Topical Bible: Legs

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the Bible, legs are often mentioned in various contexts, symbolizing strength, movement, and the ability to stand firm. The physical aspect of legs is frequently highlighted in descriptions of human and animal anatomy, as well as in metaphorical language to convey spiritual truths.

Physical Description and Symbolism

Legs are a fundamental part of the human body, providing support and mobility. In the Old Testament, the physical strength of legs is often associated with warriors and their ability to stand in battle. For instance, in 2 Samuel 22:34, David praises God for making his "feet like the feet of a deer" and setting him "secure on the heights," emphasizing agility and strength.

In the context of sacrificial laws, the legs of animals were significant. The Passover lamb, for example, was to be roasted whole, with its head, legs, and inner parts intact (Exodus 12:9). This completeness symbolized the wholeness and perfection required in offerings to God.

Metaphorical and Spiritual Usage

Legs are also used metaphorically in Scripture to convey spiritual truths. In Proverbs 26:7, the legs of the lame are used to illustrate the ineffectiveness of a proverb in the mouth of a fool: "Like the legs of the lame that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool." This imagery highlights the importance of wisdom and understanding in applying knowledge.

The strength of legs is often paralleled with spiritual steadfastness. In Ephesians 6:15, believers are instructed to have their "feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace," suggesting that spiritual preparedness and stability are akin to having strong, ready legs.

Legs in Prophetic and Apocalyptic Literature

In prophetic literature, legs can symbolize the strength and power of kingdoms. In Daniel 2:33, the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream has legs of iron, representing the strong and enduring nature of the Roman Empire. This imagery underscores the might and durability of earthly kingdoms, contrasted with the eternal kingdom of God.

Cultural and Historical Context

In ancient Near Eastern culture, legs were often associated with movement and journeying. The Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land required strong legs for the long trek through the wilderness. This physical journey also symbolized a spiritual journey of faith and reliance on God.

New Testament References

In the New Testament, legs are mentioned in the context of healing and miracles. In Acts 3:7-8, Peter heals a lame man, and "immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened. He jumped to his feet and began to walk." This miraculous healing not only restored physical ability but also symbolized spiritual renewal and the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, legs serve as a powerful symbol of strength, movement, and spiritual readiness. Whether in the context of physical descriptions, metaphorical language, or prophetic imagery, legs underscore the importance of standing firm in faith and being prepared for the journey of life.

Greek

4628. skelos -- the leg (from the hip down)
... the hip downwards). Word Origin a prim. word Definition the leg (from the
hip down) NASB Word Usage legs (3). leg. Apparently from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4628.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

8243. shaq -- (lower) leg
... 8242, 8243. shaq. 8244 . (lower) leg. Transliteration: shaq Phonetic Spelling:
(shawk) Short Definition: legs. Word Origin (Aramaic ...
/hebrew/8243.htm - 6k

3767. kera -- a leg
... a leg. Transliteration: kera Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-raw') Short Definition: legs.
Word Origin from kara Definition a leg NASB Word Usage legs (9). leg. ...
/hebrew/3767.htm - 6k

6807. ts'adah -- a marching
... going, ornament of the legs Feminine of tsa'ad; a march; (concretely) an (ornamental)
ankle-chain -- going, ornament of the legs. see HEBREW tsa'ad. ...
/hebrew/6807.htm - 5k

7257. rabats -- stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out
... A primitive root; to crouch (on all four legs folded, like a recumbent animal);
be implication, to recline, repose, brood, lurk, imbed -- crouch (down), fall ...
/hebrew/7257.htm - 6k

7272. regel -- foot
... 2), following (1), foot (60), footstep* (1), footsteps (1), footstool* (6),
four-footed* (1), haunt (1), heels (1), hoof* (1), journey (1), legs (5), pace ( ...
/hebrew/7272.htm - 6k

6585. pasa -- to step, march
... root Definition to step, march NASB Word Usage step (1). go. A primitive root; to
stride (from spreading the legs), ie Rush upon -- go. 6584, 6585. ...
/hebrew/6585.htm - 5k

3782. kashal -- to stumble, stagger, totter
... A primitive root; to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the
ankle); by implication, to falter, stumble, faint or fall -- bereave (from ...
/hebrew/3782.htm - 6k

7785. shoq -- a leg
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition a leg NASB Word Usage leg (2), legs
(4), ruthlessly* (1), thigh (12). hip, leg, shoulder, thigh. ...
/hebrew/7785.htm - 6k

Library

His Legs are as Pillars of Marble, Set Upon Sockets of Fine Gold ...
... CHAPTER V. 15. His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine
gold; his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/15 his legs are as.htm

John Chapter xix. 31-42, and xx. 1-9.
... that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath-day (for that
Sabbath-day was an high day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cxx john chapter xix.htm

The Crucifixion.
... that the bodies should not remain on the cross upon the sabbath (for the day of
that sabbath was a high day ), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/cxxxiii the crucifixion 4.htm

