A body part used in a variety of figurative ways in the Bible. God required Moses to go barefoot on the holy ground of Horeb (Exod 3:5). Barefootedness was part of David’s mourning (2Sam 15:30). God commanded Isaiah to walk barefoot as a symbol of future captivity (Isa 20:2-4). Placing the foot on the neck of the vanquished enemy indicated victory (Josh 10:24; Ps 110:1; Matt 22:44); God’s placing all things “under the feet” expresses absolute dominion (Ps 8:7; 1Cor 15:27; Eph 1:22; Heb 2:8). Listeners and pupils sat at their master’s feet: Mary at Jesus’s feet (Luke 10:39); Paul at Gamaliel’s feet (Acts 22:3). Love is shown Jesus by the washing, kissing, and anointing of his feet (Luke 7:38; Luke 7:44-47, John 12:3). Jesus washed his disciples’ feet as an example of humble service (John 13:5-17). Homage is shown Jesus by falling down at his feet (Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41). Jesus heals those placed at his feet (Matt 15:30). The disciples are to shake the dust from their feet to reject inhospitality (Matt 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; Luke 10:11).
