In the Bible, the term "heels" is often used both literally and metaphorically, carrying significant theological and symbolic meanings. The heel is the back part of the foot, and its mention in Scripture can denote vulnerability, deceit, and the fulfillment of prophecy.

Literal Use:
The heel is mentioned in a literal sense in several passages, often in the context of walking or movement. For example, in Genesis 49:17, the tribe of Dan is described as a serpent by the roadside that bites the horse's heels, causing the rider to fall backward. This imagery highlights the heel as a point of vulnerability.

Metaphorical and Symbolic Use:

1. Genesis 3:15 · The Protoevangelium:
One of the most significant mentions of the heel is found in Genesis 3:15, often referred to as the Protoevangelium, or the first gospel. After the fall of man, God pronounces a curse on the serpent, saying, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." . This verse is seen as a prophetic announcement of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would ultimately defeat Satan. The striking of the heel symbolizes the suffering and crucifixion of Christ, while the crushing of the serpent's head signifies His victory over sin and death.

2. Jacob and Esau:
The account of Jacob and Esau provides another significant use of the heel in a metaphorical sense. In Genesis 25:26, Jacob is born holding onto Esau's heel, which foreshadows his later actions of supplanting his brother. The name "Jacob" itself is derived from the Hebrew word for "heel" or "to supplant," indicating his role in the narrative as one who grasps or deceives.

3. Psalm 41:9 · Betrayal:
In Psalm 41:9, David laments, "Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me." . This verse is often seen as a foreshadowing of Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus, as referenced in John 13:18. The lifting of the heel here symbolizes betrayal and treachery, highlighting the pain of being wronged by a trusted companion.

4. Job 18:9 · The Snare:
In the book of Job, Bildad the Shuhite describes the fate of the wicked, saying, "A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare grips him." (Job 18:9). This imagery conveys the idea of inevitable judgment and the inescapable consequences of sin, with the heel representing a point of capture and downfall.

Theological Implications:
The use of "heels" in Scripture underscores themes of vulnerability, deception, and the ultimate triumph of God's redemptive plan. The heel, as a point of weakness, serves as a reminder of humanity's need for divine intervention and the fulfillment of God's promises through Jesus Christ. The imagery of the heel in biblical narratives invites reflection on the nature of sin, betrayal, and the hope of salvation.6117. aqab -- to follow at the heel, assail insidiously ...
... properly, to swell out or up; used only as denominative from aqeb, to seize by the
heel; figuratively, to circumvent (as if tripping up the heels); also to ...
/hebrew/6117.htm - 6k

7272. regel -- foot
... 1), feet (139), follow (2), followed (2), following (1), foot (60), footstep* (1),
footsteps (1), footstool* (6), four-footed* (1), haunt (1), heels (1), hoof ...
/hebrew/7272.htm - 6k

4703. mitsad -- a step
... Word Origin from tsaad Definition a step NASB Word Usage heels (1), steps (2). going,
step. From tsa'ad; a step; figuratively, companionship -- going, step. ...
/hebrew/4703.htm - 6k

6119. aqeb -- heel, footprint, hind part
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition heel, footprint, hind part NASB Word
Usage footprints (1), footsteps (1), heel (4), heels (3), hoofs (1), rear guard ...
/hebrew/6119.htm - 6k

Man's Bad Break.
... Satan is ever on the heels of God. Two inclined planes lead out of every
man's path. ... Satan is ever on the heels of God to hurt man. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks about jesus/mans bad break.htm

Use what You Have.
... The traditional enemy, the Philistine, comes up over the hill. Shamgar's neighbors
have taken to their heels. But Shamgar is made of different stuff. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/use what you have.htm

Irresistible Logic.
... Just then he notices that his neighbor on the left has taken to his heels,
and on his right also. That shakes him for a moment. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on service/irresistible logic.htm

A Neglected School
... well; 2) that both boys and girls were completely dirty; 3) that none of them seemed
to have any garters on, their stockings hanging about their heels; 4) that ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/wesley/the journal of john wesley/a neglected school.htm

On Genesis.
... Gad"a robber's troop shall rob him; and he shall spoil it [1161] at the heels.
Aser"his bread shall be fat, and he shall furnish dainties to princes. ...
/.../hippolytus/the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/on genesis.htm

Footnotes:
... [11] "Wherefore should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of
my heels shall compass me about? [Revised Version "iniquity ...
//christianbookshelf.org/groves/christian devotedness/footnotes .htm

Bunyan -- the Heavenly Footman
... of Joshua, concerning the man that was to flee to the city of refuge, when the avenger
of blood was hard at his heels, to take vengeance on him for the offense ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/bunyan the heavenly footman.htm

The Acts of Philip.
... And he ordered Philip to be hanged, and his ankles to be pierced, and to bring also
iron hooks, and his heels also to be driven through, and to be hanged head ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the acts of philip/the acts of philip.htm

God and his Saints
... That is the blessedness and the power of Christian morality, that it is keeping
close at Christ's heels, and that instead of its being said to us, 'Go,' He says ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/god and his saints.htm

The Maniac
... may loosely be called causeless, they are the minor acts of a healthy man; whistling
as he walks; slashing the grass with a stick; kicking his heels or rubbing ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/orthodoxy/ii the maniac.htm

Heels (11 Occurrences)
...Heels (11 Occurrences). Genesis 49:17 Dan will be a serpent in the way, an adder
in the path, That bites the horse's heels, so that his rider falls backward. ...
/h/heels.htm - 9k

Horse-heels (2 Occurrences)
Horse-heels. Horse-gate, Horse-heels. Horsehoofs . Multi-Version
Concordance Horse-heels (2 Occurrences). Genesis 49 ...
/h/horse-heels.htm - 6k

Heel (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To lean or tip to one side, as a ship; as, the
ship heels apart; the boat heeled over when the squall struck it. ...
/h/heel.htm - 12k

Deb'orah (10 Occurrences)
... (DBY RSV). Judges 4:10 And Barak summoned Zeb'ulun and Naph'tali to Kedesh; and
ten thousand men went up at his heels; and Deb'orah went up with him. (DBY RSV). ...
/d/deb'orah.htm - 9k

Print (3 Occurrences)
... Job 13:27 the King James Version, which speaks of printing upon the heels or soles
of the feet, has been quite changed in the Revised Version (British and ...
/p/print.htm - 15k

Hegai (3 Occurrences)

/h/hegai.htm - 8k

Serpent (40 Occurrences)
... occurs only in Genesis 49:17: "Da shall be a serpent (nachash) in the way, An adder
(shephiphon) in the path, That biteth the horse's heels, So that his rider ...
/s/serpent.htm - 46k

Viper (8 Occurrences)
... Genesis 49:17 Dan will be a serpent in the way, an adder in the path, That bites
the horse's heels, so that his rider falls backward. (See RSV NIV). ...
/v/viper.htm - 10k

Zeb'ulun (41 Occurrences)
... (DBY RSV). Judges 4:10 And Barak summoned Zeb'ulun and Naph'tali to Kedesh; and
ten thousand men went up at his heels; and Deb'orah went up with him. (DBY RSV). ...
/z/zeb'ulun.htm - 16k

Narrowly (2 Occurrences)
... Job 13:27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all
my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet. (KJV JPS WBS). ...
/n/narrowly.htm - 7k

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