Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 7:38
And stood at his feet behind [him] weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe [them] with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed [them] with the ointment.
38. stood at his feet behind him ] This is explained by the arrangement of the triclinia, by which the guest reposed on his elbow at the table, with his unsandalled feet outstretched on the couch. Each guest left his sandals beside the door on entering. Literally the verse is, “And standing behind beside His feet weeping, with her tears she began to bedew His feet, and with the hairs of her head she wiped them off, and was eagerly kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume.” As she bent over His feet her tears began to fall on them, perhaps accidentally at first, and she wiped them off with the long dishevelled hair (1Co 11:15) which shewed her shame and anguish, and then in her joy and gratitude at finding herself unrepulsed, she poured the unguent over them. The scene and its moral are beautifully expressed in the sonnet of Hartley Coleridge.
“She sat and wept beside His feet. The weight
Of sin oppressed her heart; for all the blame
And the poor malice, of the worldly shame
To her were past, extinct, and out of date:
Only the sin remained the leprous state.
She would be melted by the heat of love,
By fires far fiercer than are blown to prove
And purge the silver ore adulterate.
She sat and wept, and with her untressed hair
Still wiped the feet she was so blest to touch;
And He wiped off the soiling of despair
From her sweet soul, because she loved so much.”
No one but a woman in the very depths of anguish would have violated all custom by appearing in public with uncovered head (1Co 11:10).
weeping ] Doubtless at the contrast of His sinlessness and her own stained life. She could not have done thus to the Pharisee, who would have repelled her with execration as bringing pollution by her touch. The deepest sympathy is caused by the most perfect sinlessness. It is not impossible that on that very day she may have heard the “Come unto me” of Mat 11:28.
kissed ] The word means ‘was earnestly’ or ‘tenderly-kissing,’ as in Act 20:37.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Stood at his feet behind him – They reclined, at their meals, on their left side, and their feet, therefore, were extended from the table, so that persons could easily approach them. See the notes at Mat 23:6.
Began to wash his feet – The Jews wore sandals. These were taken off when they entered a house. It was an act of hospitality and kindness to wash the feet of a guest. She therefore began to show her love for the Saviour, and at the same time her humility and penitence, by pouring forth a flood of tears, and washing his feet in the manner of a servant.
Kissed his feet – The kiss was an emblem of love and affection. In this manner she testified her love for the Lord Jesus, and at the same time her humility and sense of sin by kissing his feet. There could be few expressions of penitence more deep and tender than were these. A sense of all her sins rushed over her mind; her heart burst at the remembrance of them, and at the presence of the pure Redeemer; with deep sorrow she humbled herself and sought forgiveness. She showed her love for him by a kiss of affection; her humility, by bathing his feet; her veneration, by breaking a costly box – perhaps procured by a guilty life – and anointing his feet. In this way we should all come, embracing him as the loved Redeemer, humbled at his feet, and offering all we have – all that we have gained in lives of sin, in our professions, by merchandise and toil, while we were sinners – offering all to his service. Thus shall we show the sincerity of our repentance, and thus shall we hear his gracious voice pronounce our sins forgiven.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 38. Stood at his feet behind him] In taking their meals, the eastern people reclined on one side; the loins and knees being bent to make the more room, the feet of each person were turned outwards behind him. This is the meaning of standing BEHIND at his FEET.
Began to wash his feet with tears] – , She began to water his feet – to let a shower of tears fall on them. As the Jews wore nothing like our shoes, (theirs being a mere sole, bound about the foot and ancle with thongs,) their feet being so much exposed had frequent need of washing, and this they ordinarily did before taking their meals.
Kissed his feet] With affectionate tenderness, , or kissed them again and again. See Clarke on Mt 26:49.
The kiss was used in ancient times as the emblem of love, religious reverence, subjection, and supplication. It has the meaning of supplication, in the way of adoration, accompanied with subjection, in 1Kg 19:18, Whose mouths have not kissed Baal; and in Job 31:27, My mouth hath not kissed my hand; I have paid no sort of adoration to false gods; and in Ps 2:12, Kiss the Son lest he be angry,-close in with him, embrace affectionately, the offers of mercy made unto you through Christ Jesus, lest he (the Lord) be angry with you, and ye perish: which commandment this woman seems to have obeyed, both in the literal and spiritual sense. Kissing the feet was practised also among the heathens, to express subjection of spirit, and earnest supplication. See a long example in Raphelius, produced from Polybius, concerning the Carthaginian ambassadors when supplicating the Romans for peace. With an humble and abject mind, , they fell down on the earth, , and kissed the feet of the council. See also several examples in Kypke. Kissing the feet is a farther proof that this person had been educated a heathen. This was no part of a Jew’s practice.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
38. at his feet behind himtheposture at meals being a reclining one, with the feet out behind.
