Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SANDALS, SHOES

Ancient footwear is well known from paintings, sculpture, and reliefs. While most persons wore a simple sandal, slippers of soft leather were not uncommon. Assyrian soldiers at times are depicted wearing a high boot; in later periods, Roman soldiers often wore a larger, more substantial leather boot. The ancient world considered shoes the humblest article of clothing; although they were often repaired, sandals and shoes could be purchased inexpensively.

Heb. naʿălāyîm serves interchangeably for shoes and sandals. During the NT era Gk. hypódēma (Matt. 3:11; 10:10) was a simple leather sole attached with a strap at the front. The less frequent term sandálion signifies a sole bound to the foot (Mark 6:9).

A wall painting from the Egyptian tomb of Beni Hasan depicts tribute-bearing Semites shod in a variety of sandals. Some of the shoes bind the sole to the foot with straps around the ankle, across the instep, up the leg, or across the toes; females wear a low boot. Peasants in ancient Egypt wore sandals of leather, papyrus, or woven palm bast commonly held by two woven straps across the arch of the foot and joining between the toes. The Golden Throne of Tutankhamen (ca. 1340 b.c.e.) shows the youthful pharaoh wearing a simple sandal held by a single strap. Later Roman sculptures portray some sandals with an intricate open-woven pattern of straps covering the toes.

Shoes were removed at the doorway of a tent or home before entering (Luke 7:38, 44) or during extended periods of mourning (2 Sam. 15:30). Removal of a houseguest’s shoes was the duty of the lowliest slave or servant in the home. A student also would stoop to loosen and remove the shoes of his teacher. However, rabbinic literature warned students not to do so before strangers lest they be mistaken for servants rather than scholars.

In the presence of a superior the shoes often were removed, as on the occasion of a theophany (Exod. 3:5; cf. Josh. 5:15). The Lachish reliefs from Sennacherib’s palace at Nineveh (ca. 700) picture the defeated residents of the city coming barefooted before their vanquisher as a sign of humility.

A sandal might also be used to seal a legal contract (Ruth 4:6-10) or to designate ownership or lordship of property (Ps. 60:8[MT 10]). To go barefoot indicated poverty, reproach, or impending judgment (Isa. 20:2). In contrast, being shod gave evidence of readiness for a journey or task (Exod. 12:11; Mark 6:9).

Bibliography. E. A. Speiser, “Of Shoes and Shekels,” BASOR 77 (1940): 15-20.

David C. Maltsberger

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

SANDALS, SHOES

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)