“Whose sandals I am not worthy to carry”
Matthew 3:11
Cultural referenceSettledJohn the Baptist
After me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. (Matthew 3:11 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.
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.