began to wash, c.to”water with a shower.” The tears, which were quiteinvoluntary, poured down in a flood upon His naked feet, asshe bent down to kiss them and deeming them rather fouled than washedby this, she hastened to wipe them off with the only towel she had,the long tresses of her own hair, “with which slaves were wontto wash their masters’ feet” [STIER].
kissedThe wordsignifies “to kiss fondly, to caress,” or to “kissagain and again,” which Lu7:45 shows is meant here. What prompted this? Much love,springing from a sense of much forgiveness. So says He who knewher heart (Lu 7:47). Where shehad met with Christ before, or what words of His had brought life toher dead heart and a sense of divine pardon to her guilty soul, weknow not. But probably she was of the crowd of “publicans andsinners” whom Incarnate Compassion drew so often aroundHim, and heard from His lips some of those words such as never manspake, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour,” c. No personalinterview had up to this time taken place between them but she couldkeep her feelings no longer to herself, and having found her way toHim (and entered along with him, Lu7:45), they burst forth in this surpassing yet most artlessstyle, as if her whole soul would go out to Him.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 o. 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 p 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,
De 33:24 and after they had eaten and drank, he measured out oil, c.”
And it is: a general rule with the Jews q,
“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, 1Co 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, c. r:”
“and kissed his feet”. This was no unusual practice with the Jews we often read of it s:
“R. Jonathan and R. Jannai were sitting together, there came a certain man, , “and kissed the feet” of R. Jonathan.”
Again t
“R. Meir stood up, and Bar Chama, , “kissed his knees”, or “feet”.”
This custom was also used by the Greeks and Romans among their civilities, and in their salutations u:
and anointed them with the ointment which she brought with her.
n Vid Alstorphium de lectis veterum, p. 106, 107. o Ib. p. 123, 124. p T. Bab. Meuachot, fol. 85. 2. q T. Bab. Zebachim, fol. 26. 2. Maimon. Hilchot Biath Harnikdash, c. 5. sect. 5. r Metamorph. l. 5. s T. Hieros. Peah, fol. 15. 4. & Kiddushin, fol. 61. 3. T. Bab. Cetubot, fol. 49. 2. Vid. ib. fol. 63. 1. t T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol 27. 2. u Vid. Aristophanem in vespis, p. 473. Arvian Epictet. l. 3. c. 26. & Alex. ab. Alex. Gen. Dier. l. 2. c. 19.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Standing behind at his feet ( ). Second aorist active participle from and intransitive, first aorist being transitive. The guest removed his sandals before the meal and he reclined on the left side with the feet outward. She was standing beside () his feet weeping (). She was drawn irresistibly by gratitude to Jesus and is overcome with emotion before she can use the ointment; her tears ( , instrumental case of ) take the place of the ointment.
Wiped them with the hair of her head ( ). Inchoative imperfect of an old verb , to rub out or off, began to wipe off, an act of impulse evidently and of embarrassment. “Among the Jews it was a shameful thing for a woman to let down her hair in public; but she makes this sacrifice” (Plummer). So Mary of Bethany wiped the feet of Jesus with her hair (Joh 12:3) with a similar sacrifice out of her great love for Jesus. This fact is relied on by some to prove that Mary of Bethany had been a woman of bad character, surely an utter failure to recognize Mary’s motive and act.
Kissed (). Imperfect active of , to kiss repeatedly (force of ), and accented by the tense of continued action here. The word in the N.T. occurs here, of the prodigal’s father (15:20), of the kiss of Judas (Mark 14:45; Matt 26:49), of the Ephesian elders (Ac 20:37). ” Kissing the feet was a common mark of deep reverence, especially to leading rabbis” (Plummer).
Anointed them with the ointment ( ). Imperfect active again of , a very common verb. has a more religious sense. The anointing came after the burst of emotional excitement.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
At his feet behind. The body of the guest rested on the couch; the feet were turned from the table toward the walls, and the left elbow rested on the table.
Wash [] . More literally and better, as Rev., wet, as with rain. Wiped [] . See on ch. Luk 5:2.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And stood at his feet behind him weeping,” (kai stasa opiso para tous podas autou klaiousa) “And she stood alongside his feet behind him as he reclined, weeping,” Isa 52:7. Her weeping was doubtless out of conviction concerning the holiness of Jesus and the sinful unworthiness of her life, Heb 7:26; Rom 3:23.
