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Summary
- Sandals do more work in Scripture than almost any other everyday object: reverence, legal transfer, status and readiness.
- Moses and Joshua are both told to remove their sandals on holy ground (Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15). Bare feet also cannot run — removing shoes says you are not leaving.
- Ruth 4:7 records a sandal handed over to seal a property transfer, with the narrator explaining a custom already archaic. Deuteronomy 25:9 makes the removed sandal a public shaming.
- Slaves went barefoot, which is why the prodigal’s father calls for sandals (Luke 15:22) and why John says he is not worthy to untie sandal straps (John 1:27) — a task too low even for a Hebrew slave.
- Ephesians 6:15 shoes the feet with readiness and with peace — not the obvious choice when assembling armour.
Bibliography (Click to show)
Sources: Scripture quotations from the NIV via BibleGateway (Exodus 3:5; 12:11; Joshua 5:15; Ruth 4:7; Deuteronomy 25:9-10; 29:5; Luke 15:22; John 1:27; 13:4-5; Mark 6:9; Ephesians 6:15). The rabbinic tradition that untying a master’s sandals was work not required of a Hebrew slave, and the studded Roman caliga behind Ephesians 6:15, are standard in commentary.
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