<P> The origin of the gesture traces back to the biblical Kingdom of Israel . Courts of Mosaic law would often render verdicts with the phrase `` May God have mercy upon your soul '' in order to reaffirm God 's supreme authority over the law . Most judges felt that while they could pass a sentence of death upon a person , they personally did not have the authority to destroy souls and that only God had the authority to do that . As a result , some judges would cross their fingers whenever they said the phrase as a result of concern for the criminal 's soul as they said it as a prayer . </P>
<P> The origin of the gesture traces back to the biblical Kingdom of Israel . Courts of Mosaic law would often render verdicts with the phrase `` May God have mercy upon your soul '' in order to reaffirm God 's supreme authority over the law . Most judges felt that while they could pass a sentence of death upon a person , they personally did not have the authority to destroy souls and that only God had the authority to do that . As a result , some judges would cross their fingers whenever they said the phrase as a result of concern for the criminal 's soul as they said it as a prayer . </P>
where did keep your fingers crossed come from
where did keep your fingers crossed come from
biblical Kingdom of Israel
biblical Kingdom of Israel