NUDITY. These terms, beside their ordinary and literal
meaning, sometimes signify void of succour, disarmed. So, after
worshipping the golden calf, the Israelites found themselves naked in
the midst of their enemies. Nakedness of the feet” was a token of
respect. Moses put off his shoes to approach the burning bush. Most
commentators are of opinion, that the priests served in the tabernacle
with their feet naked; and afterward in the temple. In the enumeration
that Moses makes of the habit and ornaments of the priests, he no where
mentions any dress for the feet. Also the frequent ablutions appointed
them in the temple seem to imply that their feet were naked. To uncover
the nakedness of any one, is commonly put for a shameful and unlawful
conjunction, or an incestuous marriage, Lev. xx, 19; Ezek. xvi, 37.
Nakedness is sometimes put for being partly undressed; _en déshabillé_.
Saul continued naked among the prophets; that is, having only his under
garments on. Isaiah received orders from the Lord to go naked; that is,
clothed as a slave, half clad. Thus it is recommended to clothe the
naked; that is, such as are ill clothed. St. Paul says, that he was in
cold, in nakedness; that is, in poverty and want of raiment. Naked is
put for discovered, known, manifest. So Job xxvi, 6: Hell is naked
before him.” The sepulchre, the unseen state, is open to the eyes of
God. St. Paul says, in the same sense, Neither is there any creature
that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and open
unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do,” Heb. iv, 13.
meaning, sometimes signify void of succour, disarmed. So, after
worshipping the golden calf, the Israelites found themselves naked in
the midst of their enemies. Nakedness of the feet” was a token of
respect. Moses put off his shoes to approach the burning bush. Most
commentators are of opinion, that the priests served in the tabernacle
with their feet naked; and afterward in the temple. In the enumeration
that Moses makes of the habit and ornaments of the priests, he no where
mentions any dress for the feet. Also the frequent ablutions appointed
them in the temple seem to imply that their feet were naked. To uncover
the nakedness of any one, is commonly put for a shameful and unlawful
conjunction, or an incestuous marriage, Lev. xx, 19; Ezek. xvi, 37.
Nakedness is sometimes put for being partly undressed; _en déshabillé_.
Saul continued naked among the prophets; that is, having only his under
garments on. Isaiah received orders from the Lord to go naked; that is,
clothed as a slave, half clad. Thus it is recommended to clothe the
naked; that is, such as are ill clothed. St. Paul says, that he was in
cold, in nakedness; that is, in poverty and want of raiment. Naked is
put for discovered, known, manifest. So Job xxvi, 6: Hell is naked
before him.” The sepulchre, the unseen state, is open to the eyes of
God. St. Paul says, in the same sense, Neither is there any creature
that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and open
unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do,” Heb. iv, 13.