The removal of a sandal in the context of levirate marriage was a public sign of rejection and shame. If a man refused to marry his brother’s widow and raise up offspring for him, the widow would remove his sandal and spit in his face in the presence of the elders.
“Then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, remove his sandal from his foot, spit in his face, and answer and say, ‘So shall it be done to the man who will not build up his brother’s house.'” (Deuteronomy 25:9)
The sandal represented the man’s right and obligation to step into his brother’s place. Removing it signified his refusal to fulfill this duty. The act was a form of public disgrace, marking the man as one who had rejected his family responsibility.
“And his name shall be called in Israel, ‘The house of him who had his sandal removed.'” (Deuteronomy 25:10)
This ceremony preserved justice for the widow while exposing the man’s unwillingness to do what was right. It ensured that his rejection was not done in secret but acknowledged by the community.
The principle shows how seriously God took family duty, especially in protecting widows and preserving family inheritance. While the specific ritual is no longer practiced, the moral lesson remains: God holds His people accountable for their responsibilities, particularly toward the vulnerable.
