Latchet

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Ἱμάς (Strong'S #2438 — Noun Masculine — himas — hee-mas' )

denotes "a thong, strap," whether for binding prisoners,  Acts 22:25 , "(the) thongs" (for scourging; see Bind , No. 7), or for fastening sandals,  Mark 1:7;  Luke 3:16;  John 1:27 . "Among the Orientals everything connected with the feet and shoes is defled and debasing, and the stooping to unfasten the dusty latchet is the most insignificant in such service" (Mackie, in Hastings' Bib. Dic.).

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

Latchet ( ἱμάς,  Luke 3:16,  Mark 1:7,  John 1:27).—The leathern strap attached to the sandal, which, passing several times across the foot, was secured round the ankle, thus fixing the sandal securely. See artt. Sandal and Shoe. The most menial service which can be exacted from an Oriental is to remove or carry his master’s shoes. Hence, too, the greatest honour a host can show to his guest is to stoop down and remove his shoes. John the Baptist counted himself unworthy to perform this service for Christ.

J. Soutar.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

The fastening, either by strap or ribbon, of the oriental shoe or sandal. Mentioned as a thing of the least value, and the unloosing of which was accounted a menial act.  Genesis 14:23;  Isaiah 5:27;  Mark 1:7;  Luke 3:16;  John 1:27 .

Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types

 Genesis 14:23 (c) Abraham thus shows his disdain for the slightest favor which might be offered him by an idolatrous king. He would not accept the slightest gift from one who was an enemy of GOD.

 Mark 1:7 (c) John uses the least of the things on the person of Jesus to illustrate his own feelings of utter unworthiness in the presence of his Lord.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 14:23 Isaiah 5:27 Mark 1:7 Luke 3:16 John 1:27

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Acts 22:25 Isaiah 5:27 Mark 1:7 Luke 3:16

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

The thong fastening the sandal to the foot; from Anglo-Saxon laeccan, to fasten; from whence comes "latch." To unloose it was a slave's office for a great man ( Luke 3:16).

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Latchet.  Mark 1:7. The fastening of a sandal or shoe. See Garments, Clothing.

King James Dictionary

LATCH'ET, n. from latch. The string that fastens a shoe.  Mark 1 .

Webster's Dictionary

(n.) The string that fastens a shoe; a shoestring.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

LATCHET . See Dress, § 6.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( שְׂרוֹךְ , Serok', so called from Lacing and binding together; Gr. Ἱμάς , a Thong, as it is rendered in  Acts 22:25), the cord or strap which fastens an Oriental shoe upon the foot ( Isaiah 5:27;  Mark 1:7;  Luke 3:16;  John 1:27); proverbial for anything of little value ( Genesis 14:23). (See Sandal). "Gesenius (Thesaur. s.v. חוּט ) compares the Lat. Hilum =Filum, and quotes two Arabic proverbs from the Hamasa and the Kamuls, in which a corresponding word is similarly employed. In the poetical figure in  Isaiah 5:27, the 'latchet' occupies the same position with regard to the shoes as the girdle to the long flowing Oriental dress, and was as essential to the comfort and expedition of the traveler. Another semi-proverbial expression in  Luke 3:16 points to the same easily- removed article of clothing" (Smith). "In  Matthew 3:11 the same sentiment is expressed rather differently, 'Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear;' in both cases the allusion is to slaves, who were employed to loosen and carry their master's shoes, the habits of Orientals requiring this article of dress to be taken off before entering an apartment (Thomson, The Land And The Book, part 1, chap. 9). This saying of the Baptist, as reported by Matthew, is repeated by Paul in his address to the Jews at Antioch, in Pisidia ( Acts 13:25). Chrysostom, on  John 1:27, remarks, Τὸ Γὰρ Ὑπόδημα Λῦσαι Τῆς Ἐσχάτης Διακονίας Ἐστι "(Kitto). (See Shoe).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

lach´et ( שׂרוך , serōkh  ; ἱμάς , himás ): Leather thong used for tying on sandals (see   Genesis 14:23;  Mark 1:7 parallel). The stooping to untie the dusty shoe-latchet was esteemed by Orientals a service that was at once petty and defiling, and was usually assigned to menials.