[Greek] ἅπτω (haptō), [Latin] mundare, [Latin] tangere, [Latin] accendere, [French] purifier, [German] zufallen, [French] arriver: to attach oneself, to hold on to, to kindle, touch a woman, cling to, to fasten: 38 scriptural references
Noli Me Tangere (Do not hold on to Me): painting by Antonio da Corregio (1514)
Background information:
Old Testament: The Hebrew term yada means to know someone or something in a deeper covenantal relationship. These relationships can be between God and man, man and man, and man and woman. A covenantal relationship is a relationship that shouldn’t be broken. If broken, there would be consequences (covenant curses). In Gen.18:19 God singles out (knows) Abraham by establishing a covenant with him. In Gen.2:23-24 God brings to Adam a woman (Eve) created from Adam’s rib. God establishes a covenantal relationship with Adam and Eve and a marriage relationship between Adam and Eve. Therefore, knowing each other can also mean having marital relations.
New Testament: This term means to light a lamp, to touch someone (occurring quite frequently), to hold on to, and to touch a woman (to have a sexual relationship). I will focus on the less common scriptural examples.
Jn.20:17: “Stop holding on to Me.”
1Cor.7:1: “It is a good thing for a man not touch a woman.”
2Cor.6:17: “And touch nothing unclean.”
1Jn.5:18: “The one begotten by God He protects, and the evil one cannot touch him.”
Etymology: The Latin verb accidere means to fall upon, to happen, to fall down, and to alight. Not surprisingly, the modern-day word accident comes from this Latin verb. It is also interesting to note that accidere is directly related to lighting something (a potential accident waiting to happen). The Latin verb mundare means to clean. The Latin word for earth (world) is mundus. Mundane means of this earthly world or lacking in interest. The Latin verb tangere means to touch, to strike, and to influence. Tactile means perceptible to touch. Tangent means near, slightly connected, and meeting at a point without intersecting.
Conclusion:
Tangent, tactile, accident, fallen, arrive, purify, mundane
For purposes of brevity, I excluded examples from the Greek Hellenistic era. The Hebrew yada is an important concept of knowing others in a deep convenental relationship.
Jesus, on His own initiative, touched and healed others. In other situations, Jesus healed others only because of their faith. If they did not have faith or trust in Jesus, they would not be healed. Jesus told Mary Magdalene to stop holding on (clinging) to Jesus. It was time for Jesus to return to His Father. Paul instructs one not to touch (have sexual relations) a woman. Paul also instructs one not to touch anything unclean. Christians must have cultic cleanliness. 1Jn.5:18 states that the one (follower of Christ) begotten by God will not be harmed by the evil one.
When it comes to what God and Jesus has done for us, “yada, yada, yada” (blah, blah, blah) cannot be said.