20150617 Wednesday, June 17 2015
Song Of Solomon 07: The Lady In Sandals

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"How graceful are your feet in sandals, O queenly maiden!"

The English-language word "shoe" originated from an Anglo-Saxon word, sceoh, that meant to cover i.e. the feet. Generally, shoes provided an enclosed covering for the feet.

The English-language word "sandal" originated from a French word, sandale, that originated from a Latin word, sandalium, that further originated from a Greek word, pronounced sandalion, that was used to describe a piece of leather (or composite wood and leather) that was fastened to the foot by means of straps that were crossed over the foot and ankle and/or wrapped around the ankle and lower leg (i.e. the lower leg was "laced" in the way that shoes are laced now; see the example in the illustration). Generally, sandals provided an open covering for the soles of the feet.

The King James Version most-often uses "shoe" or "shoes" to translate the Hebrew word, pronounced nawl-awl-aw, and the Greek word, pronounced hoop-od-aw-mah, both of which actually meant sandals. The King James Version translators were nevertheless thinking of sandals when they used "shoes" (a term for all footwear in their time) as made obvious in these rare (only two) uses of "sandals" in the KJV - the actual original word of which they translated as "shoes" everywhere else.

"6:8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: 6:9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats." (Mark 6:8-9 KJV)

"12:7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 12:8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me." (Acts 12:7-8 KJV)

The famous statement by John the Baptist (see The Ministries Of The Two Greatest Prophets) about the Messiah was obviously about sandals - as rendered by most other translations.

"3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire" (Luke 3:16 KJV)

"3:16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Luke 3:16 Revised Standard Version)

"3:16 So Yochanan answered them all, "I am immersing you in water, but he who is coming is more powerful than I - I am not worthy to untie his sandals! He will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh and in fire." (Luke 3:16 Complete Jewish Bible)

Sandals were the footwear that were known to the ancient people of the LORD (see The LORD God Our Saviour). Moses was commanded to take off his sandals in the presence of the LORD at the "burning bush" event (see The Sign Of The Flaming Bush), while the LORD told the Israelites to keep their sandals on (the practical hygiene custom then, as now, was to remove outdoors footwear when entering the home) during the Passover because of their imminent departure in the Exodus (see The First Passover).

"3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." (Exodus 3:4-5 KJV)

"12:11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover." (Exodus 12:11 KJV)

Sandals were the customary footwear in the time of King Solomon. Again, notice the difference between "How beautiful are thy feet with shoes" in the King James version with a more specific (keeping in mind that the King James translators knew that they were sandals and were thinking of sandals when they used the term "shoes" for them) "How graceful are your feet in sandals" in the RSV.

"7:1 How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman. 7:2 Thy navel is like a round goblet, which wanteth not liquor: thy belly is like an heap of wheat set about with lilies. 7:3 Thy two breasts are like two young roes that are twins. 7:4 Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus. 7:5 Thine head upon thee is like Carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple; the king is held in the galleries. 7:6 How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights! 7:7 This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes. 7:8 I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples; 7:9 And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.

7:10 I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. 7:11 Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. 7:12 Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves. 7:13 The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved." (Song Of Solomon 7:1-13 KJV)

Fact Finder: What parts of the Holy Bible did Solomon's father and mother write as advice for him?
See David's Psalm For Solomon and What Prophecy Did King Lemuel's Mother Teach Him?