Richai;d Gl.\ister.
FOOT. — The references in this connexion arise chiefly from the fact that the foot in relationship to the head is the inferior part of the body.
1. Hnmilitij and dejllrmmf. — A still lower level was readied by the shoes or sandals, which were in direct contact with the common earth. John the Baptist indicated his inferiority to Christ by saying that he was unworthy to unfasten His shoelatchet (Mk 1'). To walk b.'ircfoot was the signofacaptiv.'pii.s(,ii,.,(l.s-_!iHi.:iiMl :is a voluntary act of self-infii.-tioii ,,11,.,, inim, |,;,ti c,f a personal vow. To be tru.Muii uii.l.'r ln,,i «:,, the symbol of utter degradatiun (Mt 0'-, Lk 21-', lie lO^'). At the entrance to an Oriental house the shoes are re- moved, not merely for the sake of cleanliness as a preliminary to sitting down with the feet drawn under the dress, but also out of regard to the sanctity of family life, so that no defilement may touch the rugs and mats that have lieen hallowed by prayer and the Divine presence. He who stood
aly ground had to put oft' his shoes (Ex 3',
Orientals are not accustomed to wear stockings with their open shoes, and it was an act not only of ceremonial duty, but of personal comfort, to bathe the feet after a journey over the hot and dusty ground. It was a courtesy due to a guest to see that this ministry was not omitted. Christ drew attention to the fact that in the house of one who prided himself upon his precise fulfilment of the Law this service had been more than rendered to Him liy ••! wuiiian whom the Pharisee despised as a siinier ( l.k 7^^- -'^). The charge to His disciples to shake the tlust from their feet wherever the message of the Kingdom \\as not received (Mt lO"'', Mk 6", Lk 95 10"), was a demonstration to both parties of the unfitness of such people for its menibershi]!. When Christ washed the disciples' feet, the cleansing meant not only that the feet under which His sacred hands had been placed could never turn aside to paths of evil, but that they could never be set down with harsh and proud authority over the lives and rights of others. His service could never lay upon those disciples any greater humiliation than had been rendered to them. It became a law of the Kingdom to ' wash one another's feet ' (Jn 13^- ").
2. Autliority and subjection. — To approach the feet of the great was the concedeii right of the weak in seeking the presence and help of the powerful. To kneel down and clasp the teet and even to kiss them is still the Oriental preliminary to an important request. When inferiors salute those of higher rank, the first act of gesture is to lower the hand towards the ground as if to imply that the whole body should be there. Sometimes the word is allowed to do service for the deed, as when the supplicant says, ' Allow me to kiss your feet.' The impression meant to be produced is that the party addressed has the power to do what is asked, and that the only unsettled point is the question of his willingness (Mt IS^^ 20=", Mk 1« 10").
The foot on the neck as a symbol of conquest seems to have been borrowed from the primitive pastoral life. When an Oriental shei^herd wishes to punish a straying and inattentive sheep, he casts it on its side, and with all his weight presses and rubs the iron-studded sole of his shoe against its neck (1 Co 15='-='). In killing a serpent, the Syrian peasant, even witli a stick in his hand, usually, after a blow or two, jumps upon the serpent, and by a quick succession of stamps bruises it to death (Ps til'"', Ro 16™). To sit at the feet of his teaclier was the attitude of the disciple (Mt lO^-", Lk lO^'-", Ac 22''). The Pharisees thus sat in Jloses' seat (Mt 23=).
The risen Lord was recognized by the marks in His hands and His feet (Lk 24'») ; see PRINT. On Mt 188 II see Ascetici.sm, p. 129.
G. M. Mackie.
FOOTSTOOL (yTTOTTiStoi').— With the single ex- ception of Ja 2' the word is used figuratively in the NT, to express the idea of 'subjection or 'complete control.' In this sense it occurs fre- quently in the Gospels : e.ff. Mt 22"_, Mk 12=«, Lk 20''^, where the Synoptists record Christ's quotation from Ps 110 — a psalm always regarded 1>v tbi' .bw - as distinctly Messianic. In Mt 2--'" l;\'. nii lli,' authority of some of the most ancient MSS ami versions, accepts vTOKaroi instead of iiron-iiioi', aiul translates, ' till I put thine enemies under thy feet.' Similarly in Mk IS'" inroKaTu is read by many ancient authorities, and is adopted by AVH. Here, however, RV retains inroiri5i.ov (with marg. note) ; but (as also in Lk 20^^ and Mt 5-'') trans- lates more correctly ' footstool of thy (or his) feet' instead of AV ' thy (or his) footstool.'
G06
FOECE
FORCE
In its apjilicatioii to Christ tlie word shows Him in His Kingly office triumphing over His enemies, and bringing all men into captivity to His obedi- ence ; cf. 1 Co 15^ ' For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet.'