2) “And began to wash his feet with tears,” (tois dakrusin erksato brechein tous podas autou) “And with her failing tears she began to wet (wash) his feet,” or prepare them for anointing. The sandals were put off at the door, so our lord’s feet were bare. The tears, a burst of tears, were involuntary, an expression of remorse from within because of her notorious life.
3) “And did wipe them with the hairs of her head,” (kai tais thriksin tes kephales autes eksemassen) “And wiped them off with the hairs of her head,” wiped her fallen tears from His feet with her hair. In delicacy Jesus did not look around or take notice, but let her do what she desired to do. Her tears fell like a thunder shower upon His feet, and she gently wiped them away with her hair.
4) “And kissed his feet,” (kai katephilei tous podas autou) “And she affectionately (fervently) kissed his feet,” repeatedly, Luk 7:45, after cleaning and drying them with the tears and hair from her own head, with love and affection, Luk 8:52; Joh 11:35.
5) “And anointed them with the ointment.” (kai eleiphen to muro) “And she anointed (him) with the ointment,” that was the alabaster box which she had brought, Luk 7:37. This was the one thing she had planned to do. The rest was done on impulse convictions, involuntarily. The ointment was a very precious, expensive kind, called (Gk. muro), not just a common anointing oil.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(38) And stood at his feet behind him.The common usage of the East left the court-yard of the house open while such a feast as that described was going on, and there was nothing to hinder one who had not been invited from coming even into the guest-chamber. It is possible, indeed, that the feast may have been intentionally open to all comers. Our Lords position has to be remembered as we read the narrative.
To wash his feet with tears.Many different emotions may have mingled in the womans soul. Shame, penitence, gratitude, joy, love, all find the same natural relief. The word for wash should be noted as implying a shower of tears. It may be noted that while the tenses for this and the wiping imply a momentary act, those that follow for the kissing and anointing involve the idea of continuance. The act, the sobs, the fragrance of the ointment, of course attracted notice.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
38. Stood at his feet Reclining at table, after the oriental fashion; his sandals, according to custom, having been taken off upon entering the house. The feet of Jesus would be extended, so that the woman could stand behind and wash them. The word in the Greek signifies not to wash, but to moisten by the natural dripping of the tears as she profusely shed them. As they dropped, with her loosened hair she wiped his feet and then anointed them. This custom of cleansing and anointing the feet prevails not only in the Oriental sections, but is the subject of many allusions in the classics, as taking place among the Greeks and Romans. Thus Aristophanes, the Greek dramatic poet, makes an Athenian say that upon going home at night “My daughter shall grasp me, anoint my two feet, and, stooping down, kiss them.”
Luk 7:38. Began to wash his feet with tears, To water his feet with a shower of tears. Doddridge; who observes that this is the proper signification of the word . See Mat 5:45. We are not to imagine that this woman came on purpose thus to wash and wipe the feet of Christ; but probably, hearing that the Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner had neglected the civility usually paid in the eastern countries to such guests as they designed particularly to honour,that of anointing the head with fragrant oils, or rich perfumes,she was willing to supply the defect; and as she stood near Jesus, was so melted with his discourse, that she shed such a flood of tears, as wetted his feet which lay bare on the couch, his sandals being put off; and observing this, she wiped them with the tresses of her hair, which she now wore flowing loose about her shoulders, as mourners commonly did; and then, not thinking herself worthy to anoint his head, poured forth the liquid perfume upon his feet. Neither the Jews nor Romans wore stockings; and as for their shoes, or sandals, they always put them off when they lay down on their couches to take meat. These customs are alluded to in the law of the passover, which orders the Jews to depart from their ordinary way, and to eat the passover standing, with their loins girded, their shoes on their feet, and their staff in their hand. See on Exo 12:11. The word properly signifies tresses, as we have rendered it. It is well known that long hair was esteemed a great ornament in the female dress; and therefore women of loose character used to nourish and plait it, and to set it off with garlands and jewels. See 1Co 11:15.
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Ver. 38. To wash his feet ] They that make their eyes a fountain to wash Christ’s feet in, shall have his side for a fountain to wash their souls in.
Kissed his feet ] But how many now refuse those kisses of his mouth, Son 1:2 , by despising the word preached, that sweet pledge of his love!
Luk 7:38 . , standing behind, at His feet. The guests reclined on couches with their feet turned outwards, a posture learned by the Jews from their various masters: Persians, Greeks, Romans. In delicacy Jesus would not look round or take any notice, but let her do what she would. : excitement, tumultuous emotions, would make a burst of weeping inevitable. applies formally to , but really to all the descriptive verbs following. She did not wet Christ’s feet with tears of set purpose; the act was involuntary. , to moisten, as rain moistens the ground: her tears fell like a thunder shower on Christ’s feet. Cf. Mat 5:45 . , she continued wiping. Might have been infinitive depending on , but more forcible as an imperfect. Of late use in this sense. To have her hair flowing would be deemed immodest. Extremes met in that act. , kissed fervently, again and again. Judas also kissed fervently. Vide Mat 26:49 and remarks there. : this was the one act she had come of set purpose to do; all the rest was done impulsively under the rush of feeling.
