International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
HEELhel (`aqebh): "The iniquity of my heels" (Psalm 49:5 the King James Version) is a literal translation, and might be understood to indicate the Psalmist's "false steps," errors or sins, but that meaning is very doubtful here. the Revised Version (British and American) gives "iniquity at my heels." the Revised Version margin gives a still better sense, "When the iniquity of them that would supplant me compasseth me about, even of them that trust in. riches"-treacherous enemies ever on the watch to trip up a man's heels (compare Hosea 12:3). Of Judah it was said, "Thy heels (shall) suffer violence" (Jeremiah 13:22) through being "made bare" (the King James Version), and thus subject to the roughness of the road as she was led captive.
Figurative:
(1) Of the partial victory of the evil power over humanity, "Thou shalt bruise (m "lie in wait for") his heel" (Genesis 3:15), through constant, insidious suggestion of the satisfaction of the lower desires. Or if we regard this statement as a part of the Protevangelium, the earliest proclamation of Christ's final, and complete victory over sin, the destruction of "the serpent" ("He shall bruise thy head"), then the reference is evidently to Christ's sufferings and death, even to all that He endured in His human nature.
(2) Of the stealthy tactics of the tribe of Dan in war, "An adder in the path, that biteth the horse's heels" (Genesis 49:17), by which it triumphed over foes of superior strength.
(3) Of violence and brutality, "Who. hath lifted up his heel against me" (Psalm 41:9 John 13:18), i.e. lifted up his foot to trample upon me (compare Joshua 10:24).
M. O. Evans
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. i.) To lean or tip to one side, as a ship; as, the ship heels apart; the boat heeled over when the squall struck it.
2. (n.) The hinder part of the foot; sometimes, the whole foot; -- in man or quadrupeds.
3. (n.) The hinder part of any covering for the foot, as of a shoe, sock, etc.; specif., a solid part projecting downward from the hinder part of the sole of a boot or shoe.
4. (n.) The latter or remaining part of anything; the closing or concluding part.
5. (n.) Anything regarded as like a human heel in shape; a protuberance; a knob.
6. (n.) The part of a thing corresponding in position to the human heel; the lower part, or part on which a thing rests
7. (n.) The after end of a ship's keel.
8. (n.) The lower end of a mast, a boom, the bowsprit, the sternpost, etc.
9. (n.) In a small arm, the corner of the but which is upwards in the firing position.
10. (n.) The uppermost part of the blade of a sword, next to the hilt.
11. (n.) The part of any tool next the tang or handle; as, the heel of a scythe.
12. (n.) Management by the heel, especially the spurred heel; as, the horse understands the heel well.
13. (n.) The lower end of a timber in a frame, as a post or rafter. In the United States, specif., the obtuse angle of the lower end of a rafter set sloping.
14. (n.) A cyma reversa; -- so called by workmen.
15. (v. t.) To perform by the use of the heels, as in dancing, running, and the like.
16. (v. t.) To add a heel to; as, to heel a shoe.
17. (v. t.) To arm with a gaff, as a cock for fighting.
Strong's Hebrew
6117. aqab -- to follow at the heel, assail insidiously ...... aqab. 6118 >>. to follow at the
heel, assail insidiously, circumvent, overreach.
Transliteration: aqab Phonetic Spelling: (aw-kab') Short Definition: craftily.
... /hebrew/6117.htm - 6k 6119. aqeb -- heel, footprint, hind part
... << 6118, 6119. aqeb. 6120 >>. heel, footprint, hind part. Transliteration:
aqeb Phonetic Spelling: (aw-kabe') Short Definition: heel. ...
/hebrew/6119.htm - 6k
8328. shoresh -- a root
... bottom, deep, heel, root. From sharash; a root (literally or figuratively) -- bottom,
deep, heel, root. see HEBREW sharash. << 8327, 8328. shoresh. 8329 >>. ...
/hebrew/8328.htm - 6k
6120. aqeb -- overreacher
... heel, a lier in wait. From aqab in its denominative sense; a lier in wait -- heel
(by mistake for aqeb). see HEBREW aqab. see HEBREW aqeb. << 6119, 6120. ...
/hebrew/6120.htm - 6k
6118. eqeb -- consequence, as a consequence of, because
... From aqab in the sense of aqeb; a heel, ie (figuratively) the last of anything
(used adverbially, for ever); also result, ie Compensation; and so (adverb with ...
/hebrew/6118.htm - 6k
3290. Yaaqob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc.
... NASB Word Usage Jacob (331), Jacob's (18). Jacob. From aqab; heel-catcher (ie
Supplanter); Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch -- Jacob. see HEBREW aqab. ...
/hebrew/3290.htm - 6k
