praise (Applause)
Pray
Preach
Prepare
Priest
Promise
Proof
Prophet
Protestant
Punish
Pure
Quaker
Rebel (Disobey)
Redeem
Religion
Remember
Repent
Respect
Responsible (Obligation)
Reverent
Righteous
Rome
Sacrifice
Sad
Savior
School
Scriptures
Seminary
Serve
Shed (Blood)
Sheep
Shepherd
Show (Reveal)
Sin
Sky
Son
Sorry
Soul
Speak
Speech
Spirit
Star
Suffer
Suggest (Offer)
Sunday (Sabbath)
Supreme
Symbol
Teach
Temple
Temptation
Testify
Thankfulness
Thanks
Thee (Thou)
Thy
Tithing
Tongues
Translate
Trust
Truth
Unity
Universe
Verily
Verse
Virgin
Vision
Will (Want)
Wise
Wish
Witness
Wonderful
Word
World
Worship
Worthy
Wrong
Last Day Party
Lets
sign up on what each of you
will bring.
We do have kitchen in the Institute.