Bible Dictionaries
Footstool

Holman Bible Dictionary

A piece of furniture for resting the feet, especially for one seated on a throne (2 Chronicles 9:18; James 2:3 ). The footstool of Tutankhyhahymin of Egypt was carved with pictures of his enemies. Other Pharaohs were portrayed with their feet on their enemies' heads. The footstool thus became a symbol for dominion. God is pictured as a king enthroned in heaven with the earth as His footstool (Isaiah 66:1; Matthew 5:35 ). In Psalm 99:5 and Lamentations 2:1 it is difficult to determine with certainty whether God's footstool is the ark, the Temple, or Zion. (Compare Isaiah 60:13; Ezekiel 43:7 .) Only 1 Chronicles 28:2 is an unambiguous reference to the ark as a resting place for God's feet.

In Psalm 110:1 God makes the messianic King triumph over His enemies, who are then made his footstool. This text is quoted six times in the New Testament. It served as the basis for Jesus' riddle about David's son who is also his lord ( Matthew 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:43 ). Elsewhere, the Scripture was applied to the ascension of Christ (Acts 2:34-35 ), the exaltation of Christ (Hebrews 1:13 ), and the future victory of Christ (Hebrews 10:13 ).