Foot, Feet

New Testament

Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words

Definition

A-1pousNounG4228

besides its literal meaning, is used, by metonymy, of "a person in motion," Luk 1:79, Act 5:9, Rom 3:15, Rom 10:15, Heb 12:13. It is used in phrases expressing subjection, 1Co 15:27, RV; of the humility and receptivity of discipleship, Luk 10:39, Act 22:3; of obeisance and worship, e.g., Mat 28:9; of scornful rejection, Mat 10:14, Act 13:51. Washing the "feet" of another betokened the humility of the service and the comfort of the guest, and was a feature of hospitality, Luk 7:38, Joh 13:5, 1Ti 5:10 (here figuratively).

Note: In Act 7:5 bema, "a step," is used with podos, the genitive case of pous, lit., "the step of a foot," i.e., "a foot breadth," what the "foot" can stand on, "(not so much as) to set his foot on."

A-2basisNounG939

lit., "a step" (akin to baino, "to go"), hence denotes that with which one steps, "a foot," and is used in the plural in Act 3:7.

B-1poderesAdjectiveG4158

signifies "reaching to the feet," from pous, and aro, "to fit" (akin to A, No. 1), and is said of a garment, Rev 1:13. In the Sept. it is used of the high priest's garment, e.g., Exo 28:4.

B-2pezosAdjectiveG3978

an adjective, "on foot," is used in one of its forms as an adverb in Mat 14:13, Mar 6:33, in each place signifying "by land," in contrast to "by sea." Cp. pezeuo, "to go on foot," Act 20:13, RV, "to go by land" (marg., "on foot").

Notes: (1) In Act 20:18, the RV "set foot in" expresses more literally the verb epibaino (lit., "to go upon") than the AV "came into." So again in Act 21:4 (some mss. have anabaino here). (2) In Luk 8:5, katapateo, "to tread down" (kata, "down," pateo, "to tread, trample"), is translated "was trodden under foot," RV (AV, "was trodden down").