πτέρνη G4418
the heel, the back part of the foot
This noun refers to the heel, the rear portion of the human foot. It appears in both literal anatomical contexts and metaphorical expressions in classical Greek. John employs this term in Jesus' quotation of Psalm 41:9, where betrayal is described as lifting one's heel against another—an idiom for turning on someone in hostility. The multilingual glosses are straightforward anatomical terms: Spanish 'talón', French 'talon', German 'Ferse', all meaning heel. This body-part reference becomes a powerful metaphor for Judas's betrayal of Jesus.
Senses
1. sense 1 — In John 13:18, Jesus quotes Psalm 41:9: 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me,' referring to Judas's impending betrayal. The heel-lifting imagery suggests a kick or hostile turning against someone, particularly shocking after sharing intimate table fellowship. Spanish 'talón', French 'talon', and German 'Ferse' all mean simply 'heel.' The classical lexicon shows this word could refer to the heel bone, the underpart of the heel, or even footsteps. The metaphor captures the violence and treachery of betrayal—Judas will strike at Jesus with the force of a kick, the ultimate violation of friendship and trust. 1×
AR["عَقِبَهُ"]·ben["পায়ের-গোড়ালি"]·DE["Ferse"]·EN["heel"]·FR["talon"]·heb["עָקֵב"]·HI["एड़ी"]·ID["tumit"]·IT["pternan"]·jav["tumitipun"]·KO["발꾸꾸치를"]·PT["calcanhar"]·RU["пяту"]·ES["talón"]·SW["kisigino"]·TR["ökçesini"]·urd["ایڑی"]
Related Senses
H7200 1. Qal: to see, perceive (1257×)G4771 2. you (singular address) (1077×)H8085 1. Qal: hear, perceive aurally (921×)H0859a 1. you (2nd person masculine singular pronoun) (743×)H0398 1. eat (consume food) (697×)H4191 1. die (Qal: natural/general death) (645×)G3708 1. see, perceive visually (419×)G0191 1. hear, perceive sound (360×)H???? 3. (352×)G3708 2. behold, look (exclamatory) (256×)H7272 1. foot (body part) (236×)H8354 1. drink, consume liquid (209×)H3205 1. Qal active: bear/give birth (female subject) (204×)H3205 2. Qal active: beget/father (male subject) (198×)H2421 1. Qal: live, be alive (177×)H8085 2. Qal: listen, heed, pay attention (172×)H2416a 1. alive, living (state/attribute) (146×)H2416e 1. life, lifespan, lifetime (145×)G2198 1. be alive, have life (133×)H8193 1. lip, lips (body part) (123×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πτέρνη Refs 5th c.BC+, later πτέρνᾰ LXX+3rd c.BC+, ἡ, heel, Refs 8th c.BC+; under part of the heel, Refs 4th c.BC+; heel-bone, Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 hoof, LXX __3 heel of a shoe, Refs 3rd c.BC+ __4 footstep, LXX __II metaphorically, foot or lower part of anything, πύργων Refs 3rd c.BC+; of a mast, Refs 2nd c.BC+ (but, waist of a ship, Refs 2nd c.BC+ __II.2 butt-end of the ἀγκών of a torsion-engine,…