G5265 ὑποδέω (hypodéō)

Having shod (5265) (hupodeo from hupó = under + déo = to bind) means literally to bind under and thus means to bind under one's feet and so put on shoes or sandals. In order to stand firm the soldier must have have secure footing. Having shod is an aorist middle participle, which means do it on your own accord. You don’t need someone else to make you feel guilty if you are not doing it. Do it because Jesus is your Captain, your Lord, your Life. Do it because you have a high view of salvation. Do it because God says to do it in order that you not lack any piece of God's full armor. Paul uses the plural here so is speaking to the church as a whole, composed of Jew and Gentile. Remember that as a result of listening and receiving the word of truth, the gospel of their salvation, the Gentiles have been brought near and are now at peace with Jewish believers through the blood of Christ. So however one interprets this piece of spiritual armor, it is important to remember that the peace that the gospel established results in an army of individual believers who are united under one Head and are to march forward being diligent to preserve that unity in the bond of peace. If Satan can disrupt and divide the foundation of the the Christian army which was wrought by the gospel of peace, then he increases his chances of defeating us in individual battles. A common military practice of the Roman soldiers was to plant sticks in the ground which had been sharpened to a point, burying them just beneath the surface of the ground so that they could not be easily seen. This tactic was potentially debilitating to the enemy because, if the soldier’s foot was pierced, he could not walk and if he could not walk, he clearly could not fight. The thick soled sandals protected their feet from this catastrophe. Wood has an interesting note on the Roman soldier's shoes writing that... Josephus described them as ‘shoes thickly studded with sharp nails’ . . . so as to ensure a good grip. the military successes both of Alexander the Great and of Julius Caesar were due in large measure to their armies’ being well shod and thus able to undertake long marches at incredible speed over rough terrain.” Wuest explains this somewhat difficult to interpret piece of armor this way... The Greek middle is used again in the exhortation, “and having shod your feet“ the responsibility of the Christian soldier. If the Christian soldier is to stand up against the attack of the demons, he must see to it that his feet are properly protected and equipped. The Roman soldier wore sandals which were bound by throngs over the instep and around the ankle, and the soles were thickly studded with nails. This would give him a firm footing in case of attack. The word “preparation” is hetoimazo which was used in classical Greek in the sense of establishment or firm foundation. Thus, the Christian soldier should see to it that his feet are equipped with the sandals which will give him a firm footing, namely, the good news that speaks peace to a sinful heart, for the Lord Jesus made peace by the blood of His Cross, making a way for a holy God to reunite Himself with a believing sinner who in Adam had been separated from Him and His life. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans) (Bolding added) Barnes notes that.. The protection of the feet and ankles consisted of two parts: (1.) the sandals, or shoes, which were probably made so as to cover the foot, and which often were fitted with nails, or armed with spikes, to make the hold firm in the ground; or (2.) with greaves that were fitted to the legs, and designed to defend them from any danger. These greaves, or boots, 1Sa 17:6, were made of brass, and were in almost universal use among the Greeks and Romans. (Albert Barnes. Barnes NT Commentary) There are 3 uses in the NT, the first 2 literal and the one here in Ephesians 6:15 figurative... Mark 6:9 but to wear (KJV = shod with) sandals; and He added, "Do not put on two tunics." Acts 12:8 And the angel said to him, "Gird (zonnumi) yourself and put on (KJV = bind on) your sandals." And he did so. And he said^ to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." Feet (4228)(pous) refers to the foot, the terminal part of the vertebrate leg upon which an individual stands. The Roman soldier wore sandals called caliga, which were thickly studded sandals with cleats on the bottom of them. The cleats were to dig in and stand in the face of battle. Caliga Caliga was a heavy shoe studded with hobnails and worn by the ordinary roman soldier. Soldiers wearing the caliga -- i.e., the ordinary soldiers -- were known as caligati. Germanicus put the caliga on his young son when they were among the soldiers. As a result, he was named "little boots," and became the emperor Caligula. Many of higher rank wore the calceus. The iron hobnails hammered into the sole served three purposes: to reinforce the caligae , to provide the soldier with better traction, and to allow the soldier to inflict damage by kicking with it. Paul advises Christian converts to "put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Eph 6:11)...feet shod with the preparation [firm footing for the foundation] of the gospel of peace" This intimates the firm and solid knowledge of the gospel in which the believer may stand firm and unmoved like soldiers in their military duty. 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