The Masonic Handshake: Grips, Secrets, and the Famous "Lion’s Paw"
You’ve heard the rumors. The secret handshake—that mysterious grip said to identify Freemasons in a crowded room and unlock the doors to brotherhood. But what is the truth behind the legend?
The “Masonic Handshake” is not a single gesture but a system of distinct grips, each associated with a different degree of Freemasonry. And the most famous of them all has a name that evokes power and mystery: the Lion’s Paw.
In this comprehensive guide, we will pull back the veil—responsibly—to explain what these handshakes are, which degrees they belong to, and why the “Strong Grip of a Master Mason” is the most significant of them all.
.
Part 1: Why the Handshake? Modes of Recognition
To understand the Masonic handshake, you must first understand the concept of “Modes of Recognition.”
Before the days of photo IDs or digital records, traveling stonemasons needed a way to prove they were skilled craftsmen, not imposters looking for a free meal. They developed secret signs, words, and grips (handshakes) to identify one another .
When Freemasonry shifted from “operative” (stoneworking) to “speculative” (philosophical) in the 1700s, these grips were retained. However, their purpose evolved. They are no longer about proving a trade; they are about reminding a Mason of his obligations. Every grip is tied to a specific degree and a specific set of moral lessons.
What is the Masonic handshake? A system of grips used to signify a member’s rank and remind them of their moral obligations.
Part 2: The Degrees and Their Grips
In “Blue Lodge” Freemasonry (the foundational three degrees), there are five distinct grips. Two belong to the first degree, two to the second, and the most famous is reserved for the third.
The Entered Apprentice (1st Degree)
The first degree is the initiation. It represents youth and the beginning of the Masonic journey.
1. The Grip of an Entered Apprentice (Boaz)
How it looks: Press your thumb against the top of the first knuckle joint of the other person’s hand .
The Name: This grip is called Boaz . In the Bible, Boaz was the name of one of the two pillars at the entrance of King Solomon’s Temple.
The Penalty (Symbolic): The oath associated with this degree includes a symbolic penalty of having one’s throat cut. Consequently, the “Sign” of this degree is drawing a hand across the neck .
The Fellow Craft (2nd Degree)
The second degree focuses on intellectual development and the sciences.
2. The Pass Grip of a Fellow Craft
How it looks: An ordinary handshake, but the thumb presses hard against the space between the first and second knuckles .
3. The Real Grip of a Fellow Craft (Jachin)
How it looks: An ordinary handshake, but the thumb presses hard against the second knuckle .
The Name: This grip is associated with Jachin, the other pillar from King Solomon’s Temple.
The Penalty (Symbolic): The symbolic penalty here relates to the heart. The “Sign” involves drawing a hand across the chest .
The Master Mason (3rd Degree)
The third degree is the summit of Craft Masonry. It deals with mortality, integrity, and the allegory of the building of the Temple.
4. The Pass Grip of a Master Mason (Tubalcain)
How it looks: Place your thumb on the space between the second and third knuckles .
The Name: Tubalcain. In the Book of Genesis, Tubal-cain was a forger of metals, symbolizing strength.
5. The Real Grip of a Master Mason – The Lion’s Paw
How it looks: This is the famous “secret handshake.” You interlock your hands as in a normal shake, but you press the tops of your fingers hard against the other person’s wrist, just where it joins the hand .
The Name: The Lion’s Paw (or Lion’s Grip).
Masonic handshake names – Boaz, Jachin, Tubalcain, and the Lion’s Paw.
Part 3: The Lion’s Paw — The Most Powerful Grip
If you ask a Mason what the “handshake” is, they will likely think of the Lion’s Paw. While all grips are important, this one carries the heaviest symbolic weight.
The Ritual Context
In the Master Mason degree, there is a legendary story involving the death of Hiram Abiff, the architect of the Temple. The ritual involves the “raising” of Hiram. The Masonic candidate takes the role of Hiram, and is “raised” from a grave using this specific grip.
The Symbolism of the Paw
Where did the “Lion” come from? There are two primary interpretations:
1. The Christian (Biblical) Interpretation
The most direct Masonic explanation references The Lion of the Tribe of Judah. In the Bible, Jesus Christ is referred to as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah who prevailed to open the book . Since the Third Degree teaches the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, the Lion represents the power of resurrection—the strength required to overcome death.
2. The Egyptian (Mystical) Interpretation
Some scholars, like the famous Masonic writer Albert Pike, trace the symbol further back to ancient Egypt. In Egyptian mythology, the god Osiris is raised from the dead.
Ritual bas-reliefs at Denderah show a candidate being raised from a lion-shaped couch .
The Crux Ansata (the Ankh, or Egyptian cross) was often depicted being held by a lion-pawed figure.
Thus, the Lion’s Paw is a symbol of the life-giving power of the Divine, used to lift a person from the “dead level” of the grave to the “living perpendicular” of eternal life .
Lions Paw grip Masonic meaning – Symbol of resurrection and the power to raise from the dead, tied to the Master Mason degree.
Part 4: The “Penalties” — What Do Those Motions Mean?
You may have seen depictions of Masons making strange gestures—touching their throat or chest. It is essential to clarify these are historical allegories.
