Feet and the Scriptures

Jews and Shoes

2010-11-04T16:02:00.001-07:00

There is no surviving artefacts or descriptions of Jewish shoes from the period of the early Bible (Nahshon 2008 p2). However footwear does hold an important significance to early Israelites. According to the Scriptures, God gave man a ‘coat of skins’ to wear.

"...Unto Adam and also unto his wife did the Lord God make clothes of skin and clothe them..." (Genesis 21:3). Once the Hebrews acquired the art of tanning they used thick hide for sandals. The Biblical sandal was either leather or wooden footboards held to the foot with finer leather thongs Nahshon (2008).

The lyric in the Song of Songs (circa 900 BCE ) confirms sandals were worn by the high born.

"How beautiful your sandaled feet, O prince's daughter! Your graceful legs are like jewels, the work of a craftsman's hands.” (Song of Songs 7:1).

One of the earliest known depictions appears on the Assyrian Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III (circa 841 BCE) and depicts Jehu (son of Omri) bringing a tribute the Assyrian king. Jehu is prostrating himself in homage and is depicted wearing up-turned pointed shoes. These were fashionable with Assyrian royal families and may not be representative of ordinary shoes worn by Jews.

By the 8th century BCE concerns were expressed by elders as to the irreverence of decorated elevated sandals worn by young women. (Isaiah 3 16-20).

Later during the period of captivation in Egypt, Jewish slaves were taught the craft of Egyptian sandal making and took the trade with them. The fleeing slaves were wore sandals (Ex 12:11).

"This is how you are to eat it: with your loins girt, sandals on your feet and your staff in hand, you shall eat like those who are in flight. It is the Passover of the LORD.”

According to the Holy Scriptures Moses wore shoes when he approached the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:5).

"Remove your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground."

This was repeated again, at the confirmation of Joshua as the new Moses.

'And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot: for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.'
Josh 5:15
Possibly the first shoe miracle to be described was n Deuteronomy 29:15

“During the forty years that I led you through the desert, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet.”
Hence forth footwear and bare feet took on major symbolic significance in the Jewish religion. These are seen in the Torah , (Laws of Moses) and the Shulchan Aruch, (Code of Jewish law) which was written in the 16th century. Every day event were to be seen as something to worship the glory of God including putting on sandals. The Jewish laws prescribed the order in which you put them on. The right went on first followed by the left. (Shulchan Aruch/Orach Chaim 2:4). The left shoe was to be tied firs and the whole process reversed when taking the shoes off (Shulchan Aruch/Orach Chaim 2:5). It is thought this custom was based on the belief the right side was more important than the left and subsequently the right foot should not remain uncovered while the left was covered. Shoes were tied from the left because knotted teffilin was worn on the left arm. This refers to the children of Israel being out of Egypt as an act of God. When walking outdoors, Jews were required to cover the entire body including their feet (Shulchan Aruch/Orach Chaim 2:6). By the end of the first century CE shoes were considered an item of sensuousness, comfort, luxury and pleasure. Rabbi Akiva (ca.50–ca.135 CE) instructed his son Joshua not to go barefoot.

In the Talmud (200CE – 500 CE) (Shabbat 129a) it declared "A person should sell the roof beams of his house to buy shoes for his feet, " which if taken literally would again underline the importance of footwear in the Holy Land. Scholars and thise well versed in Jewish Law (Talmid Chacham) were never to go out wearing shabby or worn out shoes. Much later the Kabbalists considered the body as "the shoe of the soul," to protect it during its journey in the physical world.

According to Nahshon (2008) the primodial connection of the naked or semi naked foot to the land became an important element of Israel’s Zionist pioneer culture. Walking barefoot symbolically intimated one of three states: the lack of social status, an act of humility, or reference to the Divine. A common punishment or judgment was being forced to go without shoes.

'At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.'
Is 20:2

Captives went barefoot and their footwear was often taken as a trophy.
'And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them.'
2 Chron 28:15

The Jewish custom of not wearing shoes was also taken as a show of remorse, penance or mourning (Book of Isaiah 20:2). In Talmudic times both the pall bearers and the mourners went barefoot. When David was in mourning he went barefooted.