Humility.
... He saw a great image, the head was of gold, the breast and arms of silver, the belly
and thighs of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet of clay. ...
/.../baring-gould/the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/liv humility.htm

Popular Science, Like that of Mr. ...
... yellow. He might just as well have said that if the father has two legs
and the mother has two legs, the child will have four legs. ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 29 popular science like.htm

And after That, Jesus Knew that all Things were Finished...
... crosses, [3637] because it is the morning of the sabbath (for that sabbath was a
great day); and they asked of Pilate that they might break the legs of those ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section lii and after that.htm

The Opening of the Side of Jesus.
... Six archers soon after made their appearance, bringing with them ladders, spades,
ropes, and large iron staves for the purpose of breaking the legs of the ...
/.../the dolorous passion of our lord jesus christ/chapter xlviii the opening of.htm

How the Eternal Love of God Prevents Our Hearts with his ...
... There are certain birds, Theotimus, which Aristotle calls apodes, [91] because having
extremely short legs, and feeble feet, they use them no more than if they ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter ix how the eternal.htm

Exceedingly Weak is his Assertion, that "The Disciples of Jesus ...
... take it again." [3267] And perhaps it was on this account that He hastened His
departure from the body, that He might preserve it, and that His legs might not ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xvi exceedingly weak is.htm

It was Friday Night, and Diamond, Like the Rest of the Household.. ...
... If you did, you'd be down on your belly before you could get your legs under you
again. ... I never was lame in all my life. You don't take care of your legs. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 32 it was friday.htm

Thesaurus

Legs (50 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Legs (50 Occurrences). Luke 7:22 And answering
them he said, Go back and give news to John of what you ...
/l/legs.htm - 21k

Innards (15 Occurrences)
... (WEB). Exodus 29:17 You shall cut the ram into its pieces, and wash its innards,
and its legs, and put them with its pieces, and with its head. (WEB). ...
/i/innards.htm - 10k

Entrails (18 Occurrences)
... Entrails (18 Occurrences). Exodus 12:9 Eat not of it raw, nor boiled at all with
water, but roasted with fire; its head with its legs, and with its entrails. ...
/e/entrails.htm - 11k

Inwards (24 Occurrences)
... Inwards (24 Occurrences). Exodus 12:9 Eat not of it raw, nor boiled at all with
water, but roast with fire; its head with its legs and with the inwards thereof. ...
/i/inwards.htm - 14k

Leg (24 Occurrences)
... "He taketh no pleasure in the legs of a man" (Psalm 147:10). "His legs are as
pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold" (Songs 5:15). ...
/l/leg.htm - 19k

Inner (141 Occurrences)
... Exodus 12:9 Don't eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted with fire;
with its head, its legs and its inner parts. (WEB RSV NIV). ...
/i/inner.htm - 37k

Joining (43 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 3:4 And the two kidneys, and the fat on them, which is by the top part
of the legs, and the fat joining the liver and the kidneys, he is to take away ...
/j/joining.htm - 19k

Wasting (57 Occurrences)
... the oath of the curse on the woman, and say to her, May the Lord make you a curse
and an oath among your people, sending on you wasting of the legs and disease ...
/w/wasting.htm - 23k

Stomach (40 Occurrences)
... the oath of the curse on the woman, and say to her, May the Lord make you a curse
and an oath among your people, sending on you wasting of the legs and disease ...
/s/stomach.htm - 19k

Aroma (50 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS NIV). Leviticus 1:9 but its innards and its legs he shall wash with water. ...
Leviticus 1:13 but the innards and the legs he shall wash with water. ...
/a/aroma.htm - 23k

Resources

Was Longinus the name of the Roman soldier who pierced Jesus with the spear? | GotQuestions.org

What are some biblical examples of dream interpretation? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Swoon Theory? Did Jesus survive the crucifixion? | GotQuestions.org

Legs: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Legs (50 Occurrences)

Luke 7:22
And answering them he said, Go back and give news to John of what you have seen, and the things which have come to your ears; the blind now see, those who had no power in their legs are walking, lepers are made clean, those who had no hearing now have their ears open, dead men come to life again, and the poor have the good news given to them.
(BBE)

John 19:31
Therefore the Jews, because it was the Preparation Day, so that the bodies wouldn't remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a special one), asked of Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 19:32
Therefore the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who was crucified with him;
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

John 19:33
but when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead, they didn't break his legs.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 3:2
And a certain man who from birth had had no power in his legs, was taken there every day, and put down at the door of the Temple which is named Beautiful, requesting money from those who went into the Temple;
(BBE)

Acts 3:7
And he took him by his right hand, lifting him up; and straight away his feet and the bones of his legs became strong,
(BBE)

Acts 3:12
And when Peter saw it he said to the people, You men of Israel, why are you so greatly surprised at this man? or why are you looking at us as if by our power or virtue we had given him the use of his legs?
(BBE)

Revelation 10:1
I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
(See RSV NIV)

Exodus 12:9
Don't eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted with fire; with its head, its legs and its inner parts.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 25:26
You shall make four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that are on its four feet.
(See RSV NIV)

