Greek word · G5286

ὑποπόδιον

hypopodion

footstool

A footrest or footstool, usually attached to or set in front of a throne. In figures of speech: the place under someone's feet, and so what a king rules or has defeated (Psalm 110:1, 'until I make your enemies your footstool').

Appears 7 times in 7 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ὑποπόδιον, -ου, τό

(ὑπό, πούς), [in LXX: Psalms 99:5 110:1, Isaiah 66:1, Lamentations 2:1 (הֲדֹם) * ;]

a footstool (= cl. θρᾶνος): James 2:3; metaphorically, Matthew 5:35, Mark 12:36 (ὑποκάτω, WH, R, mg.), Luke 20:43, Acts 2:35 7:49, Hebrews 1:13 10:13 (all, except Mt, l.with, from LXX, Psalms 110:1, Isaiah 66:1) (for exx., see Deiss., BS, 223).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Matthew 5:35

Range of meaning

A footrest or footstool, usually attached to or set in front of a throne. In figures of speech: the place under someone's feet, and so what a king rules or has defeated (Psalm 110:1, 'until I make your enemies your footstool').

Against the English

English 'footstool' calls up a small piece of household furniture, like an ottoman you rest your feet on. The ancient word belongs to the throne room. A footstool came with a throne and showed that the person sitting there was in charge.

How it drifted

The furniture has become an everyday object and lost its link to royal thrones.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Isaiah 66:1: ὁ οὐρανός μοι θρόνος, ἡ δὲ γῆ ὑποπόδιον τῶν ποδῶν μου ('heaven is my throne, and the earth the footstool of my feet'). Matthew's wording copies this exactly. The Old Testament also calls the ark of the covenant or the temple God's footstool (1 Chronicles 28:2; Psalms 99:5; 132:7; Lamentations 2:1). Ancient Near Eastern art shows kings' footstools, including Tutankhamun's, decorated with defeated enemies. The phrase comes back in Acts 7:49, where Stephen quotes Isaiah 66:1.

From the study of Acts 7:49

Range of meaning

A footstool set before a throne. It was a symbol of rest, of lordship, and of enemies put under foot (Ps 110:1).

Against the English

'Footstool' sounds like a piece of household furniture. To the first hearers it was a technical term in temple language.

Used elsewhere in the period

Hebrew hadom raglayim, 'footstool of the feet', refers almost always to God's footstool. It usually means the ark or the temple: 1 Chr 28:2 (David wants to build 'a house of rest for the ark… the footstool of our God'); Ps 99:5; 132:7 ('let us worship at his footstool'); Lam 2:1. Egyptian and Near Eastern art shows kings with their feet on stools, sometimes decorated with defeated enemies.

From the study of Hebrews 1:13

Range of meaning

Footstool, literally 'thing under the feet'. It is part of royal throne furniture, and as an image it stands for subjugation (BDAG s.v. ὑποπόδιον). It translates Hebrew hădōm, 'footstool' (HALOT s.v. הֲדֹם).

Against the English

English 'footstool' calls up a living-room ottoman, a comfort item. In the ancient Near East the royal footstool often showed bound enemies, so the king rested his feet on his conquered foes.

How it drifted

The modern object lost its political symbolism. The ancient image was military and royal.

Used elsewhere in the period

Tutankhamun's footstools are decorated with bound foreign captives, and Egyptian royal art often shows enemies under the king's feet (O. Keel, The Symbolism of the Biblical World). In Joshua 10:24 the commanders put their feet on the necks of defeated kings. The temple's ark is God's 'footstool' (1 Chr 28:2; Ps 99:5; 132:7), and the earth is his footstool (Isa 66:1).

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 5:35 ὑποπόδιόν [the] footstool

    or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

    Here: A king's footrest set in front of his throne. Calling the earth this says God rules it as its King. It quotes Isaiah 66:1 almost word for word.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 20:43 ὑποπόδιον [as] a footstool

    until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

    Here: The footrest that sits in front of a throne. The defeated enemies become the thing the king rests his feet on, a picture of complete, public subjugation. Luke keeps the Septuagint word here, where Mark and Matthew read 'under'.

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 2:35 ὑποπόδιον a footstool

    until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

  2. Acts 7:49 ὑποπόδιον a footstool

    ‘Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or where will My place of repose be?

    Here: The stool placed in front of a royal throne. In Israel's worship the ark of the covenant in the temple was called God's footstool. Here the whole earth takes that role, so the temple's special claim is made relative.

Hebrews · 2

  1. Hebrews 1:13 ὑποπόδιον [as] a footstool

    Yet to which of the angels did God ever say: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”?

    Here: Literally 'the thing under the feet'. It is royal throne furniture, and here it is a picture of total conquest: the defeated lie under the victor's feet.

  2. Hebrews 10:13 ὑποπόδιον [as] a footstool

    Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet,

James · 1

  1. James 2:3 ὑποπόδιόν footstool

    If you lavish attention on the man in fine clothes and say, “Here is a seat of honor,” but say to the poor man, “You must stand” or “Sit at my feet,”

    Here: A footstool: the piece of furniture of someone who sits in a proper chair, and in Scripture an image of rulers and the conquered (Ps 110:1). Being told to sit below it puts the poor man on the floor, lower than the speaker's feet.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.