What does the famous gesture by Spock mean?

Do you know that the famous gesture was devised by the actor who portrayed the character on the original TV series?

So, the gesture first appeared in 1967. The salute might be decoded as "Live long and prosper".

It is known to be a difficult gesture, because few people can master it without practice.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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102 Comments

Sara Diaz

Jules Hernadi the origin of this hand gesture comes from a greeting that Cohanim, or the Rabbinical class of Jewish people used to greet each other as a silent way to confer association. Leonard Nimoy was an Orthodox Jew. This is where the original hand gesture greeting came from...

naomihightower

I can do the sign with ease on my left hand (without any practice, I just did it one day) but for my dominant hand I have to put my fingers in place

Charles Albert

Rest in peace Mr Leonard Nimoy 1931 - 2015.

Sheldon Burnston

The Cohanic Blessing, done with both hands raised before the face and with one's head covered by the Tallit (prayer shawl) is part of the afternoon service on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when the service used in the Temple in Jerusalem is remembered. All adult males who can trace their paternal ancestry back to the priestly caste of roughly 2,000 years ago are called to the front of the synagogue where they perform this ritual while the rest of us are supposed to bow our heads and NOT LOOK. Naturally, kids being who we are, we all sneaked a peek. Mr. Nimoy, who was raised as an Orthodox Jew (so was Bill Shatner, by the way,) relates this in his autobiography, "I Am Not Spock." And another aside: DNA testing of Jewish men who claim to be of this group has shown that the vast majority of them share a rare version of genes on their Y chromosome, so there is some truth to their belief that they are true descendants of the men who served as Priests in Solomon's Temple long ago...

Bettye McMillen

Spock was my favorite, but I loved the original series and tried to see it each week.

Rebecca Neese

Sheldon Burnston, Yes! There is a wonderful interview with Leonard Nimoy on YouTube in which he describes coming up with that. He said he really got a smile out of seeing that all these Star Trek fans were greeting each other with that salute, not knowing that they were actually blessing each other.

guarnerediane

Spock made Star Trek one of my favorite shows. I was sad when Leonard Nimoy passed. I will never forget him as he rests in peace.

dlh

Got it

Matthew Roen

The man who played Sarek(?) Spock's father could not do it. That's why he returned the gesture with the 2 outer fingers spread and the 2 center fingers together. I read somewhere that 90% of the population can do one or the other and only on one hand. I can do both on both hands and flip between them with ease.

Tim Byrnes

The "Vulcan Salute" is typically used when Vulcans meet or leave. The actual phase "Live Long and Prosper" is used as a farewell from the first and it followed by "Peace and Long Life" by the person leaving. The salute itself is the Vulcan version of a handshake.

Jim Adams

OK got it right but I don’t think it means live long and prosper either, it’s just a Vulcan salute

Diane Lynn Kinsman

Both hands no problem.. Right handed, but find I can use my left easy for some things. Live long and prosper.

Patty K

In the movie, perhaps. In real life, Leonard Nimoy learned his from a rabbi, who commonly make this gesture. Nimoy suggested it to the director.

littledick

Guessed incorrectly. Seldom watched this program, nor am I an Orthodox Jew.

Kathy Cron

Very interesting comments! I had no idea.

stellaclaude

Sara Diaz, does it mean the same thing?

John Edward Boyle

The same gesture is made by Jewish Rabbis when they pronounce the Arronic benediction ( The LORD belss you and keep you etc) so "Spock" did not create it, he copied it from his rabbi where it meant "Shalom Shalom" or be fruitful and prosper.