FOOT. Of the various senses in which the word foot' is used in Scripture, the following are the most remarkable. Such phrases as the slipping' of the foot, the 'stumbling' of the foot, from heal to foot' (to express the cntire body), and foot steps' (to express tendencies, as when we say of one that he walks in another's footsteps), require no explanation, being common to most languages The extreme modesty of the Hebrew language, which has perhaps seldom been sufficiently appre ciated, dictated the use of the word feet ' to express the parts and the acts which it is not allowed to name. Hence such phrases as the hair of the feet,' the water of the feet," be tween the feet," to open the feet," to cover the feet,' all of which are sufficiently intelligible, ex cept perhaps the last, which certainly does not mean going to sleep,' as some interpreters sug gest, but to dismiss the refuse of nature.' 'To be under any one's feet' denotes the subjec tion of a subject to his sovereign, or of a servant to his master (Ps. viii. 6 ; comp. Heb. ii. 8 ; Cor. xv. 25) ; and was, doubtless, derived from the sym bolical action of conquerors, who set their feet upon the neck or body of the chiefs whom they had van quished, in token of their triumph. This custom is expressly mentioned in Scripture (Josh. x. 24), and is figured on the monuments of Egypt, Persia, and Rome. See an instance in the cut No. 215.
In like manner, to be at any one's feet,' is used for being at the service of any one, following him, or willingly receiving his instructions (Judg. iv. to). The passage (Acts xxii. 3) where Paul is described as being brought up at the feet of Gamaliel,' will appear still clearer, if we understand that, as the Jewish writers allege, pupils actually did sit on the floor before, and therefore at the feet of the doctors of the law, who themselves were raised on an ele vated seat.
Lameness of feet' generally denotes affliction of calamity, as in Ps. 3COM 15 ; xxxviii. 18 ; Jer. xx. to ; Micah iv. 6, 7 ; Zeph. 19.
To set one's foot' in a place signifies to take possession of it, as in Deut. i. 36; xi. 34, and else
where.
To water with the feet' (Dent. xi. to) implies that the soil was watered with as much ease as a garden, in which the small channels for irrigation may be turned, etc., with the foot. [GARDEN.] An elegant phrase, borrowed from the feet, oc curs in Gal. ii. 14, where St. Paul says, \Vhen I saw that they walked not uprightly'—literally, 'not with a straight foot,' or 'clicl not foot it straightly.' Nakedness of feet expressed mourning (Ezek. xxiv. 7). This must mean appearing abroad with naked feet ; for there is reason to think that the Jews never used thcir sandals or shoes within doors. The modern Orientals consider it disrespectful to enter a room without taking off the outer covering of their feet. It is with them equivalent to un covering the head among Europeans. The prac tice of feet-washing implies a similar usage among the Hebrews [FEET, WASHING oF]. Uncovering the feet was also a mark of adoration. Moses put cdt his sandals to approach the burning where the presence of God was manifested (Exod. iii. 5). Among the modern Orientals it would be regarded the height of profanation to enter a place of wor ship with covered feet. The Eg,yptian priests offi ciated barefoot ; and most commentators are of opinion that the Aaronite priests served with bare feet in the tabernacle, as, according to all the Jewish writers, they did afterwards in the temple, and as the frequent washings of their feet enjoined by the law seem to imply. [SaNnaLs].
The passage, How beautiful upon the moun tains are the feet of him that bringeth glad tidings, that publisheth peace' (1s. Ili. 7), appears to signify that, although the feet of messengers and travellers are usually rendered disagreeable by the soil and dust of the way, yet the feet of these blessed mes sengers seemed, notwithstandin.., even beautiful, on account of the glad tidings wItslich they bore.
Respecting the washing of feet,' see ABLUTION and WASHING.—j. K.