Bible Dictionary
Sandal
A sandal was a simple sole fastened to the foot by leather straps. Sandals were common in biblical lands, removed indoors or at holy places, and unfastening another person’s sandal was a task expressing humility or inferior status.
Definition
A sandal is a simple sole fastened to the foot with leather straps or thongs. It was ordinary footwear for all classes in Palestine and was inexpensive enough to represent something insignificant. Sandals were generally worn outdoors and removed indoors.
Biblical Usage
Removing sandals expressed reverence at a holy place. Unfastening or carrying another person’s sandal was a menial task signifying great inferiority. Going barefoot could express mourning or violent emotion.
Historical Background
Sandals were worn throughout Palestinian society, while feet were uncovered during meals. The sandal and its thong are mentioned in passages describing shoes, reverence, mourning, and humility.
Scripture References
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
was the article ordinarily used by the Hebrews for protecting the feet. It consisted simply of a sole attached to the foot by thongs. We have express notice of the thong (Authorized Version “shoe latchet”) in several passages, notably (Genesis 14:23; Isaiah 5:27; Mark 1:7) Sandals were worn by all classes of society in Palestine, even by the very poor; and both the sandal and the thong or shoe-latchet were so cheap and common that they passed into a proverb for the most insignificant thing. (Genesis 14:23) Ecclus. 46;13, They were dispensed with in-doors, and were only put on by persons about to undertake some business away from their homes. During mealtimes the feet were uncovered. (Luke 7:38; John 13:5,6) It was a mark of reverence to cast off the shoes in approaching a place or person of eminent sanctity. (Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15) It was also an indication of violent emotion, or of mourning, if a person appeared barefoot in public. (2 Samuel 15:30) To carry or to unloose a person’s sandal was a menial office, betokening great inferiority on the part of the person performing it. (Matthew 3:11)
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>san'-dal.</p><p>See DRESS, sec. 6; SHOE; SHOE-LATCHET.</p>