'And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and went as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot'
2 Sam 15:30

Jewish Law determined wearing leather shoes was not permitted during the period of the seven days of mourning (shiva,). For practical reason when shoes were allowed the custom was to place a little earth or pebble in the shoes to remind the wearer that they are in mourning. Jews are buried in a shroud covering the feet and the corpse id never dressed in leather shoes.
In the laws of halitzah when a married man died childless and leaving an unmarried brother, the brother was obligated to marry his widowed sister-in-law. This was called a levirate marriage and was primarily to continue the family linage.Deuteronomy (25:5-9); and Book of Ruth 3:4. If the brother in law refuses to marry the widow a ceremony involving the halitzah shoe was undertaken. The shoe worn on the right foot of the male was made from the skin of a kosher animal. It was like a moccasin made of two pieces and sown together with leather threads with long ties. The widow places her left hand on the brother in laws calf, then undoes the laces with her right hand before removing the shoe from his foot. She then throws it to the ground, and spits on the ground in front of him. The beth din then recites the formula releasing all obligations. Here the shoe is a symbol of transaction and reference is made in Biblical times to shoes and sandals being used to seal bargains.

Footnote
Human beings intrinsically used their bodies (or parts there of) as physical measurement of the known universe and so it would see perfectly logical to extend this to describe all human endeavours. The idea our ancestors described the universe with reference to the human body would give credence to the argument when describing faith there would be a head of a religious order; and feet, or the foundation of followers. This would translate into concrete iconoclasts as found in talisman of faith e.g. Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro. The absence of sophisticated transport in Biblical Times required walking as the primary means to spread the Gospel. By implication this would necessitate healthy feet and encourage protection of them. No surprise, perhaps to find reference to feet and sandals became closely associated with evangelism within in the New Testament.

References
Nahshon E 2008 Jews and shoes Berg Oxford.

The curious custom of ceremonial foot washing

2010-03-26T04:31:00.000-07:00

The first thing God said to Moses was ‘take off your shoes’
"Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” Exodus 3: 5, 6.
The significance of bare feet to Judo Christian believers is profound and they are not alone for other religions also hold bare feet in high regard. Why remains a mystery. Certainly in Biblical Times shoes and sandals made from animal skins were difficult to clean and in agricultural societies likely to become caked in dirt. The emblems of filth were left outside homes and temples but bare feet also required to be purified and this responsibility fell usually to the lowest house servant. Having the feet bathed signified the status of an honoured guest and foot washing was considered as an honour or service and became a common Jewish custom at formal banquets. Foot washing took place either on arrival or before the feast. In the New Testament there are two accounts of the feet of Jesus being washed by women. In John 12 1-3, "Mary" sister of Lazarus washes the feet of Jesus. This takes place at a feast and Mary takes perfumed oil (nardin), and greases the feet of Christ before wiping them dry with her hair. In the second account, Luke 7:36-48, unnamed women (thought to be a prostitute) washes his feet after he dines in the house of Simon, a Pharisee. She bathes the feet in perfumed oil, and, while she is washing his feet she weeps with her tears rolling onto the feet. She then dries his feet with her hair. Bathing feet in oil was also taken as a prospect of wealth. Most experts recognize this humble action was a deliberate act of humility and mark of respect.

At the Last Supper however Jesus subverts the ceremony by washing the feet of his disciples. Despite their protestation he reminds his devotees of the significance of foot washing. (John 13:1-17)

14. "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also
ought to wash one another’s feet.
15. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done
to you.
16. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his
master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.
17. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."

Theologians believe Christ's action demonstrated service rather than status represented greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven. This action prepared his disciples (and their converts) to walk in the path of righteousness.

Christians adopted the Hebrew foot washing ceremony and in some religious faiths this is still considered as one of the three ordinances (sacrament) i.e. baptism, the Lord's Supper, and foot washing. Foot washing acts as a renewal of baptism and commitment to living God's way of life. Foot washing is still practised in one form or other throughout the world on the Thursday before Good Friday.

