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shoÌ„oÌ„, shoÌ„ō´lach-et (× ×¢×œ, na‛al, literally, “that which is fastened,†with denominative verb × ×¢×œ, nā‛al, “to provide with shoes†(; ); ὑποÌδημα, hupoÌdeÌ„ma (Sirach 46:19; , etc.), from the verb ὐποδεÌω, hupodeÌoÌ„ (; ), “to bind under,†σανδαÌλιον, sandaÌlion, “sandal†(Judith 10:4; 16:9; ; ); the King James Version, the Revised Version margin also have “shoe†for ×ž× ×¢×œ, min‛aÌ„l, “bar†(so the Revised Version (British and American) text) in ; the “latchet†is either שׂרוך, seroÌ„kh, “twisted thing†(; ), or ἱμαÌÏ‚, himaÌs, “leather thong†(; ; )): The na‛al was a simple piece of leather tied on the foot with the seroÌ„kh, so easy of construction that its low cost was proverbial (; ; Sirach 46:19; compare ), and to be without it was a sign of extreme poverty (; ). Women, however, might have ornamental sandals (; Judith 16:9), and Ezekiel names “sealskin†() as a particularly luxurious material, but the omission of sandals from the list of -23 shows that they were not commonly made articles of great expense. The hupodeÌ„ma was likewise properly a sandal, but the word was also used to denote a shoe that covered the foot. The contrast between hupodeÌ„ma in and sandalion in seems to show that this meaning is not unknown in the New Testament, the “shoe†being regarded as an article of luxury (compare ). But in and parallel's, only the sandal can be meant.
Sandals were not worn indoors, so that putting them on was a sign of readiness for activity (; ; ), the more wealthy having them brought () and fastened ( and parallel's) by slaves. When one entered a house they were removed; all the more, naturally, on entering a sanctuary (; ; ). Mourners, however, did not wear them even out of doors, as a sign of grief (, ), perhaps for the same reason that other duties of the toilet were neglected (, etc.). A single long journey wore out a pair of sandals (, ), and the preservation of “the latchet of their shoes†from being broken () would require almost miraculous help.
f states as a “custom in former times in Israel,†that when any bargain was closed “a man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor.†This was of course simply a special form of earnest-money, used in all transactions. In f the custom appears in a different light. If a man refused to perform his duty to his deceased brother's wife, the elders of the city were to remove his shoe and disgrace him publicly, “And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed.†The removal of the shoe is apparently connected with the rite in as a renunciation of the man's privilege. But the general custom seems to have become obsolete, for the removal of the shoe is now a reproach.
The meaning of parallel , “Upon (margin “untoâ€) Edom will I cast my shoe,†is uncertain. על, ‛al, may mean either “upon†or “unto.†If the former, some (otherwise unsubstantiated) custom of asserting ownership of land may be meant. If the latter, the meaning is “Edom I will treat as a slave,†to whom the shoes are cast on entering a house.