One theory is that the hand was already known in ancient Egypt. It symbolized one of the gods who was responsible for the care of the child by the ancestral spirits. Another meaning of this symbol is the sky god Horus. The hand with the eye was supposed to refer to the eye of Horus, which means that man will not escape from his conscience. This was taken as a warning against doing evil.

Another theory finds the origins of Chamsa at Carthage, where the hand of the supreme deity Tanit was used to ward off evil. Currently, the Hand of Fatima is known in Israel as "the hand of Miriam" - in memory of the biblical Miriam (sister of Moses and Aaron). Its purpose is protecting the faithful from evil. Christians identify it with the hand of Mary and it is primarily a symbol of God's protection against evil and misfortune. In Asia, the hand is recognized as a symbol of good luck.