נַ֫עַל
na.al (H5275)
sandal
AI Word Study
# Na'al (נַעַל): The Hebrew Sandal The Hebrew word *na'al* refers to a sandal, one of the basic forms of footwear in ancient Israelite culture. With 22 occurrences across the biblical text, the word appears frequently enough to indicate that sandals held a notable place in daily life and religious practice. The term's consistent definition across these instances suggests a straightforward referent—a type of shoe rather than a broader category of footwear. The frequency and distribution of this word across the biblical corpus indicate that sandals functioned as an ordinary item of material culture. Rather than being merely incidental details, their repeated mention suggests they carried enough importance to warrant specific naming. The prevalence of the term indicates sandals were common enough to be referenced without explanation, reflecting their everyday use among the ancient Hebrew-speaking population. Without access to the specific contextual occurrences, the lexical data alone establishes that *na'al* maintained a stable, singular meaning throughout biblical usage. The word serves as a straightforward vocabulary item for a common object, neither metaphorical nor theologically loaded in its basic definition. Its 22 appearances distribute this practical term throughout the biblical literature in a way that reflects the regular, ordinary nature of sandals in ancient Israelite material life.
AI synthesis uses only provided lexicon data -- never training knowledge.
that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
He said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.”
This is how you shall eat it: with your belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is Yahweh’s Passover.
then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the presence of the elders, and loose his sandal from off his foot, and spit in his face. She shall answer and say, “So shall it be done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.”
His name shall be called in Israel, “The house of him who had his sandal removed.”
I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not grown old on you, and your sandals have not grown old on your feet.
The prince of Yahweh’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals, for the place on which you stand is holy.” Joshua did so.
and old and patched sandals on their feet, and wore old garments. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy.
These wine skins, which we filled, were new; and behold, they are torn. These our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”
Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man took off his sandal, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the way of formalizing transactions in Israel.
So the near kinsman said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself,” then he took off his sandal.
“Moreover you know also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did to me, even what he did to the two captains of the armies of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether, whom he killed, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his sash that was around his waist, and in his sandals that were on his feet.
Moab is my wash basin. I will throw my sandal on Edom. I shout in triumph over Philistia.”
Moab is my wash pot. I will toss my sandal on Edom. I will shout over Philistia.”
How beautiful are your feet in sandals, prince’s daughter! Your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a skillful workman.
No one shall be weary nor stumble among them; no one shall slumber nor sleep, neither shall the belt of their waist be untied, nor the strap of their sandals be broken,
Yahweh will utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his scorching wind he will wave his hand over the River, and will split it into seven streams, and cause men to march over in sandals.
at that time Yahweh spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go, and loosen the sackcloth from off your waist, and take your sandals from off your feet.” He did so, walking naked and barefoot.
Sigh, but not aloud. Make no mourning for the dead. Bind your headdress on you, and put your sandals on your feet. Don’t cover your lips, and don’t eat mourner’s bread.”
Your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You won’t mourn or weep; but you will pine away in your iniquities, and moan one toward another.
Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Israel, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals;
that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals, and sell the sweepings with the wheat?’ ”