Popes, religious leaders, and monarchs have all honoured the commitment to faith and humanity. Ceremonial foot washing usually involved marking the toe with blood or oil to symbolize either consecration or the cleansing of the entire person. This type of ritual was considered important before entering God's house. In the UK the ceremony was often accompanied with the distribution of alms in the form of food and drink, clothes and money. Until 1689 monarchs personally washed the feet of poor people. In the reign of William & Mary (1689-1702), foot washing was replaced by specially minted coins, called Monday Money. To this day the custom is still celebrated on the day before Good Friday. Her Majesty the Queen distributes specially minted money to the poor. A man and woman are chosen to represent each year of the monarch's life and given the special coins in a church. The specially minted coinage is worth much more than its face value.

Proskunew is an ancient Persian custom and involves kneeling and putting the face to the ground. Sometimes kissing the ground is part of the custom. It too was considered an act of submission, respect, gratitude, supplication, neediness, and humility and was used on all sorts of occasions. The custom is thought to have originated as a non-verbal greeting where men of equal rank would kiss each other on the lips. An inferior kissed his superior on the cheeks, and where one was much less noble rank than the other, he fell to the ground in homage. It became ritualized at the oriental courts, and according to rank, visitors would prostrate themselves, kneel in front of, bow for, or blow a kiss to the king. In days gone by there may have been practical reasons for blowing a kiss as halitosis was thought to be common. When Alexander the Great (327) spread his empire to incorporate others lands he naturally took his countrymen (now Iran) to serve at his court. As ruler supreme he commanded all subjects showed respect in his presence and that of his representatives. Conquered people like the Greeks despised the thought of prostration, bowing or kneeling, to anyone other than their Gods. However, proskynesis continued to be practiced at the courts of his successors and remnants remain today. We still bow for kings and queens. By the time of the Old Testament the custom had passed in judicial behaviour and when an accused was brought before the judge, he lay prostate. If found guilty, the judge would place his foot on their neck. If innocent the judge would stoop over and lift their face with his hand. To the Hebrew lifting the face was a declaration of innocence in a judicial, proceeding. When Muslims bow towards Mecca this is another reference to proskynesis and by contrast the posture of early Christian worship was standing.

According to Brasch (1989), kissing the feet was a gesture of homage and deference, far removed from its erotic roots. Millions of pilgrims with loving pressure have worn down the feet of the statue of Saint Paul in Rome with their lips. At the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire it was the custom for the faithful to kiss the right hand of the Papal Father. In the eighth century, a rather passionate woman took liberties and according to legend, the Pope cut off his hand in disgust. The custom of kissing the Pope’s right foot was adapted as more appropriate. Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) had kings and churchmen kiss his feet. Today the act of homage involves kissing the Pontiff’s right shoe. Lips are aimed at the cross-depicted on the shoe. This is either taken as a tribute to his authority or the simulation of servitude.

Patron Saints of Feet

2009-04-29T23:17:00.000-07:00

Whilst much of the original meaning may be lost to antiquity and what remains, compounded unfathomly by a myriad of interpretation of the faithful, there remains no doubt the importance the foot and shoe metaphor has played in the Holy Scriptures. Whether by chance or coincidence Christians would protect the feet by the patronage of the holy. Two Saints champion the legs and feet, St Peter (The Apostle) -The Feast of Peter and Paul is June 29th; and Servatus (Servaas, Servatius or Servais). His memorial day is 13 May. Servatus is frequently depicted as a bishop with three wooden shoes.

From early antiquity it would appear, metaphoric reference to feet was an important form of communication in both symbols and language. Despite this, to date, there has been an absence of academic scrutiny to explain this phenomenon. Through the centuries, a plethora of meaning has been attached to the simple metaphor, but which gave greater association to them in the New Testament as the means to the spread of the Gospels. This may, in part, reflect the transition from rural culture and custom of the Old Testament to urbanization and citizenship as reflected when the New Testament was written. Certainly Christians' evangelical need to travel on the path of righteousness would require healthy feet and necessitate the need to take care of them. This would entail protecting them both literally as well as metaphysically. Importance of feet and their association with commitment to faith remains in modern religions. Albeit, the origins for most of the faithful remain clouded. True meaning has probably been lost within translations and the plethora of interpretation made by the devout, yet despite this, feet metaphors remain popular within common English vernacular and can describe human behaviour from the cradle to the grave. The origins of which appear to have derived, or are at least have been reflected, within the Holy Scriptures.

