“The strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie”
John 1:27
Cultural referenceSettledJohn the Baptist
He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. (John 1:27 BSB)
What it sounds like today
A vague expression of humility.
The cultural key
Handling someone's sandals, touching the dust and filth of the road, was slave's work. A later rabbinic saying held that a disciple should do for his teacher anything a slave does, except deal with his sandal: that was too degrading even for a devoted student. In John the saying is the Baptist's answer to an official delegation from Jerusalem interrogating his identity, and he adds: 'among you stands one you do not know.' The unworthiness claim doubles as an announcement that the mightier one is already in the crowd.
Recovered meaning
John ranks himself below the lowest task of the lowliest servant. The strongest possible way to say: the one coming is in an entirely different category.