English · KJV
H4515

מִנְעָל

minʻâl /man-awl'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom נָעַל
Meaningxlit manʻâl corrected to minʻâl; a bolt
KJV usageshoe.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of minʻâl — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word minʻâl, represented by H4515, is a term for a shoe or bolt. It appears only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. Its sole usage presents a powerful image of strength and endurance.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The single appearance of H4515 is in a blessing given in Deuteronomy 33:25: "Thy shoes H4515 shall be iron H1270 and brass H5178; and as thy days, so shall thy strength H1679 be." In this context, the word signifies more than simple footwear; it symbolizes divine provision for a long and arduous journey, promising protection and unyielding durability for the path ahead.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words from its only context illuminate its meaning:

  • H1270 barzel (iron): Defined as "iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement". In scripture, it often represents unyielding strength, such as when describing an "iron pillar" Jeremiah 1:18 or an "iron furnace" Jeremiah 11:4.
  • H5178 nᵉchôsheth (brass): Meaning "copper, hence, something made of that metal... brasen, brass". This material is also used to symbolize fortitude, such as the "brasen walls" promised to Jeremiah Jeremiah 1:18.
  • H1679 dôbeʼ (strength): Defined as "quiet; strength". This word is used in parallel with the image of the shoes, linking the physical symbol of endurance to the promise of corresponding inner strength Deuteronomy 33:25.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H4515 is tied directly to its unique appearance.

  • Symbol of Divine Equipping: The materials of the shoes H4515, iron and brass, represent extraordinary durability. This imagery suggests that God equips His people with supernatural protection and readiness for challenges, a theme reinforced by promises of "brasen walls" Jeremiah 1:18.
  • Endurance for the Journey: Footwear is for travel. Shoes of iron and brass imply a long or difficult path. The use of H4515 here is a metaphor for the resilient foundation God provides, ensuring His people can withstand the trials of their journey.
  • A Promise of Proportional Strength: The verse structure in Deuteronomy 33:25 explicitly connects the enduring shoes H4515 to the promise that strength H1679 will be supplied according to one's days. The indestructible footwear is a tangible picture of an inexhaustible divine provision that will not fail over time.

Summary

In summary, while H4515 minʻâl is one of the rarest words in the biblical text, its single appearance is rich with theological meaning. It transforms the mundane object of a shoe into a powerful symbol of God-given endurance, protection, and strength. Its context in Deuteronomy 33:25, paired with materials like iron H1270 and brass H5178, provides a lasting image of God's promise to faithfully equip His people for whatever lies ahead.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 1 occurrence, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • מִנְעָלֶי

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H1270 בַּרְזֶל perhaps from the root of בִּרְזוֹת; iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement; (ax) head, iron. H5178 נְחֹשֶׁת for נְחוּשָׁה; copper, hence, something made of that metal, i.e. coin, a fetter; figuratively, base (as compared with go H1679 דֹּבֶא from an unused root (compare דָּבַב) (probably meaning to be sluggish, i.e. restful); quiet; strength.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Deuteronomy — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.