In the beginning was - the feet!

Origins of the Red Carpet

2009-04-20T23:01:00.000-07:00

Ceremonially, rolling out of the Red Carpet metaphorically represents the following the path of righteousness.

'your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.'
Psalms 119: 105 NIV

In the Old Testament nimble footedness was an image applied to a life of righteousness and obedience to God. Fleet of foot metaphorically guaranteed treading the path of righteousness and giving thanks to God for sure footedness was accepted. This meant there was value given to feet being ambulant.

'Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.'
Ps 17:5

God's providence was said to guard the feet of his saints.

'He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for the strength shall no man prevail.'
1 Sam 2:9

The feet of the faithful, were also the concern of the Lord.

'They shall bear thee up in their hands , lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.'
Psalms 91: 13-15

Reference was made to the path as well was as walking on level ground.

'My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.'
Ps 26:12

'Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.'
Prov 4:26

'And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way ; but let it rather be healed.'
Heb 12:13

Open blessing were requested in prayers that feet would not stray.

'Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way.'
Ps 44:18

'I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.'
Ps 119:101

'An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief.'
Prov 6:18

Nor rush into sin.

'He that is`ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.'
Job 12:5

'Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.'
Ps 36:11

'For thou has delivered my soul from death : wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?'
Ps 56: 13

'For thy feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.'
Prov 1:16

'Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity ; wasting and destruction are in their paths.'
Is 59: 7

'They have loved to wander, they have not refrained their feet, therefore the Lord doth not accept them ;'
Jer 14:10

In the New Testament feet were not, by themselves, endearing. They were but an integral part of the human body of no more or less importance than any other. However it would be accurate to note the feet were used as a metaphor in the Holy Scriptures more frequently than other parts of the body.

'If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body ; is it therefore not of the body?'
1 Cor 12:15

'And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee : nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.'
1 Cor 12:21

Strong emphasis was placed on the strength of feet to spread the gospel.

'The Messiah will guide feet into the way of peace.'
Luke 1:79

When the message was rejected the bearers of the gospel were to shake the dust off their feet as a sign of protest and refuse to have anything to do with the place.

'And whoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of the house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.'
Matthew 10:14

'But they shook off the dust of their feet against them , and came unto Iconium.'
Acts 13: 51

A précis on clerical foot kissing

2009-04-05T04:42:00.000-07:00

Proskunew describes a Persian custom which involved kneeling and putting the face to the ground. This sometimes involved kissing the ground. Taken as the act of submission, respect, gratitude, supplication, neediness, and humility. This was used on all sorts of occasions. Thought to have originated as a non-verbal greeting where men of equal rank would kiss each other on the lips. An inferior kissed his superior on the cheeks, and where one was much less noble rank than the other, he fell to the ground in homage. Considered to have become ritualized at the oriental courts, depending on rank, visitors would prostrate themselves, kneel in front of, bow for, or blow a kiss to the king. There may have been practical reasons for blowing a kiss as halitosis was thought to be common. Magicians would use the same technique in order to prevent contamination of the sacred fire. Alexander the Great (327) spread his empire to incorporate others and naturally took Iranians to serve at his court. To win his or her respect and support he had to act like a Persian king, and ordered everybody to behave according to the oriental court ritual. The court custom, caused consternation amongst the Greeks as prostration, bowing or kneeling, to anyone other than the Gods was unacceptable. Despite violent opposition it is not clear whether Alexander the Great's attempt at cultural infliction, succeeded. However, proskynesis was commonly practiced at the courts of his successors and remnants remain today occidentals, still bow for kings and queens. By the time of the Old Testament the custom had passed in judicial behaviour and when an accused was brought before the judge, he lay prostrate. If found guilty, the judge would place his foot on their neck. If innocent the judge would stoop over and lift their face with his hand. Lifting the face was a Hebrew concept, which equalled a declaration of innocence in a judicial, proceeding. When Muslims bow towards Mecca this is another reference to proskynesis and by contrast the posture of early Christian worship. was standing. According to Brasch (1989), kissing the feet was a gesture of homage and deference, far removed from its erotic roots. Millions of pilgrims with loving pressure have worn down the feet of the statue of Saint Paul in Rome with their lips. At the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire it was the custom for the faithful to kiss the right hand of the Papal Father. In the eighth century, a rather passionate woman took liberties and according to legend, the Pope cut off his hand in disgust. The custom of kissing the Pope's right foot was adapted as more appropriate. Pope Innocent III (1198-1216) had kings and churchmen kiss his feet. Today the act of homage involves kissing the Pontiff's right shoe. Lips are aimed at the cross-depicted on the shoe and the act is either taken as a tribute to his authority or the simulation of servitude.

