Foot

In the ancient world with unpaved roads, feet easily became dirty and had to be washed often. From earliest times, hosts offered to wash their guests' feet (Genesis 18:4 ), usually done by the lowest servant (John 13:3-14 ). High honor was paid by anointing another's feet (Deuteronomy 33:24; Luke 7:46; John 12:3 ).

Because it was so easy to soil one's feet, to remove the shoes was a sign of getting rid of dirt and so indicated holiness in worship (Exodus 3:5 ). To shake the dust off one's feet meant total rejection of that place (Acts 13:51 ). For both the Israelites and the Romans, punishment might include binding the feet in stocks (Job 13:27; Acts 16:24 ). Often “feet” symbolize the whole person, since it is hard to act without using the feet (“refrained my feet from every evil way” means “kept myself from evil,” Psalm 119:101; compare Luke 1:79; Acts 5:9; Romans 3:15 ).

A verse frequently quoted in the New Testament is Psalm 110:1 : “Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Mark 12:36; Hebrew, “stool for your feet”). Early Christians took this to be a prophecy of Christ's ultimate dominion over all who would acknowledge Him (Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42-43; Acts 2:34-35; Hebrews 1:13 ).

Several biblical expressions contain “feet.” “Put your feet upon the necks of these” suggested total victory over someone (Joshua 10:24 ). This was also implied by the phrase to put someone “under your feet” (Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 15:25 ). “To fall at someone's feet” showed humble submission, often when one had a request (1 Samuel 25:24; Luke 17:16 ). “To cover one's feet” was a euphemism for relieving oneself (1 Samuel 24:3 ). For one's foot “to slip” or “to be taken in a snare” meant calamity (Psalm 9:15; Psalm 66:9 ). “The feet of him that bringeth good tidings” meant their coming (Isaiah 52:7 ). To sit “at the feet” meant to be a listener or disciple of someone (Acts 22:3 ) “Laid them down” at someone's feet suggested that the thing was a gift (Acts 4:35 ).

Kendell Easley