The term "heel" in the Bible carries both literal and symbolic meanings, often associated with themes of deception, conflict, and prophecy. The Hebrew word for heel is "עָקֵב" (aqeb), and it appears in various contexts throughout the Scriptures.

Literal Usage

In its literal sense, the heel is the back part of the human foot. This anatomical reference is used in several passages to describe physical actions or positions. For example, in Genesis 49:17, Jacob prophesies about the tribe of Dan, saying, "He will be a serpent by the road, a viper in the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward." Here, the heel is depicted as a vulnerable point that can lead to downfall when attacked.

Symbolic and Prophetic Usage

The most significant symbolic use of "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 upon 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 passage is interpreted as a prophecy 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.

Deception and Conflict

The concept of the heel is also associated with deception and conflict, particularly in the account of Jacob and Esau. Jacob, whose name means "he grasps the heel" or "supplanter," was born holding his twin brother Esau's heel (Genesis 25:26). This act foreshadows Jacob's later actions in deceiving Esau and obtaining his birthright and blessing. The imagery of the heel in this narrative underscores themes of struggle and rivalry.

New Testament References

While the New Testament does not frequently mention the heel, it does allude to the Genesis prophecy. In Romans 16:20, Paul writes, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet." This echoes the promise of Genesis 3:15, reaffirming the ultimate triumph of Christ and His followers over evil.

Cultural and Theological Significance

In biblical culture, the heel was considered a point of vulnerability, and its mention often implied a deeper spiritual truth. Theologically, the heel represents the human condition of weakness and susceptibility to sin, while also pointing to the hope of redemption through Christ. The interplay between the heel and the head in Scripture highlights the ongoing battle between good and evil, culminating in the victory of the Messiah.

In summary, the heel in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol, rich with meaning and significance, woven into the narrative of God's redemptive plan for humanity.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.

HEEL

hel (`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

4418. pterna -- the heel
... pterna. 4419 . the heel. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: pterna
Phonetic Spelling: (pter'-nah) Short Definition: the heel Definition: the heel ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4418.htm - 6k

2528. kathoplizo -- to arm fully
... completely. 2528 (from 2596 , "down" and 3695 , "be armed") -- properly, all
the way , ie " armed, () from head to heel" (, 185). Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2528.htm - 7k

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

The Redeemer's Return is Necessitated by the Declarations of Old ...
... will put enmity between thee (the "serpent") and the woman, and between thy seed
and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Gen.3 ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/i the redeemers return is.htm

Psalm XLIX.
... The iniquity of my heel shall compass me" (ver.5). He beginneth something obscurely. ...
For why should he fear? Will the iniquity of his heel compass him? ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xlix.htm

John Chapter xiii. 16-20.
... I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but, that the Scripture may be
fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me, shall lift up his heel upon me." And ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate lix john chapter xiii.htm

On the Interior Man
... [Ps.121(122):2; III(I) Kings 18:21]. The heel is the deceit of the shrewd; in Genesis:
she will herself watch out for your head, and you for his heel. ...
/.../eucherius/the formulae of st eucherius of lyons/vi on the interior man.htm

But, if it Does not Weary You, Let the Point Out as Briefly as ...
... Let the show you how this is foretold in the Psalms: "He who hath eaten My bread
hath lifted up his heel against Me:" and in another place; "My friends and My ...
/.../20 but if it does.htm

Death and Life in Christ
... This was the great aim of hell to keep Christ beneath its heel. "Thou shalt
bruise his heel." They had gotten the heel of Christ ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/death and life in christ.htm

John xiii
... I speak not of you all [2014] "but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, He that
eateth bread with Me hath lifted up his heel against Me.". ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily lxxi john xiii.htm

Radical Exposition.
... and between thy seed and her seed. It shall bruise thy head and thou shalt
bruise his heel.". Our critics have two objections to ...
/.../concerning the assumptions of destructive criticism/ix radical exposition.htm

Judas.
... VII. JUDAS. "I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the Scripture
may be fulfilled, He that eateth My bread lifted up his heel against Me. ...
/.../dods/the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol ii/vii judas.htm

Of the Fall of Man.
... days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between
thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xxi of the fall of.htm

Heel (8 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) Anything regarded as like a human heel in shape; a protuberance; a knob. ...
(n.) The part of any tool next the tang or handle; as, the heel of a scythe. ...
/h/heel.htm - 12k

Heels (11 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Genesis 49:19 Gad, a troop shall troop
upon him; but he shall troop upon their heel. (See NAS RSV NIV). ...
/h/heels.htm - 9k

Quarter (33 Occurrences)
... 6. (n.) That part of a boot or shoe which forms the side, from the heel
to the vamp. 7. (n.) That part on either side of a horse's ...
/q/quarter.htm - 21k

Overreach (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (vi) To reach too far. 4. (vi) To strike the toe of the hind foot against
the heel or shoe of the forefoot; -- said of horses. ...
/o/overreach.htm - 7k

Gin (10 Occurrences)
... And he walketh upon the toils. A gin shall take him by the heel, And a snare
shall lay hold on him, A noose is hid for him in the ground. ...
/g/gin.htm - 12k

Pace (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The length of a step in walking or marching, reckoned from the heel of one
foot to the heel of the other; -- used as a unit in measuring distances; as ...
/p/pace.htm - 8k

Spur (3 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A sparrow. 2. (n.) A tern. 3. (n.) An implement secured to the heel, or
above the heel, of a horseman, to urge the horse by its pressure. ...
/s/spur.htm - 9k

Lift (283 Occurrences)
... end of the yard. 20. (n.) One of the steps of a cone pulley. 21. (n.) A
layer of leather in the heel. 22. (n.) That portion of the ...
/l/lift.htm - 41k

Jacob (361 Occurrences)
... The verb in all its usages is capable of deduction, by simple association of ideas,
from the noun "heel." "To heel" might mean: (a) "to take hold of by the heel...
/j/jacob.htm - 77k

Gad (78 Occurrences)
... there is a play upon the name, as if it meant "troop," or "marauding band." "Gad,
a troop shall press upon him; but he shall press upon their heel" (Hebrew gadh ...
/g/gad.htm - 49k

What does Genesis 3:15 mean that “he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel”? | GotQuestions.org

What is the protoevangelium? | GotQuestions.org

What does Israel mean in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Heel: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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