From footwashing to Maundy Money

2009-04-03T03:45:00.000-07:00

Foot washing is still practiced in one form or other throughout the world on the Thursday before Good Friday. Popes, religious leaders, and monarchs all have honoured the commitment to faith and humanity. The ceremony was often accompanied with the distribution of alms in the form of food and drink, cloth and money. In the UK, up until 1689, during the reign of William & Mary, the reigning monarchs personally washed the feet of the selected poor. Foot cleaning was however replaced by specially minted coins, called Maundy Money. To this day the custom is still celebrated on the day before Good Friday. The reigning monarch distributes specially minted money to the poor. A man and woman to represent each year of the monarch's life are chosen and given the special coins in a church. The specially minted coinage is worth much more than the coin's face value.

Foot washing at the Last Supper (Feast of the Passover)

2009-04-03T03:40:00.000-07:00

It was at the Feast of the Passover, (or last supper), Jesus dramatically subverted the symbolism by washing his disciple's feet.

'(He) rose from supper, laid aside his garments, and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into a basin , and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel which he was girded.'
John 13: 4,5

'I have done this to give you an example of something that you should do.'

Christ's action has been generally interpreted as a demonstration that service rather than status would represent greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven. Also by this action he prepared his disciples (and their converts) to walk in the path of righteousness.

'If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example , that ye should do as I have done to you.'
John 13: 14,15

The ceremony of footwashing

2009-03-27T01:31:00.001-07:00

In Biblical times shoes were made from animal skins which were difficult to clean. This may explain why shoes came to represent all that was unclean to the agricultural societies of the Old Testament. These emblems of filth were left outside homes and considered quite unsuitable for holy places. Feet encased in footwear required to be purified and this responsibility usually fell to the lowest house servant. Baring feet signified the status of an honored guest and washing feet put them at ease and comfort not to mention kept floors and bedding clean. Foot washing was viewed as an honor or service and became a common Jewish custom and at banquets. This took place either on arrival or before the feast.

'Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:'
Gen 18:4

'And the man came into the house : and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him.'
Gen 24:32

'So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses : and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.'
Judge 19:21

'And she rose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmade be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.'
1 Sam 25: 41

When anyone other than the lowest servant took to wash another's feet this was taken as an act of humility, a mark of respect or deliberate self-humiliation.

'Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I was thee not, thou hast no part with me.'
John 13:8

In feet washing ceremonies marking the toe with blood or oil symbolized either consecration or the cleansing of the entire person.

'And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of the right foot:'
Lev 14 :14 - 28

This ritual was considered important before priests could enter God's presence.

'For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:'
Ex 30:19

The prospect of wealth was also described as bathing feet in oil.

'And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.'
Duet 33:24

Mary Magdalane washed the feet of Christ with her tears and dried them with her hair, and anointed them with expensive ointment. For this token of devotion, Christ forgave her sins then proceeded to remind his host that he had not been extended the same courtesy as would be appropriate to a welcome guest.

'And stood at his feet behind him , and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with ointment.'
Luke 7.38

And did those feet....:The Meaning of Feet

2009-03-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

Pilgrims carrying the good news of God's Salvation had beautiful feet.

'How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publish salvation; that saith unto Zion, The God reigneth!'
Is 52: 7

'Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth peace!'
Nahum 1:15

By the New Testament those spreading the Gospels wore sandals.

