Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbour: and this was a testimony in Israel.
A man plucked off his shoe. Where the kinsman refused to perform his duty to the family of his deceased relation, his widow was directed to pull off the shoe, with some attendant circumstances of contemptuous disdain. But as in this case there was no refusal, the usual ignominy was spared, and the plucking off the shoe the only ceremony observed, as a pledge of the transaction being completed. The symbolical import of the observance was, that the party surrendered his interest in the land by giving another his shoe, wherein he used himself to walk, in order that he to whom he gave it might enter in and take possession of it. The use of the shoe as a token of right or conveyancing is very prevalent still in, Hindustan and many parts of the East (Roberts' 'Oriental Customs'). In medieval times the right-hand glove was used instead of a shoe.