πούς (pous)
pous
foot
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 87 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek noun pous simply means "foot," covering both human and animal anatomy. In the New Testament, it appears frequently in narratives where physical proximity matters, such as when a woman washes Jesus’ feet with her tears (Luke 7:38) or when disciples sit at a teacher’s feet to listen (Mark 5:22). It also describes literal actions like stepping on ground or touching garments, grounding the text in bodily reality.
Beyond the physical limb, the word carries significant metaphorical weight. Translators often use it for "footstool" when describing God’s throne, emphasizing divine sovereignty (Psalm 110:1 in Matthew 22:44). In a striking metonymic shift, "feet" can stand for the person moving, as seen in Romans 3:15 where their feet are described as swift to shed blood. This usage highlights how the physical act of walking represents the moral character of one’s life.
The sources note that pous is the standard translation for the Hebrew regel in the Septuagint, linking Greek readers directly to Old Testament imagery. Whether referring to the dust on sandals or the posture of submission, the word anchors spiritual truths in everyday human experience, making abstract concepts like peace or judgment tangible.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for foot in the New Testament is more than a body part; it is a symbol of how we move through life and relate to Jesus. When people fell at his feet, they showed humility and trust. When Jesus washed feet or touched them, he broke social barriers and offered healing. This physical closeness reminds us that faith is not just an idea but a lived reality where we encounter him in tangible ways.
We also see feet as a sign of direction and peace. In Luke 1:79, the promise is to guide our feet into the way of peace. This suggests that God cares about our daily steps and choices. It invites us to ask for wisdom in where we go and how we treat others. The image of shaking dust from our feet shows that we are called to move forward with clarity, leaving behind what hinders our mission.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 87 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- feet80×
- foot5×
- feet;2×
- feet.2×
- of a foot1×
- foot;1×
- feet?1×
- feet,1×
- [his] feet,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πόδας51×
- ποδῶν19×
- πόδες7×
- πόδα3×
- ποσὶν3×
- πόδας.2×
- πούς2×
- πόδας·1×
- πόδας;1×
- πόδας,1×
- πούς·1×
- ποσίν·1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 7:38
Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
This verse shows the word used in a moment of deep repentance and worship, where physical proximity to Jesus expresses profound humility.
-
Matthew 28:9
As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
Here, the disciples take hold of his feet after the resurrection, linking the physical body of Christ with their act of worship and recognition.
-
Luke 1:79
to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
This occurrence uses the word metaphorically to describe divine guidance, promising that God directs our steps toward peace.
-
Matthew 10:14
Whoever doesn’t receive you or hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.
The instruction to shake dust off feet serves as a clear boundary marker for those who reject the message, showing how movement signifies judgment or acceptance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'foot' symbolize in the New Testament?
Why do people fall at Jesus' feet in the Gospels?
What is the meaning of shaking dust off your feet?
Every Occurrence (87 verses across 11 books)
Matthew 10 verses
and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels…
Matthew 5:35nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Matthew 7:6“Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them…
Matthew 10:14Whoever doesn’t receive you or hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.
Matthew 15:30Great multitudes came to him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others, and they put them down…
Matthew 18:8If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into…
Matthew 18:29“So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’
Matthew 22:13Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That…
Matthew 22:44‘The Lord said to my Lord, sit on my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’?
Matthew 28:9As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” They came and took hold of his feet, and…