'And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;'
Ephesians 6:15

The ancient custom of falling voluntary at another's feet was taken as a mark of reverence.

'And I fell at his feet'
1 Sam 25: 24

'And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet..'
Esher 8:3.

Many who met Jesus were described to fall to their feet.

'And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet.'
Mk 5:22

'And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.'
Rev 1:17

Taking hold of the feet of another was considered an act of prayer.

'And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet'
2 Kings 4:27

'And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.'
Mt 28:9

The action of touching a heel had profound meaning.

'And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed ; it shall bruise thy head , and thou shalt bruise his heel.'
Genesis 4:15

Jacob meant 'one who grabs the heel' or 'heel god' in Hebrew.

'He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:'
Hosea 12:3

'And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel: and his name was called Jacob'
Gen 25:26

Images of heels were linked to potential disaster and the vulnerability of humanity.

'The gin shall take him by the heel, and the robber shall prevail against him.'
Job 18:9

By the time of the New Testament, sitting at someone's feet was considered an act of submission and tachability.

'They went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus,'
Luke 8:35

'And she had as sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word.'
Luke 10: 39

Spreading the Word of God across the known world would entail travelling. There is direct reference to Jesus Christ in the New Testament saying to his disciples to wear sandals whilst spreading the gospel. Later in the scriptures he is attributed to a statement not to be overburdened with footwear. Most scholars accept the latter to mean to travel light. By implication however as shoes and sandals were the preferred costume of the privileged then perhaps the Disciples were being directed to become more accepted by the higher social strata yet by the same token, not to appear too well attired to offend the poor. If sandals were to play an important role in the beginnings of Christianity then sandal makers and in particular sandal repairers would have a contributory role. Many affluent converts were disinherited from their family's wealth yet compelled to spread the WORD, they needed an income for support themself. Many became sandal makers who worked by night whilst doing God's work during day.

Gendered Feet and Sexy Feet

2009-03-06T22:44:00.000-08:00

In the scriptures scholars accept feet were used as metaphors for the genitalia. Keen to downplay emphasis on the generative process which was more pagan, the ancient Hebrews took the foot and made it a gender icon.

'And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in. I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.'
Gen 19:2

In Isaiah (7:20) reference was made to the hair of the feet. Most authorities interpret this passage to mean pubic hair. By sexualizing the feet, there was need to cover them from uninvited gaze. In the vision of the Lord's glory, Isaiah described the six wings of the seraphims.

'and with twain he covered his feet.'
Isaiah 6:2

Centuries later, Christian art avoided showing feet of the Devine with only the more risque artists risking ex communication, by tempting viewers to glimpses of uncovered feet. Angels were painted with large wings, which covered their feet, hence, a representation of modesty. The term shoe, which had its derivation in Old English (Anglo Saxon), describes a cover but not as protection, instead it meant to partially conceal, in an alluring manner. In Biblical times feet were not sexually attractive but could become so, when embellished with sandals. The penis metaphor is most obvious in the Book of Ruth.

'And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down ; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do.'
Ruth 3:4

Going barefoot

2009-03-02T15:36:00.000-08:00

Although shoes were worn in ancient Samaria and Egypt, historians believe most people went barefoot. Shoes were worn only by the rich and influential and when they went barefoot this was taken as significant. According to the Holy Scriptures barefoot walking intimated one of three states: the lack of social status, humility, or reference to the Divine.

A common punishment or judgement was being forced to go without shoes it can be concluded wearing shoes was a privilege extended only to the few. Prisoners and slaves were made to go barefoot to prevent escape.

'At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.'
Is 20:2

'So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.'
Is 20:2-4

The footwear of captives may even have been taken as trophies. The corollary was also true and the right to wear shoes was a declaration of freedom and reinstatement of social standing. Reference to this appears in the Old Testament.

'And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod themÉ.'
2 Chron 28:15

'I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers skin, and girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.'
Ezek 16:10

Later in the New Testament in the parable of the prodigal son, Luke described the old Hebrew custom.

