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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