I think I know what Isaiah meant, but I could still use your help

My wife and I were reading in 2 Nephi 6 – Jacob is quoting Isaiah. Usually it is very difficult to understand, but I understood at least a few parts.

One was when it says, “They that fight against Zion and the covenant people of the Lord shall lick up the dust of their feet…”

Back in Isaiah’s day, everybody wore sandals – and they lived in a very dusty, dirty, sandy environment. So everybody’s feet were dirty, dusty and sandy. It was seen as a very humble and submissive act to clean somebody else’s feet – this was an act left only to servants and slaves.

For somebody to clean your feet with their hands – and wash off the dust – was an act below most people.

But to lick dust off your feet – this was taking humility to an entirely new low – it almost seems like you can no longer be respected if you are licking the dust off somebody’s dirty feet.

The latter-day gentiles that fight against Zion will “lick up the dust of their feet,” or will be brought so low that nobody will respect them.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Click the “no comment” button below to make a comment.