"a strap or thong of leather, Acts 22:25; a shoe-latchet, Mk. 1:7; Lk. 3:16; Jn. 1:27*"
Definition and meaning
a strap or thong of leather, Acts 22:25; a shoe-latchet, Mk. 1:7; Lk. 3:16; Jn. 1:27*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἱμάς
Historical context
The Gospel of Mark moves urgently — the word "immediately" appears over 40 times. It was written for a Roman audience familiar with power and action. Jesus is portrayed as a man who acts, heals, and commands authority that the Roman world had never seen from a Jewish teacher.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of himas (G2438) across the King James Bible.
And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
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Common questions
Strong's G2438 (himas) is a Greek word that means: a strap or thong of leather, Acts 22:25; a shoe-latchet, Mk. 1:7; Lk. 3:16; Jn. 1:27* It appears 4 times in the King James Bible.
The word himas (G2438) appears 4 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2438 is himas, a Greek word defined as: a strap or thong of leather, Acts 22:25; a shoe-latchet, Mk. 1:7; Lk. 3:16; Jn. 1:27*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
himas is a Greek word found in the New Testament.