Removing Sandals Was a Legal Act in Ancient Israel
Why did God tell Moses to take off his shoes?
"Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other."— Ruth 4:7
In ancient Israel, the sandal was more than footwear — it was a symbol of legal authority and ownership. Ruth 4:7 describes the practice: transferring property was formalised by removing a sandal and handing it over.
This custom illuminates several biblical moments. When God told Moses to remove his sandals at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5), it was certainly an act of reverence — but it may also have signalled the surrender of personal authority. Moses was stepping onto ground that belonged entirely to God.
Similarly, when Joshua encountered the commander of the Lord's army and was told to remove his sandals (Joshua 5:15), the message was clear: this land, this battle, this mission — belongs to God, not to you.
Why It Matters
Ancient customs unlock layers of meaning that a modern reader can easily miss. The more we understand the biblical world, the more richly we can read its stories.
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