מִנְעָל
𐤌𐤍𐤏𐤋
minʻâl
H4515 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A mechanical fastening device for closing or securing a door, gate, or entrance, commonly translated as 'bolt'. In other contexts, refers to an item of footwear, specifically a 'sandal' or 'shoe', usually constructed by fastening to the foot. The primary lexical meaning is 'bolt' (of a gate or door), with a secondary sense relating to footwear.
Semantic Range
bolt (of gate/door), fastening bar, shoe, sandal
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root נעל (n-ʻ-l), which means 'to bolt, shut, lock; to put on a sandal'. The form מִנְעָל is a noun formation denoting an object associated either with locking/clasping (as in a door bolt) or with footwear which fastens the foot. The original semantic connection involves the concept of closing, fastening, or securing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical Hebrew, מִנְעָל most commonly denotes a bolt or fastening bar used to secure gates or doors, often as a protection against entry (Judges 3:23, 1 Kings 4:13). In later Hebrew usage and some lexical traditions, it can also refer to a sandal or shoe (as seen in rabbinic literature), reflecting semantic overlap due to the shared idea of fastening or securing. The distinction between the senses is often clear from context. English translations usually render the term as 'bolt' in pre-exilic texts. The use for 'shoe' emerges more prominently in later/extra-biblical Hebrew. A related noun, נַעַל (naʻal), more regularly refers to sandals or shoes. The meaning 'bolt' is more prominent in narrative and administrative descriptions in the Hebrew Bible, connected to security or barrier functions.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
xlit manʻâl corrected to minʻâl; from נָעַל; a bolt; shoe.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נעל (n-ʿ-l) — to lock, to bolt, to fasten, to put on a sandal
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4514 | מַנְעוּל | the locking-bolt |
| H5274 | נָעַל | locked |
| H5275 | נַעַל | in the sandals |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4515-01 |
מִנְעָלֶ֑י/ךָ | minealeykha | HNcmpc/Sp2ms |
your bars | your bolts | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4515-01 |
Deuteronomy 33:25 | מִנְעָלֶ֑י/ךָ | minealeykha | HNcmpc/Sp2ms |
your bars | your bolts |