Thematic Bible: Customs connected with
Thematic Bible
Shoes » Customs connected with » A man who refused to marry a deceased brother's wife disgraced by pulling off his shoes
Then his brother's wife is to come to him, before the responsible men of the town, and take his shoe off his foot, and put shame on him, and say, So let it be done to the man who will not take care of his brother's name. And his family will be named in Israel, The house of him whose shoe has been taken off.
Shoes » Customs connected with » The right of redemption resigned by a man's giving one of his shoes to the next of kin
Now, in earlier times this was the way in Israel when property was taken over by a near relation, or when there was a change of owner. To make the exchange certain one man took off his shoe and gave it to the other; and this was a witness in Israel. So the near relation said to Boaz, Take it for yourself. And he took off his shoe.