ἱμάς G2438
A leather strap or thong; used of sandal laces and binding straps.
A simple but evocative word for a leather strap or thong, this noun appears most memorably in the Baptist's declaration of unworthiness: 'I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals' (Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16; John 1:27). The humble sandal-strap becomes a powerful symbol of the immeasurable gap between the forerunner and the Coming One. In Acts 22:25 the same word describes the leather thongs with which Roman soldiers bound Paul for flogging. Spanish 'correa,' French 'courroie/lacet,' and German 'Riemen' all denote utilitarian leather strips.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A leather strap or thong, used in the New Testament for two distinct objects: the lace or tie of a sandal and the binding straps used in Roman punishment. The Synoptic Gospels and John all record the Baptist's confession that he is unworthy to untie the ἱμάς of the Messiah's sandal (Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16; John 1:27), making the lowly sandal-strap an icon of supreme humility. In Acts 22:25 Paul invokes his Roman citizenship as soldiers stretch him out with ἱμᾶσιν for scourging. French distinguishes 'lacet' (lace) from 'courroie' (strap), but the Greek word covers both uses of cut leather. 4×
AR["سَيْرَ", "ـالسُّيُورِ"]·ben["চামড়ার-ফিতায়", "ফিতা"]·DE["Riemen", "ἱμάντα", "ἱμᾶσιν"]·EN["strap", "straps"]·FR["courroie", "lacet"]·heb["רְצוּעָה", "רְצוּעוֹת", "שְׂרוֹךְ"]·HI["का", "तसमे", "तस्मों-से", "फीता"]·ID["itu", "tali", "tali,"]·IT["cinghia", "imanta"]·jav["tali", "tali,"]·KO["가죽끈로", "끈-을"]·PT["correia"]·RU["ремень", "ремнями"]·ES["correa", "correas"]·SW["kamba", "mkanda", "ukanda"]·TR["bağını", "kayışlarla"]·urd["تسموں-سے", "تسمہ", "تسمے-کو"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἱμάς, ὁ, genitive ἱμάντος (not ἱμᾶς, ἱμᾶντος Hdn.Gr. 2.939): Epic dialect dative plural ἱμάντεσσι:— leathern strap or thong, Refs 8th c.BC+ __a traces, Refs __b reins, Refs, etc.; τμητοῖς ἱμᾶσι Refs 5th c.BC+ __c straps on which the body of the chariot was hung, Refs 8th c.BC+ __d lash of a whip, formed by several thongs, Refs __e boxing-glove, consisting of several straps put round the hand,Refs…