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πούς

poús

G4228 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The lower extremity of the leg, the 'foot' as a physical body part, used for walking or standing. By extension, it can refer metaphorically to position, subjugation, or presence, as in 'place at one's feet' (denoting submission or authority). Sometimes used in set phrases (e.g., 'footstool') indicating a support placed under the feet, often with symbolic meaning.

Semantic Range

foot (anatomical), unit of locomotion or support, position at someone's feet (discipleship or submission), footstool, authority or subjugation (in metaphor), poetic foot (metrical unit)

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root πους (πούς), an ancient and primary word with Indo-European origins (cf. Latin pes, English 'foot') representing the foot as a body part.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, πούς primarily denoted the human or animal foot, the anatomical part. In literary and poetic contexts, it could also refer to units of poetic meter (a 'foot'). In Hellenistic and Koine usage (including the Septuagint and New Testament), the term retained its literal sense, but also acquired significant metaphorical use: standing 'at someone's feet' could indicate discipleship, subordination, or homage. Expressions like 'to place under (the) feet' indicated victory, authority, or subjugation (cf. Psalm 110 LXX, 1 Cor 15:25). The term ποδή ('footwear') and υποπόδιον ('footstool') are derived from the same root. English translations almost always render πούς as 'foot,' but the associated metaphors (e.g., submission, discipleship) may not be fully captured in translation. In ritual and hospitality contexts, washing of feet was a common practice, reflecting status and social custom.

Translation Consistency

primary "foot" 7 occurrences

The lemma πούς is the singular noun ‘foot,’ which is the primary anatomical and metaphorical sense. Using the base form “foot” allows natural English inflections (e.g., “feet,” “footstool,” phrases like “at his foot(s)”) while keeping consistent rendering across all forms. Although many occurrences appear in the plural, selecting the lemma’s singular as the core word preserves semantic accuracy and enables natural pluralization where needed.

Alternatives (86 occurrences):
"feet" (86x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary word; a "foot" (figuratively or literally):--foot(-stool).

Root Family

πούς (pous) — foot, walk, stand

Root ποδ- foot, walk, stand

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4228-02 πόδας podas N ACC M PL feet feet feet 55
G4228-04 ποδῶν podon N GEN M PL feet of feet feet 19
G4228-03 πόδες podes N NOM M PL feet feet feet 7
G4228-06 ποσὶν posin N DAT M PL feet to the feet feet 5
G4228-01 πόδα poda N ACC M SG foot foot foot 3
G4228-07 πούς pous N NOM M SG foot foot foot 3
G4228-05 ποδός podos N GEN M SG of foot of a foot of a foot 1

Occurrences in Scripture

93 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4228-01 Matthew 4:6 πόδα poda N ACC M SG foot foot foot
G4228-04 Matthew 5:35 ποδῶν podon N GEN M PL feet of feet feet
G4228-06 Matthew 7:6 ποσὶν posin N DAT M PL feet to the feet feet
G4228-04 Matthew 10:14 ποδῶν podon N GEN M PL feet of feet feet
G4228-02 Matthew 15:30 πόδας podas N ACC M PL feet feet feet
G4228-07 Matthew 18:8 πούς pous N NOM M SG foot foot foot
G4228-02 Matthew 18:8 πόδας podas N ACC M PL feet feet feet
G4228-02 Matthew 22:13 πόδας podas N ACC M PL feet feet feet
G4228-04 Matthew 22:44 ποδῶν podon N GEN M PL feet of feet feet
G4228-02 Matthew 28:9 πόδας podas N ACC M PL feet feet feet
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