Luke 7:38

38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and began to wash His feet with tears and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment.

Luke 7:38 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 7:38

And stood at his feet behind him
Christ lay upon a bed, or couch, as was the custom of the ancients, both Jews and others, at meals, with his feet put out behind; and between the couches and the walls of the room, there was a space for servants to wait and serve, and such are therefore said to "stand at the feet"; and the phrase is used, as descriptive of servants in waiting {n}; and in such a situation this woman put herself, as being also ashamed and afraid to come before Christ, and look him in the face; and here she stood weeping for her sins, and melted down with the love of Christ to her soul, and at his discourse:

and began to wash his feet with tears:
which fell from her eyes in such abundance upon his feet, as she stood by him that they were like a shower of rain, as the word signifies, with which his feet were as it were bathed and washed; his shoes or sandals being off, as was the custom at eating so to do, lest they should daub the couch or bed, on which they lay ^F15. Her tears she used instead of water; for it was the custom first to wash the feet before they were anointed with oil, which she intended to do; and for which purpose she had brought with her an alabaster box of ointment: it is said ^F16 of one,

``when he came home, that his maid brought him a pot of hot water, and he washed his hands and his feet in it; then she brought him a golden basin full of oil, and he dipped his hands and his feet in it, to fulfil what is said, ( Deuteronomy 33:24 ) and after they had eaten and drank, he measured out oil''

And it is: a general rule with the Jews ^F17,

``that whoever anoints his feet, is obliged to washing or dipping.''

And did wipe them with the hairs of her head;
which were long, and hung loose about her shoulders, it being usual and comely for women to wear long hair, ( 1 Corinthians 11:15 ) . That which was her ornament and pride, and which she took great care of to nourish and put in proper form, to, render her desirable, she uses instead of a towel to wipe her Lord's feet, and her tears off of them. A like phrase is used of one by Apuleius,

``his verbis & amplexibus mollibus decantatus maritus, lachrymasque ejus suis crinibus detergens ^F18:''

"and kissed his feet". This was no unusual practice with the Jews; we often read of it ^F19:

``R. Jonathan and R. Jannai were sitting together, there came a certain man, (ywlgr qvnw) , "and kissed the feet" of R. Jonathan.''

Again ^F20

``R. Meir stood up, and Bar Chama, (hyerka hyqvn) , "kissed his knees", or "feet".''

This custom was also used by the Greeks and Romans among their civilities, and in their salutations ^F21:

and anointed them with the ointment;
which she brought with her.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 Vid Alstorphium de lectis veterum, p. 106, 107.
F15 Ib. p. 123, 124.
F16 T. Bab. Meuachot, fol. 85. 2.
F17 T. Bab. Zebachim, fol. 26. 2. Maimon. Hilchot Biath Harnikdash, c. 5. sect. 5.
F18 Metamorph. l. 5.
F19 T. Hieros. Peah, fol. 15. 4. & Kiddushin, fol. 61. 3. T. Bab. Cetubot, fol. 49. 2. Vid. ib. fol. 63. 1.
F20 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol 27. 2.
F21 Vid. Aristophanem in vespis, p. 473. Arvian Epictet. l. 3. c. 26. & Alex. ab. Alex. Gen. Dier. l. 2. c. 19.

Luke 7:38 In-Context

36 And one of the Pharisees desired Him that He would eat with him. And He went into the Pharisee's house and sat down to meat.

37 And behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and began to wash His feet with tears and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed His feet and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee who had bidden Him saw it, he spoke within himself, saying, "This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is who toucheth him, for she is a sinner."

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, "Simon, I have something to say unto thee." And he said, "Master, say on."