The gesture is significant in the "Opening of the Mouth" ceremony. Ann Macy Roth explains "Here its central act, the opening of the mouth itself, is shown to mimic the clearing of a newborn's mouth with the little fingers.", in "Fingers, Stars, and the 'Opening of the Mouth': the Nature and Function of the Ntrwj-blades". The 'Opening of the Mouth' is done for the deceased, that he might be able to speak and take in nutrition in the afterlife. "Why should a newly reborn king need to have his mouth opened? At birth, a baby's mouth is obstructed by mucus that must be cleared before the baby can breath. In modern births, the mouth is cleared using a bulb syringe, but the physician's little finger is also put into the mouth to test for any abnormalities of the palate. The small size, softness and sensitivity which make the little finger appropriate for this task would make it equally suitable for cleaning the mouth." (Ibid)

This symbolic 'mouth clearing' gesture is also done to statues, giving them 'life'. Ramses III is thereby giving the statue of Horus 'life' by his gesture. Also, mouth clearing can also be combined with 'annointing' rituals, "A similar gesture, in which one little finger is offered while the other hand holds the jar, continues to be the typical gesture for anointing throughout Egyptian history."(Ibid) In both the Luxor and the Medinet Habu scenes, the pharoah is also holding a jar.