'But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.'
Luke 15:22

In Ancient Rome it was the right of a citizen to wear sandals. Feet represented the inner state and deliberately going without shoes demonstrated self-exile or a spiritual poverty. It was also used as a warning to others and barefoot prophets acted out the fate of those destined as sinners. By the Middle Ages it was common for pilgrims to walk barefoot as visible penance for their sins. Another Biblical custom, which involved removal of shoes, is referred to in Ezekiel in the parable of the boiling pot and related to the self-imposed captivity of mourning. When Davis was in mourning he went barefooted.

'And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and went as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot'
2 Sam 15:30

Going barefoot in respect for holy ground is well referenced with barefoot worship considered the will of God. Moses (circa early 12 century BC) was reminded of this by the burning bush.

'And he said, Draw not nigh hither; put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place where on thou standest is holy ground.'
Exodus 3:5

This is repeated again, at the confirmation of Joshua as the new Moses.

'And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot: for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.'
Josh 5:15

In the New Testament the same message is repeated.

'Then said the LORD to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet; for the place where thou standest is holy ground.'
The Acts 7:33

The Old Testament and Foot Metaphors

2009-02-26T21:50:00.000-08:00

In the Old Testament, feet were sometimes used to represent the complete person. This is demonstrated in the ancient warning.

'Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbours house, lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.'
Proverbs 25:17

Feet also figured in situations where someone had authority over another person or place and under the feet symbolised triumph over enemies. Vanquished enemies for examples were under the feet of their conquerors. A common practice among sandal wearers was to etch figures of their enemy on their shoe to crush them with every step.
'Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.'
Judges 20:43

'I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.'
Ps 18: 38

'And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise; yea, they are fallen under my feet.'
2 Sam 22: 39

'That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and `upon my mountains tread them under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.'
Is 14:25

'Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings?'
Is 41:2

'...Come near and put your feet upon the necks of these kings.'
Joshua 10:24

'Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.'
1 Kings 5:3

'Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:'
Ps 8:6

'The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.'
Ps 110:1

'..they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet'
Is 49: 23

'and all they that despied three shall bow themselves down at the soles of the feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.'
Is 60: 14

'And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of our feet in the day I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.'
Malachi 4:3

Israelites described the land they possessed with reference to the soles of their feet.
'Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours;...'
Duet 11:24

'Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.'
Duet 2:5

'Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that I have given as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.'
unto you, as I said unto Moses.'
Joshua 1:3

'our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.'
Ps 122:2

The loss of right to own land was also described by feet metaphors.

'Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from our land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and statues and the ordinances by the hand of Moses.'
2 Chron 33:8

Finding 'neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest' (Deut 28:65), may also signify owing no land.

Feet : In dreams

2009-02-21T00:19:00.000-08:00

In ancient times, long before the subconscious was acknowledged nocturnal ramblings were thought to be visions containing important messages which if ignored could spell disaster. When the King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar (630 - 562 BC) dreamt of the collapse of a giant statue of a man with a golden head and toes made of clay and iron he could not rest peacefully until he had his dream interpreted. According to Daniel (verse 2: 41-42), the dream was interpreted to mean the division of a kingdom. In the dream the colossus collapsed because of the crumbling clay feet which reinforce the idea weak feet were interpreted as a disadvantage and or handicap.

'And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.'
Daniel 2: 42

Able Bodied

2009-02-18T15:38:00.000-08:00

The Old Testament contains more references to feet. Shoes were associated far beyond the prosaic and practical and were thought to protect the wearer from all things unclean. A common belief throughout antiquity was sandals protected the wearer from the underworld. The fallen angel fell to the abyss of hell and was evermore lame. Hence the lame have been viewed suspiciously by God fearing people. This may be why many omens of foreboding were thought to exhibit themselves in the feet. Shoe metaphors do however have different meanings, which may be explained in part by Christians rejecting the Old Testament. In pre-Biblical Times, people like the Chaldeo-Babylonians drew meanings from birth defects and anomalies. Some held foreboding warnings to the ancients either as evil omens or good luck. This subdivision of divination is called fetomancy or teratoscopy and is still practiced today. Reasonably common birth defects, such as webbed toes (syndactilism) were viewed with great suspicion by the community and taken as an omen of disaster. More rarely when infants were born with three feet, this was a sign of good luck. When baby came with extra digits, polydactylism (six toes) on each foot that meant disaster.

