Of various forms, from the mere sandal (q.v.) to the complete covering of the foot. The word so rendered (A.V.) in De 33:25, min'al, "a bar," is derived from a root meaning "to bolt" or "shut fast," and hence a fastness or fortress. The verse has accordingly been rendered "iron and brass shall be thy fortress," or, as in the Revised Version, "thy bars [marg., "shoes"] shall be iron and brass."

The shoe played a part, further, in certain symbolical actions in Hebrew law. Thus in Ru 4:7 we are informed that it was an ancient custom in Israel, on completing a purchase, for the seller to draw off his shoe and hand it to the buyer, as a symbol of the transference of the property sold. A parallel symbolism is disclosed by the frequent occurrence, in early Babylonian deeds of sale dealing with house property, of the phrase, 'the pestle [of the mortar] has been transferred' (Meissner, Aus dem attbab. Recht, 6). In times when writing was the accomplishment of the few, such a symbolic act in the presence of witnesses was doubtless held equivalent to the later formal deeds (Jer 32:9 ff.).

The same passage of Ruth and De 25:9 ff. shows that this symbolism, somewhat differently performed, with another still more expressive, was also adopted in the case of one renouncing his right to his deceased brother's wife (See Marriage,

Shoe,

[SANDAL]

See Sandal