And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. App-6.
at = beside. Greek. para. App-104.
wash = bedew.
did wipe = was wiping.
kissed = was ardently kissing. Compare Act 20:37.
Luk 7:38. , behind) As being one who wished to make no ostentatious display of what she was doing. Love taught her to do that which, to one who loves not, would seem out of place [inept], and which no one would require his servant (slave) to do: and so love taught her without human instruction. Similar instances occur, ch. Luk 17:15, Luk 19:37.-) with the hairs, dishevelled, as in mourning. Most exquisite [refinement in her] reverence!
weeping: Luk 6:21, Luk 22:62, Jdg 2:4, Jdg 2:5, Ezr 10:1, Psa 6:6-8, Psa 38:18, Psa 51:17, Psa 126:5, Psa 126:6, Isa 61:3, Jer 31:9, Jer 31:18-20, Joe 2:12, Zec 12:10, Mat 5:4, 2Co 7:10, 2Co 7:11, Jam 4:9
wash: Luk 7:44, Gen 18:4, Joh 13:4, Joh 13:5
and anointed: Luk 7:45, Luk 7:46, Ecc 9:8, Son 1:3, Isa 57:9
Reciprocal: Exo 12:11 – shoes 2Ki 4:27 – him by the feet Est 2:12 – six months Mat 26:7 – very Mat 28:9 – and held Mar 9:24 – with Mar 14:3 – of ointment Luk 8:44 – behind Joh 11:2 – anointed Joh 12:3 – anointed 1Ti 5:10 – washed
8
Kissing the feet of Jesus was an act of worship (Mat 2:2) that was prompted by the spirit of humility. It also indicated reverence for Jesus as a holy man. Another custom of those times was the washing of the feet of a guest. This will be explained when we come to John 13.
And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
[And stood at his feet behind him.] She washed his feet as they lay stretched out behind him: of which posture we treat more largely in our notes upon John_12.
Luk 7:38. Standing behind at his feet weeping, etc. She came to our Lord, as He reclined at table; standing by Him, leaning over His feet, her tears of penitence began to flow, and thus she began to wet his feet with her tears. Her tears dropped on his feet. That she intended to do this is unlikely. Genuine emotion is not intentional; only unbidden tears are precious. Her intention was to kiss and anoint His feet, but coming for that purpose the precious ointment of her penitent heart first flowed from her weeping eyes. Then carrying out her purpose, she wiped His feet with the hair of her head, and kissing them (repeatedly, as the original implies) as a token of honor and affection, she anointed them with the ointment. In Luk 7:44-46 our Lord enumerates her actions in this order. Her unbidden tears outran the prepared ointment; and were more precious in the sight of the Lord.
Verse 38
Wash his feet, &c. In these expressions, Luke adopts the phraseology used by Jesus in Luke 7:44. It seems that the woman, partaking of the excitement which our Savior’s presence and preaching produced among the multitude, and overwhelmed with contrition for her past sins, and full of grateful feeling at the offers of forgiveness, came in, and prostrated herself at his feet, as he was reclining at the table, and kissed them, in token of adoration and gratitude. While in this posture, the Savior’s feet were wet with her tears, and covered with her hair. Whatever of impropriety there might have been in the act,–and the strong excitement of her feelings, taken in connection with the probable freedom of her past habits of life, might easily have carried her beyond the bounds of decorum,–Jesus does not censure it, but represents her action in the figurative language of washing his feet with her tears and wiping them with her hair. Though scrupulously attentive himself to all the proprieties of life, he pitied the anguish of mind which led to this apparent violation of them in her, and took the unhappy sinner’s part against the censorious Pharisee, by language which put upon her conduct a favorable and yet a just construction.
Jesus was probably reclining on a divan to eat with His head and arms close to the table and His feet stretched out away from it, as was customary at important meals. The woman’s sacrificial gift and her tears raise questions the text does not answer. Was she grateful to Jesus for some act of kindness that He had showed her, or was she seeking His help? By constantly kissing (Gr. katephilei, the imperfect tense) Jesus’ feet the woman was expressing her affection, respect, and submission (cf. 1Sa 10:1). Normally people anointed the heads of others, not their feet.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: Lightfoot Commentary Gospels
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)