Wanton, Mincing—tinkling with Their Feet

K. Douglas Bassett

(Isa. 3:16)

The haughty are defined as those who are proud of self and scornful of others. Wanton is defined as undisciplined, unmanageable, lewd. Mincing is defined as short, feminine steps or as plain speech.

(Monte S. Nyman, Great Are the Words of Isaiah [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1980], 37.)

Sandals consisted merely of soles strapped to the feet; but ladies wore also costly slippers, sometimes embroidered, or adorned with gems, and so arranged that the pressure of the foot emitted a delicate perfume.

(Alfred Edersheim, Sketches of Jewish Social Life [Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994], 199.)

The “tinkling with their feet” may have been made simply by the striking of anklets one upon another, or by bells or other small ornaments attached to the anklets. These anklets were of gold, silver, or iron, according to the taste or means of the wearer, and are still worn by Oriental women. They are sometimes quite heavy, and special pains are taken to strike them together, in order to make a jingle. When they are hollow, as is often the case, the sharp sound is increased. In Egypt and in India some of the anklets have small round bells attached to them, and these bells sometimes have little pebbles in them, which strike like tiny clappers.

(James M. Freeman, Manners and Customs of the Bible [Plainfield, New Jersey: Logos International, 1972], 250.)

The anklets were generally so wrought as in walking to make a sound like little bells. Sometimes the two ankle-rings were fastened together, which would oblige the fair wearer to walk with small, mincing steps.

(Alfred Edersheim, Sketches of Jewish Social Life [Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994], 201.)

Commentaries on Isaiah: In the Book or Mormon

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