Exodus 29:17
You shall cut the ram into its pieces, and wash its innards, and its legs, and put them with its pieces, and with its head.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 37:13
He cast four rings of gold for it, and put the rings in the four corners that were on its four feet.
(See RSV NIV)

Leviticus 1:9
but its innards and its legs he shall wash with water. The priest shall burn the whole on the altar, for a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 1:13
but the innards and the legs he shall wash with water. The priest shall offer the whole, and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 3:4
And the two kidneys, and the fat on them, which is by the top part of the legs, and the fat joining the liver and the kidneys, he is to take away;
(BBE)

Leviticus 3:10
And the two kidneys, with the fat on them, which is by the top part of the legs, and the fat joining the liver and the kidneys, he is to take away;
(BBE)

Leviticus 3:15
And the two kidneys, with the fat on them, which is by the top part of the legs, and the fat joining the liver and the kidneys, let him take away;
(BBE)

Leviticus 4:9
And the two kidneys, with the fat on them, which is by the top part of the legs, and the fat joining the liver and the kidneys, he is to take away,
(BBE)

Leviticus 4:11
The bull's skin, all its flesh, with its head, and with its legs, its innards, and its dung,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 7:4
And the two kidneys, and the fat on them, which is by the top of the legs, and the fat joining the liver and the kidneys, he is to take away:
(BBE)

Leviticus 8:21
He washed the innards and the legs with water; and Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Yahweh; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 9:14
He washed the innards and the legs, and burned them on the burnt offering on the altar.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 11:21
Yet you may eat these: of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have legs above their feet, with which to hop on the earth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 11:23
But all winged creeping things which have four feet, are an abomination to you.
(See NIV)

Leviticus 21:18
For any man whose body is damaged may not come near: one who is blind, or has not the use of his legs, or one who has a broken nose or any unnatural growth,
(BBE)

Numbers 5:21
Then the priest will put the oath of the curse on the woman, and say to her, May the Lord make you a curse and an oath among your people, sending on you wasting of the legs and disease of the stomach;
(BBE)

Numbers 5:22
And this water of the curse will go into your body, causing disease of your stomach and wasting of your legs: and the woman will say, So be it.
(BBE)

Numbers 5:27
And it will be that if the woman has become unclean, sinning against her husband, when she has taken the bitter water it will go into her body, causing disease of the stomach and wasting of the legs, and she will be a curse among her people.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 15:21
But if it has any mark on it, if it is blind or has damaged legs, or if there is anything wrong with it, it may not be offered to the Lord your God.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 28:35
Yahweh will strike you in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore boil, of which you can not be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 28:57
and toward her young one who comes out from between her feet, and toward her children whom she shall bear; for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in your gates.
(See NAS)

1 Samuel 17:6
He had brass shin armor on his legs, and a javelin of brass between his shoulders.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Job 40:17
His tail is curving like a cedar; the muscles of his legs are joined together.
(BBE)

Job 40:18
His bones are pipes of brass, his legs are like rods of iron.
(BBE)

Psalms 66:11
You let us be put in prison; chains were put on our legs.
(BBE)

Psalms 147:10
He doesn't delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 26:7
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Song of Songs 5:15
His legs are like pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Song of Songs 7:1
How beautiful are your feet in their shoes, O king's daughter! The curves of your legs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a good workman:
(BBE NIV)

Isaiah 3:20
The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,
(KJV WBS YLT)

Isaiah 7:20
In that day will the Lord take away the hair of the head and of the feet, as well as the hair of the face, with a blade got for a price from the other side of the River; even with the king of Assyria.
(See NAS NIV)

Isaiah 47:2
Take the crushing-stones and get the meal crushed: take off your veil, put away your robe, let your legs be uncovered, go through the rivers.
(BBE RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 1:7
Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 16:25
You have built your lofty place at the head of every way, and have made your beauty an abomination, and have opened your feet to everyone who passed by, and multiplied your prostitution.
(See NAS)

Ezekiel 44:18
They are to have linen head-dresses on their heads and linen trousers on their legs, and they are to have nothing round them to make their skin wet with heat.
(BBE)

Daniel 2:33
its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 5:6
Then the king's face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another.
(See NIV)

Daniel 10:6
his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
(See RSV NIV)

Amos 3:12
Thus says Yahweh: "As the shepherd rescues out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the children of Israel be rescued who sit in Samaria on the corner of a couch, and on the silken cushions of a bed."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Habakkuk 3:16
I heard, and my body trembled. My lips quivered at the voice. Rottenness enters into my bones, and I tremble in my place, because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble, for the coming up of the people who invade us.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Legs

Legs of the Crucified, Broken

Related Terms

Innards (15 Occurrences)

Entrails (18 Occurrences)

Inwards (24 Occurrences)

Leg (24 Occurrences)

Inner (141 Occurrences)

Joining (43 Occurrences)

Wasting (57 Occurrences)

Stomach (40 Occurrences)