In the oaths of the degrees, candidates agree to symbolic penalties for revealing secrets. For example, in the first degree, the penalty alludes to having the throat cut . The “Sign” of the degree (the gesture) mimics this to remind the Mason of his solemn promise.
Crucial Note: Modern Freemasonry universally condemns the literal interpretation of these penalties. They are purely symbolic vestiges of an age when oaths were taken with a more literal understanding. No Mason would ever physically harm another. The true “penalty” is being expelled from the brotherhood—losing the friendship and support of the lodge.
Masonic hand signs penalties – Historical allegorical gestures representing the internal shame of breaking an oath, not literal violence.
Part 5: The “Five Points of Fellowship”
While not a handshake in the narrow sense, the Five Points of Fellowship is a crucial recognition involving physical contact that often accompanies the grips.
As recorded in historic Masonic exposures like Jachin and Boaz, the five points are:
Hand to Hand
Foot to Foot
Knee to Knee
Cheek to Cheek (or breast to breast)
Back to Back
These points represent the five ways a Mason promises to support a brother: helping him in danger, standing by him in trouble, etc.
Part 6: Consequences of Exposure
Why is a handshake a “secret”? Throughout history, “Masonic Exposures”—books printed to reveal the handshakes—were treated as scandals .
If a non-Mason walks up to a Mason and attempts the Lion’s Paw, the Mason will simply not recognize the grip, or they will recognize that the pressure is wrong. In short, you cannot fake the handshake.
The “secrecy” is not about hiding a conspiracy; it is about preserving the integrity of the experience for the candidate. The magic of the Third Degree relies on the candidate not knowing the grip beforehand so that the lesson of the Lion’s Paw hits with full emotional and moral force.
Part 7: The Modern “Nudge”
Is the handshake still used today? Yes, but often subtly.
In many social settings, a Mason might not give you the full, vigorous “Lion’s Paw” wrist-press. Instead, it is often a distinctive pressure—a slight pressing of the thumb against the knuckle or a specific finger placement during an otherwise normal handshake . It is a discreet “nudge” that says, “I understand your obligations, and you understand mine.”
Do Freemasons still use handshakes? Yes, as subtle modes of recognition, though often discreet in modern social settings.
Conclusion: More Than a Handshake
So, is the “Masonic Handshake” just a secret password for your hand?
Not exactly. For the Mason, the grip is a teaching tool.
When an Entered Apprentice feels the press of “Boaz,” he remembers his duty to keep his passions within due bounds.
When a Master Mason feels the Lion’s Paw pressing on his wrist, he remembers the allegory of the Temple, the tragedy of loss, and the triumph of the spirit over the grave.
It is a physical lesson in a fraternity that teaches through all five senses. The next time you see a reference to a secret handshake in a movie, remember: For Masons, it’s not about keeping you out. It’s about reminding them of who they are supposed to be.
Have you ever noticed a strange wrist-press during a handshake? Or are you a Mason who can share (without revealing) the importance of these traditions? Join the discussion below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Masonic handshake?
A: It is a system of distinct grips used to signify a member’s degree. The most famous is the “Lion’s Paw,” or the “Real Grip of a Master Mason,” where fingers are pressed against the wrist .
Q: How many Masonic handshakes are there?
A: In the three degrees of Blue Lodge Masonry, there are five specific grips: Boaz (EA), the Pass and Real grips of Fellow Craft, and the Pass and Real grips (Lion’s Paw) of Master Mason .
Q: Why is it called the “Lion’s Paw”?
A: It symbolizes the strength needed to raise a soul from death to eternal life. It references both the “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” (Christ) and ancient Egyptian resurrection rituals involving a lion-shaped couch .
Q: Can an outsider fake the handshake?
A: Unlikely. The grips involve specific thumb placement against knuckles or wrist joints that are not used in normal handshakes. A Mason will instantly recognize the correct pressure and placement .
Q: Are the violent penalties associated with the handshakes real?
A: No. They are purely historical allegories used to impress the seriousness of the oath upon the candidate. Modern Freemasonry condemns physical violence; the real “penalty” is expulsion from the fraternity .
External References & High-Authority
For those who wish to verify the claims in this article or dive deeper into Masonic ritual history, please consult these authoritative sources:
Internet Sacred Text Archive – The Lion’s Paw: Academic analysis by H.L. Haywood (1923) tracing the Egyptian and Biblical origins of the grip. (Source: sacred-texts.com)
ProtoThema – Masonic Handshakes: Visual guide and descriptions of the grips with photographic references. (Source: en.protothema.gr)
National Library of Scotland – Jachin and Boaz: Transcription of a 1760s chapbook exposing the “Five Points of Fellowship” and early grips. (Source: digital.nls.uk)
The Age – All the Grips: Interactive digital feature illustrating the hand positions for each degree. (Source: theage.com.au)
Masonic Periodicals – The Lion’s Paw (1888): Historical periodical discussing the theological meaning of the grip in relation to Christ and Jeremiah. (Source: masonicperiodicals.com)
Cambridge University Press – Eighteenth Century Collections Online: Record of the 1792 edition of Jachin and Boaz detailing the “sign, grip, and password of each degree.” (Source: katalog.slub-dresden.de)
