Bible Verses About Feet

If you open your Bible to any random page and begin reading, you likely won’t get very far before encountering a reference to feet. In fact, from feet washing to bowing at one’s feet, the Bible has quite a lot to say on the subject.

In biblical times, it was common to walk from place to place. The feet were necessary for the lifestyle. Thus, feet were extremely important and the scriptures reference them as such. Just as feet were essential to natural life, they are used in scripture as necessary to spiritual life.

In this article, we’ll explore some Bible verses about the feet and attempt to analyze their biblical significance.

Why Are Feet Important in the Bible?

Just as men and women stand upon their feet as the foundation of upright posture, Bible verses also use feet as a euphemism to represent a strong foundation in various circumstances. Feet are not referenced as we see them today, but they are used as symbols to represent greater metaphorical concepts, such as guidance or direction.

The feet represented something that was common to all people but used differently. For example, one of the most noted scripture texts involving feet is Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” This emphasizes how the feet are used to travel and traverse. Yet, without the word, the traveler is left walking in the dark without a known path.

Essentially, the feet are referenced as a critical part of life as walking was commonplace. We naturally travel where our feet lead us and the Bible verses use feet to represent a means of traveling through life itself. If we walk down a dark path, we are likely to stumble. If we walk down a holy path, we are sure to please God. All of this is facilitated symbolically by the feet.

Feet Represent Good or Bad Footing

Biblical references to feet often signify whether life choices were made with sound contemplation and discernment. Proverbs 4:26-27 says, “Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” This reference is clearly a metaphor indicating that our feet are not only the foundation of our physical walk but our spiritual walk as well.

Physically if we take a wrong turn or follow an incorrect path, we don’t arrive at our desired destination. Likewise, as we walk by faith on our Christian journey, it is critical that we follow God’s path and avoid making wrong steps or bad turns that could lead us astray.

When we stand on the word of God, we are on good footing. When we stray from the righteous path that God has set for us, we are on bad footing that manifests itself as various problems in our lives.

In the scriptures, when feet slip or stumble it is symbolic for falling into sin (Job 12:5; Ps 37:31; 56:13; 66:9; 73:2; 116:8; 121:3). Being trapped in sin is even equated with feet being in a trap or in shackles in Psalm 25:15; 57:6; and 105:18.

This is contrasted by examples of God making our feet secure and keeping us on a good footing so we refrain from sin (1 Sam 2:9; Ps 17:5; 26:12; 31:8).

Feet As a Symbol of Humility

In ancient times, feet were commonly viewed as a utilitarian object. Many people walked barefoot or with sandals made of animal skin. Thus, the feet were often dirty. Culturally, to bow at one’s feet, to wash one’s feet, or to lay something at one’s feet was a sign of great humility and submission.

In an example of how Christians should show humility and grace one to another, John 13:14-15 says, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Bible Verses About Feet

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

Luke 10:39-40 New International Version (NIV)

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Revelation 1:17-18 New International Version (NIV)

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

John 11:32 New International Version (NIV)

Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them.

Matthew 15:30 New International Version (NIV)

Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.

Luke 8:41-42 New International Version (NIV)

He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Luke 17:16 New International Version (NIV)

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights.

2 Samuel 22:33-34 New International Version (NIV)

You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.

Psalm 18:36 New International Version (NIV)

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk 3:19 New International Version (NIV)

He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber;

Psalm 121:3 New International Version (NIV)

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 52:7 New International Version (NIV)

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Romans 10:14-15 New International Version (NIV)

a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,

Proverbs 6:18 New International Version (NIV)

my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood.

Proverbs 1:15-16 New International Version (NIV)

Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. They pursue evil schemes; acts of violence mark their ways.

Isaiah 59:7 New International Version (NIV)

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Psalm 119:105 New International Version (NIV)

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:26-27 New International Version (NIV)

Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

John 13:14-15 New International Version (NIV)

and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

1 Timothy 5:10 New International Version (NIV)

She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, “I am your servant and am ready to serve you and wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”

1 Samuel 25:41 New International Version (NIV)

Could Feet Be Euphamism for Genitalia in the Bible?

Some biblical scholars argue that specific mentions of feet in the scriptures are references to genitalia. However you might interpret it, there are definitely references to feet in Bible verses that are markedly distinguished from the ones above.

For example, in 1 Samuel 24:3, Saul goes into a cave to defecate and according to the scripture, he went “to cover his feet.” This is not a clear reference to Saul’s private parts, but it is certainly a different kind of metaphor.

Likewise, in Deuteronomy 28:57, the text speaks of childbirth and refers to the child coming from between [the mother’s] feet.

These references are used for both genders and may be a means of avoiding vulgarities, but it is worth noting the distinct context in which these references appear in the Bible.

Scriptural Examples

Saul goes into a cave to urinate or defecate = he went in to cover his feet.

And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. 1 Samuel 24:3

A baby is born = it comes out between the mother’s feet.

And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet. Deuteronomy 28:57

Ruth (with coaching from her mother-in-law Naomi) uncovers Boaz’s feet.

And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. Ruth 3:3

And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down. 3:7

And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 3:8

And she lay at his feet until the morning. 3:14

Ruth 3:3, 7-8, 14

After impregnating Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, David told Uriah to go home and wash his feet. (Meaning “Go home and have sex with your wife.”)

David said to Uriah, Go down to thy house, and wash thy feet. 

2 Samuel 11:8

The Lord will shave the king of Assyria’s hair of the feet.

In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet. 

Isaiah 7:20

Ezekiel condemns a woman who opens her feet to everyone that passes by.

Thou … hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms. 

Ezekiel 16:25

Zipporah saved her husband, Moses, by cutting off the foreskin of their son and casting it at Moses’s feet.

Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 

Exodus 4:25

Seraphims cover their feet with their wings.

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 

Isaiah 6:2

King Asa had an exceedingly great disease in his feet. (A urinary tract infection, STD?)

Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians. 

2 Chronicles 16:12
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