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נָעַל

𐤍𐤏𐤋

nâʻal

H5274 verb

SILEX Entry

Root נעל to close, to fasten, to lock, to bind on

Definition

To close or secure (a door, gate, or entrance), to lock or bolt; to fasten or bind on (sandals or shoes). The verb in various contexts refers both to the act of securing an enclosure against entry or exit and to the action of affixing footwear to the feet.

Semantic Range

to lock, to bolt, to shut or close (gates, doors), to enclose, to fasten (sandals/shoes), to put on footwear, to secure

Root / Etymology

Root: נעל. The root meaning relates primarily to the idea of closing or fastening. The denominative use derives from the noun נַעַל (naʻal, 'sandal' or 'shoe'), with the verb reflecting the act of fastening on sandals. Thus, the root-level concept is 'to close, to fasten,' and the verb form extends this to closing doors/gates and fastening footwear.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, נָעַל is commonly used in narrative and legal texts describing the physical act of shutting or locking doors or gates, indicating security or protection. It also appears in ritual or symbolic contexts, underscoring the significance of entry or exclusion (e.g., Judges 3:23 where Ehud locks the doors). The denominative sense (to sandal, to put on footwear) is less frequent and more apparent in later Hebrew and Aramaic usage, but can occur elsewhere in the biblical corpus. English translations sometimes obscure the specific action by using terms like 'shut up'; however, the nuance often relates directly to physical acts of closure or fastening, especially with tangible objects (doors, gates, footwear) rather than abstract enclosure. This verb is distinct from other Hebrew terms for closing (e.g., סָגַר), which may focus more on the completion of an act or the establishment of boundaries rather than the act of fastening or securing. With the rise of urban life in monarchic and post-exilic periods, נָעַל's association with gates and communal security is more prominent. Later Jewish usage developed a technical vocabulary for locking and unlocking based partly on this root.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; also denominative from נַעַל; properly, to fasten up, i.e. with abar or cord; hence, to sandal, i.e. furnish with slippers; bolt, inclose, lock, shoe, shut up.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נעל (n-ʿ-l) — to close, to fasten, to lock, to bind on

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4514 מַנְעוּל the locking-bolt
H4515 מִנְעָל your bolts
H5275 נַעַל in the sandals

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5274-01 נָע֖וּל naul HVqsmsa locked locked 2
H5274-06 וְ/נָעָֽל venaal HC/Vqp3ms and-bolted and he locked 2
H5274-05 וַ֠/יַּנְעִלוּ/ם vayaneilum HC/Vhw3mp/Sp3mp and shod them and they fastened them 1
H5274-03 וּ/נְעֹ֥ל uneol HC/Vqv2ms and bolt and fasten! 1
H5274-04 וָ/אֶנְעֲלֵ֖/ךְ vaenealekhe HC/Vqw1cs/Sp2fs and I shod you and I fastened you 1
H5274-02 נְעֻל֑וֹת neulot HVqsfpa were locked closed ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5274-06 Judges 3:23 וְ/נָעָֽל venaal HC/Vqp3ms and locked them and he locked
H5274-02 Judges 3:24 נְעֻל֑וֹת neulot HVqsfpa were locked closed ones
H5274-03 2 Samuel 13:17 וּ/נְעֹ֥ל uneol HC/Vqv2ms and bolt and fasten!
H5274-06 2 Samuel 13:18 וְ/נָעַ֥ל venaal HC/Vqp3ms and-bolted and he locked
H5274-04 Ezekiel 16:10 וָ/אֶנְעֲלֵ֖/ךְ vaenealekhe HC/Vqw1cs/Sp2fs and I shod you and I fastened you
H5274-01 Song of Songs 4:12 נָע֖וּל naul HVqsmsa locked locked
H5274-01 Song of Songs 4:12 נָע֖וּל naul-2 HVqsmsa locked locked
H5274-05 2 Chronicles 28:15 וַ֠/יַּנְעִלוּ/ם vayaneilum HC/Vhw3mp/Sp3mp and shod them and they fastened them
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