medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
'Feet'='penis'? So Boaz et al had two penises? The etymology and the anatomy
don't add up here.
Laura
----- Original Message -----
From: Mary Suydam <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 2:32 PM
Subject: Re: [M-R] The meaning of feet
> medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
>
> Folks: Some of you are confusing Christian with Jewish references. In
> ancient Israel "feet" was indeed a euphemism for "penis" or "genitals".
See
> for instance the story of David and Bathsheba, where David tells Uriah to
go
> home and "bathe his feet", meaning he should sleep with his wife (breaking
> his warrior's vow).
> -- Mary Suydam
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Cameron Kippen <[log in to unmask]>
> To: Mary Suydam <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 2:21 AM
> Subject: The meaning of feet
>
>
> > medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and
culture
> >
> > Hi
> >
> > My name is Cameron Kippen and I am a podologist (study of the foot in
> health
> > and disease) and shoe historian. A colleague has asked me to verify
> > something they were told but have found no evidence to support. To
> ancient
> > Judaic people, "foot" or "feet" were a euphemism for penis. In Ruth
3:1-9
> >
> > Then Naomi her mother in law said unto her, My daughter, shall I not
seek
> > rest for thee, that it may be well with thee? And now is not Boaz of our
> > kindred, with whose maidens thou wast? Behold, he winnoweth barley to
> night
> > in the threshingfloor. Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put
> thy
> > raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself
> > known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. And it
> > shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he
> shall
> > lie, and thou shalt go in, and uncover his feet, and lay thee down; and
he
> > will tell thee what thou shalt do.
> >
> > And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. And she
> went
> > down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother in law
bade
> > her. And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went
> to
> > lie down at the end of the heap of corn: and she came softly, and
> uncovered
> > his feet, and laid her down.
> >
> > And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned
> > himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. And he said, Who art
thou?
> > And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt
> over
> > thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman.
> >
> > According to my colleague the story doesn't make a lot of sense as it
> reads.
> > But would if
> > "feet" were a euphemism for penis.
> >
> > Can anyone shed more light on this
> >
> > Much appreciated
> >
> > Cameron
> >
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