הֲדֹם
a foot stool
Definition
The Hebrew noun הֲדֹם (hădôm) refers to a footstool, a low piece of furniture upon which a seated person rests their feet. In the Old Testament, it is used both literally and metaphorically. In its literal sense, it describes a physical object, such as the footstool for the throne of Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:2). More significantly, it is used metaphorically to represent the subjugation of enemies (Psalm 110:1) and, most importantly, as a symbol for the earth or Zion as the place where God's feet rest, representing His dominion and presence (Psalm 99:5, Isaiah 66:1, Lamentations 2:1).
Biblical Usage
This word is used six times in the Old Testament, primarily in poetic and prophetic books (Psalms, Isaiah, Lamentations) and once in the historical book of Chronicles. Its usage consistently conveys the concept of a base or support for feet, but with a strong theological pattern. In Psalms and Isaiah, it is used in the context of God's sovereign rule, portraying the earth or Zion as His footstool (Psalm 99:5, Isaiah 66:1). Psalm 110:1 famously uses it to depict the subjugation of enemies under a ruler's feet. The single literal use is found in 1 Chronicles 28:2, regarding Solomon's throne.
Etymology
The noun הֲדֹם (hădôm) is derived from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to stamp upon' or 'to tread.' This root concept directly informs its meaning as an object meant to be trodden underfoot. It is related to other Semitic words for a footstool or a base, such as the Ugaritic *hdm*.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as a key metaphor for God's kingship and dominion. The image of the earth as God's footstool (Isaiah 66:1) powerfully communicates His transcendence, sovereignty, and the totality of His rule over creation. In Psalm 110:1, cited in the New Testament (Matthew 22:44, Acts 2:35), it becomes a crucial messianic prophecy about the ultimate victory and authority of Christ, who will put all enemies under His feet. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of these passages by grounding the metaphor in the concrete cultural image of a king's throne and the subjugation of foes.
In the ancient Near East, a footstool was a common piece of royal furniture, symbolizing the king's authority and rest. Placing one's feet on a conquered enemy or a subordinate kingdom was a potent cultural symbol of total victory and subjugation. When biblical authors describe the earth or Zion as God's footstool, they are directly employing this familiar royal imagery to communicate the supreme kingship of Yahweh over all nations and creation itself.
כֵּן (kēn, H3678) — A base, stand, or pedestal (e.g., for a lampstand or laver), more general than a footstool. פַּעַם (paʿam, H6471) — Literally 'foot, step'; can refer to the foot itself or a footbreadth, but not a piece of furniture.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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