מַרְגְּלוֹת (mar.ge.lah)
mar.ge.lah
feet
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun margolot refers to the feet or the place where feet rest. It appears only five times in the Old Testament, with a notable concentration in the book of Ruth and the prophecy of Daniel. This plural form emphasizes the physical extremities of the body, often serving as a metonym for the person’s presence or status.
In Ruth 3:4, Naomi instructs her daughter-in-law to uncover Boaz’s feet at the threshing floor. Here, the word points to a specific location where he would be resting after eating and drinking. The act of uncovering his feet was a culturally recognized gesture of seeking protection and provision through kinship redemption. The sources highlight this usage as a concrete example of how the term grounds abstract social obligations in physical reality.
While less common than the standard word for feet, raglayim, margolot carries a sense of place or position. In Daniel 7:19, it describes the beast’s large feet that crushed what remained. This usage underscores the word’s capacity to depict weight, impact, and finality. Translators typically render it simply as "feet," allowing the context to supply the nuance of location or action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word margolot points to the very place where we rest our weight, grounding us in reality. In Ruth, it marks a threshold of trust. Naomi guides Ruth to uncover Boaz’s feet at the threshing floor, a gesture of seeking protection and kinship redemption. This act transforms abstract social duties into tangible hope, showing that God often works through concrete human steps.
Even in Daniel, these feet carry weight. The vision describes powerful limbs like burnished bronze, crushing what remains. Here, the term underscores finality and impact, reminding us that divine justice has substance. Whether in quiet moments of reliance or visions of judgment, margolot reminds us that our faith is not floating in abstraction but anchored in real presence.
For your life, this means your steps matter. You do not need to manufacture grand gestures; simply show up where God has placed you. Trust that He sees the quiet acts of faithfulness and the heavy burdens you carry. His presence is as solid as the ground beneath your feet.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- feet/ his4×
- and/ feet/ his1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַרְגְּלֹתָ֖י/ו2×
- מַרְגְּלוֹתָי/ו֙1×
- מַרְגְּלֹתָֽי/ו\׃1×
- וּ/מַרְגְּלֹתָ֔י/ו1×
Key Verses
-
Ruth 3:4
It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall note the place where he is lying. Then you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down. Then he will tell you what to do.”
This verse establishes the cultural context where uncovering feet signifies seeking protection and redemption through kinship.
-
Ruth 3:8
At midnight, the man was startled and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet.
The startled man turns to find a woman at his feet, highlighting the sudden reality of Ruth's vulnerable yet faithful presence.
-
Daniel 10:6
His body also was like beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches. His arms and his feet were like burnished bronze. The voice of his words was like the voice of a multitude.
The vision describes arms and feet like burnished bronze, emphasizing the divine figure's strength and unyielding nature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does margolot mean in Ruth 3?
Is margolot different from raglayim?
Why does Daniel use this word?
Every Occurrence (5 verses across 2 books)
Ruth 4 verses
It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall note the place where he is lying. Then you shall go in, uncover his…
Ruth 3:7When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. She came…
Ruth 3:8At midnight, the man was startled and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet.
Ruth 3:14She lay at his feet until the morning, then she rose up before one could discern another. For he said, “Let it not be…