Topical Bible: The Feet: Respect Exhibited by Falling At

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In biblical times, the act of falling at someone's feet was a profound gesture of respect, submission, and reverence. This practice is documented throughout the Scriptures, illustrating various contexts in which individuals demonstrated honor and humility before others, particularly those in positions of authority or divinity.

Old Testament Instances

The Old Testament provides several examples of individuals falling at the feet of others as a sign of respect. In 1 Samuel 25:23-24, Abigail falls at David's feet, demonstrating her respect and pleading for mercy on behalf of her household: "When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off the donkey, fell facedown before David, and bowed to the ground. She fell at his feet and said, 'My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your maidservant speak to you; hear the words of your maidservant.'"

Similarly, in 2 Kings 4:37, the Shunammite woman falls at the feet of Elisha after he raises her son from the dead, expressing her gratitude and reverence for the prophet's divine intervention: "She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out."

New Testament Instances

The New Testament continues this tradition, with numerous accounts of individuals falling at the feet of Jesus, acknowledging His authority and divinity. In Mark 5:22-23, Jairus, a synagogue leader, falls at Jesus' feet, earnestly seeking healing for his daughter: "One of the synagogue leaders named Jairus came, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet and pleaded with Him urgently, 'My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.'"

In Luke 7:37-38, a sinful woman demonstrates her repentance and devotion by falling at Jesus' feet, washing them with her tears and anointing them with perfume: "When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume."

The act of falling at the feet of Jesus is also seen in the account of the ten lepers in Luke 17:15-16. After being healed, one of them returns to Jesus, glorifying God and falling at His feet in gratitude: "One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan."

Symbolism and Significance

Falling at someone's feet in the biblical context is rich with symbolism. It signifies not only respect and submission but also an acknowledgment of the authority and power of the one before whom the individual bows. In the case of Jesus, it is an act of worship, recognizing His divine nature and the grace He extends to humanity.

This gesture also reflects the humility and contrition of the one who bows, often accompanying requests for mercy, healing, or forgiveness. It is a physical manifestation of the heart's posture, demonstrating a willingness to submit to God's will and acknowledge His sovereignty.

Throughout Scripture, the act of falling at the feet of another serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of humility, reverence, and the recognition of divine authority in the lives of believers.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Samuel 25:24
And fell at his feet, and said, On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be: and let your handmaid, I pray you, speak in your audience, and hear the words of your handmaid.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 4:37
Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Esther 8:3
And Esther spoke yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and sought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Mark 5:22
And, behold, there comes one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 10:25
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The City of the "Elegant Gate"[*]
... twenty feet in height, and eight or ten feet in thickness ... The Buddhists have exhibited
an exquisite taste for natural scenery, in ... "Their respect for ancestors ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/fagg/forty years in south china/iii the city of the.htm

Acts iv. 23
... but with power the Apostles exhibited their testimony ... And with great respect they
did this: for they ... ostentatiously present, but brought to the Apostles' feet. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xi acts iv 23.htm

Letter xvi. Charity.
... of charity is sufficiently comprehensive, if exhibited in all its ... Mary, for her
affectionate tribute of respect to the ... such costly ointment on the feet of Jesus ...
/.../a practical directory for young christian females/letter xvi charity.htm

1 Timothy v. 15-Nov
... of strangers, and the washing of the Saints' feet, he has ... he speaks of an elder not
with respect to office ... He spoken the word, but He has exhibited the thing ...
/.../homily xv 1 timothy v.htm

Egypt and Greece.
... here and there, of a few thousand feet in the ... were other rivers similarly situated
in respect to the ... and solitary grandeur which they exhibited to Napoleon. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter ii egypt and greece.htm

Treatise on the Priesthood. Book iii.
... again, he becomes an object of envy and respect to all ... loved Christ more than Paul:
no man exhibited greater zeal ... kept me in the position of the feet, which was ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/treatise on the priesthood book 3.htm

A Compendious view of the Christian Life.
... as they walk, and playing with their feet; the Lord ... In this respect the assembly
has already shown itself bad ... base action is it that is not exhibited in the ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter xi a compendious view of.htm

Saint Helena and the Time of Constantine
... if at the most they can keep their feet; for, be ... is due to her in this respect the
nature ... of Constantine, nominally Christian though it was, exhibited the same ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/iv saint helena and the.htm

The Origin of Species.
... the absolute and relative size of the feet; in the ... to argue in a circle with respect
to varieties ... those phaenomena of hybridization which are exhibited by many ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/xii the origin of species.htm

Heaven's Nurse Children
... I led Israel, as much as his feet could bear ... but a long series of miracles was exhibited
before their eyes ... was the main instruction, and in that respect the Lord ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/heavens nurse children.htm