'And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he was also born to the giant.'
2 Sam 21:20; 1 Chr 20:6

Persons with one foot were thought to prosper less well than their neighbour if their right foot was missing. The house of a double amputee was thought to fair less well, again. In agricultural societies, physical challenges, especially to the 'breadwinner', would pragmatically reduce their potential to maintain dependents. This may in part account for the association.

It's all in the translation

2009-02-17T02:04:00.000-08:00

To understand double meaning, it is necessary to seek out the source of original translations of the Holy Scriptures. Most authorities accept the language of Christ was Aramaic (Hebrew) and scholars now believed the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were written in Aramaic. Controversy prevails as to what period of the 1st and 2nd century the original gospels were translated. What is in question is the ability of the translators to understand the archaic language as they translated it into Greek. Recent re-translations of Greek back into Hebrew have left theologians with a large number of word plays, which make sense in Hebrew/Aramaic, but not in Greek. Clarity has been further compounded by subsequent translations into other languages as the Gospels, spread. Political and theological sensitivities determined by the times and beliefs meant literal interpretation is almost impossible now we have been left with a legacy of shoe and foot metaphor in the English language because of their association with the Holy Scriptures.

And did those feet...do the talking?

2009-02-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

If feet were so intrinsic to the human psyche, then the ancients would include reference to them within their language. Arguably significance and importance would be attested when detailing the unique human trait of faith.

'How beautiful are feet of them that preach the gospel of peace.'
Romans 10:15

Feet and shoe metaphors are scattered liberally throughout the Holy Scriptures, and not just the Judo-Christian denominations. Why particular double meaning was given to feet is not clearly understood. Human beings intrinsically used their bodies (or parts there of) as physical measurement of the known universe and so it would see perfectly logical to extend this to describe all human endeavours. The idea our ancestors described the universe with reference to the human body would give credence to the argument when describing faith there would be a head of a religious order; and feet, or the foundation of followers. This would translate into concrete iconoclasts as found in talisman of faith eg Statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro. The absence of sophisticated transport in Biblical Times required walking as the primary means to spread the Gospel. By implication this would necessitate healthy feet and encourage protection of them. No surprise, perhaps to find reference to feet and sandals became closely associated with evangelism within in the New Testament.

In the beginning was the feet.........

2009-02-06T14:21:00.000-08:00

Feet not only provide us with stable pedestals to stand on and move in a unique way but also have become the metaphoric foundation of our language and faith. Strange as they may seem the foot, leg and shoes have been used as metaphors to descry be the human condition since the beginnings of writing. Perhaps, because they are the only part of the body to make contact with Mother Earth, feet have through the ages, and in every culture, been bestowed with mystical and magical importance. Reference to feet and shoes is well represented throughout the Holy Scriptures.

Perhaps however the best recognised symbol from antiquity is the hieroglyphic, Ankh. The term came from the African language of Ancient Kemet and was aligned with water, air, and sun. The loop of the ankh represented the womb with the elongated section, the male penis. Combined they represent life. The potent amulet was taken to represent both the physical and external life force. The Ankh symbolised eternal life bestowing immortality on all those who possessed it. It was considered a powerful amulet, which emanated life energy providing the wearer with protection from evil forces of decay and degeneration. Many Gods and kings were depicted carrying the Ankh to distinguish them from mere mortals. No one is exactly sure what was the inspiration for the original ankh was, but by the same token one differentiating article of clothing was the thong. These were worn by the privileged and came to represent material success. Some authorities, such as, Sir Alan Gardiner believe the inspiration for the ankh was a thonged sandal. In ancient Egyptian, the word for thong is 'ankh' and by coincidence, these consonants also write the word life. Absence of definitive proof means the origins remain subject to scholarly debate. History does reveal however that sandals were considered by many Mediterranean societies to protect the wearer not just from physical harm, but also were worn as talisman against evil and safeguard form Hell.