In biblical literature, the term "soles" often refers to the bottom part of the feet, symbolizing various spiritual and physical concepts. The use of "soles" in Scripture can denote humility, possession, and the act of treading upon or claiming territory.

Symbolism and Usage

1. Humility and Servitude: The act of washing the feet, including the soles, is a significant gesture of humility and servitude. In John 13:5, Jesus washes the disciples' feet, demonstrating servanthood and love. Although the specific term "soles" is not used in this passage, the act encompasses the entire foot, including the soles.

2. Possession and Dominion: The soles of the feet are often associated with the concept of possession and dominion. In Deuteronomy 11:24 , God promises the Israelites, "Every place where the soles of your feet tread will be yours." This signifies the granting of land and authority, emphasizing the physical act of walking as a claim to God's promises.

3. Judgment and Conquest: The imagery of treading with the soles of the feet is also used in contexts of judgment and conquest. In Joshua 10:24 , Joshua commands his men to place their feet on the necks of defeated kings, symbolizing victory and subjugation: "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." This act, involving the soles, represents the complete defeat of enemies under God's guidance.

4. Protection and Guidance: The soles of the feet are mentioned in contexts of divine protection and guidance. In Psalm 91:12 , it is written, "They will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." This verse implies that God’s angels will protect the faithful, ensuring that even the soles of their feet are unharmed.

5. Purity and Holiness: The concept of removing sandals, which exposes the soles, is linked to holiness. In Exodus 3:5 , God instructs Moses, "Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." The exposure of the soles signifies reverence and the acknowledgment of sacred space.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the feet, including the soles, were considered the lowest and often dirtiest part of the body due to the dusty and rugged terrain. This cultural understanding enhances the significance of biblical references to the soles, as they often convey humility, submission, and the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty.

Conclusion

The biblical references to the soles of the feet encompass a range of meanings, from humility and servitude to possession and divine protection. These references highlight the importance of physical actions in expressing spiritual truths and the fulfillment of God's promises.5270. hupokato -- below, under
... Word Origin from hupo and kato Definition below, under NASB Word Usage
beneath (2), soles (1), under (7), underneath (1). under. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5270.htm - 6k658a. ophes -- the two extremities (ie the soles of the feet or ...
... 658, 658a. ophes. 658b . the two extremities (ie the soles of the feet or
the ankles). Transliteration: ophes Short Definition: ankles. ...
/hebrew/658a.htm - 5k

658. Ephec Dammiym -- the two extremities (ie the soles of the ...
... the two extremities (ie the soles of the feet or the ankles). Transliteration: Ephec
Dammiym Phonetic Spelling: (eh'-fes dam-meem') Short Definition: dammim. ...
/hebrew/658.htm - 5k

8328. shoresh -- a root
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a root NASB Word Usage base (1), deep
root (1), depths (1), line (1), pretext (1), root (17), roots (10), soles (1). ...
/hebrew/8328.htm - 6k

3709. kaph -- hollow or flat of the hand, palm, sole (of the foot) ...
... 1), hollow (1), hoof* (1), palm (8), palms (3), pan (12), pans (9), paws (1), pledge
(1), pledges* (1), power (1), socket (4), sole (11), soles (6), spoons (3 ...
/hebrew/3709.htm - 6k

Five Kings in a Cave
... When they were ready to move towards Canaan Joshua told them that when the soles
of the feet of the priests touched the water of the Jordan the water would ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chapman/and judas iscariot/five kings in a cave.htm

Stones Crying Out
... And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord
were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/stones crying out.htm

Marriage of the Blessed virgin to Joseph
... The shoes had soles two fingers thick heightened at toe and heel. These soles were
made entirely of green material, so that the foot seemed to rest on grass. ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/vii marriage of the blessed.htm

Of the Third Consideration of the Sacred Holy Stigmata
... hands and feet appeared pierced through the midst by the nails, the heads whereof
were seen outside the flesh in the palms of the hands and the soles of the ...
/.../the little flowers of st francis of assisi/of the third consideration of.htm

The Long, Rough Road He Trod
... And yet, rough though it really was, the roughness was eased by the love in the
heart of the Man that trod it; though not eased for the soles of His feet, nor ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on following the christ/the long rough road he.htm

Of the Lower Members.
... But in the soles of the feet there is the same plan as in the hands, but yet very
different: for since these are, as it were, the foundations of the whole body ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap xiii of the lower members.htm

Theodosius.
... "The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all
they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xxvi theodosius.htm

On Shoes.
... Base, in truth, are those sandals on which golden ornaments are fastened; but they
are thought worth having nails driven into the soles in winding rows. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/clement/the instructor paedagogus/chap xii on shoes.htm

Argument: Octavius, Displeased at the Act of this Superstitious ...
... Just then we were excessively delighted at its vagaries, as on the very threshold
of the water we were wetting the soles of our feet, and it now by turns ...
/.../the octavius of minucius felix/chapter iii argument octavius displeased at.htm

Diligence.
... God promised ancient Israel to drive out all the nations of Canaan from before them,
and that every place whereon the soles of their feet should tread should ...
/.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/diligence.htm

Soles (14 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Soles (14 Occurrences). Mark 6:11 Whoever will not
receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake ...
/s/soles.htm - 11k

Bastinado
... Specifically: A form of punishment among the Turks, Chinese, and others,
consisting in beating an offender on the soles of his feet. ...
/b/bastinado.htm - 7k

Kiss (39 Occurrences)
... to kiss the soles of his feet," and in Ecclesiasticus 29:5, "Till he hath received,
he will kiss a man's hands"-marks of self-humiliation or abasement. ...
/k/kiss.htm - 25k

Overflowed (14 Occurrences)
... 4:18 And it came to pass, as the priests that bore the ark of the covenant of the
LORD came up out of the midst of the Jordan, as soon as the soles of the ...
/o/overflowed.htm - 10k

Lifeless (10 Occurrences)
... Ezekiel 43:7 He said to me, Son of man, this is the place of my throne, and the
place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children ...
/l/lifeless.htm - 9k

Wars (24 Occurrences)
... my father could not build a house for the name of Yahweh his God for the wars which
were about him on every side, until Yahweh put them under the soles of his ...
/w/wars.htm - 14k

Waged (6 Occurrences)
... my father could not build a house for the name of Yahweh his God for the wars which
were about him on every side, until Yahweh put them under the soles of his ...
/w/waged.htm - 8k

Uttermost (48 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 11:24 Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be
yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates ...
/u/uttermost.htm - 23k

Flowed (21 Occurrences)
... Joshua 4:18 And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant
of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the ...
/f/flowed.htm - 12k

Downstream (1 Occurrence)
... Joshua 3:13 And it shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests
that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the ...
/d/downstream.htm - 7k

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