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 shall go up to him in the presence of the elders and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face. And she shall answer and say, 'So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother's house.' And the name of his house shall be called in Israel, 'The house of him who had his sandal pulled 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 this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning redeeming and exchanging: to confirm a transaction, the one drew off his sandal and gave it to the other, and this was the manner of attesting in Israel. So when the redeemer said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself," he drew off his sandal.