The Hebrew word naʻal, represented by H5275, is the term for a sandal or slipper. It appears 22 times in 22 unique verses. While its primary meaning is footwear, it is extended to serve as a powerful symbol for legal occupancy, the refusal of a kinsman to marry, and as a measure of something utterly valueless.
In the biblical narrative, H5275 is used in several significant contexts. It denotes an act of reverence, as when Moses is commanded to "put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground" Exodus 3:5, a command later given to Joshua Joshua 5:15. It signifies readiness and urgency, as the Israelites were to eat the Passover with their shoes on their feet Exodus 12:11. The term also functions in legal and social testimonies. In a transfer of property, a man would pluck off his shoe to confirm the transaction Ruth 4:7, and the refusal to perform a levirate marriage was symbolized by the woman loosing her brother-in-law's shoe Deuteronomy 25:9.
Several related words help define the actions and concepts associated with footwear:
- H2502 châlats (to pull off): This verb is used for the legal act of removing a shoe to signify the refusal of a kinsman's duty, as when the brother's wife is instructed to "loose his shoe from off his foot" Deuteronomy 25:9.
- H5394 nâshal (to pluck off): This word describes the act of removing footwear as a sign of respect on holy ground, as in the command to "put off thy shoes" before God's presence Exodus 3:5.
- H3182 yâchêph (unsandalled; barefoot, being unshod): This term describes the state resulting from removing one's shoes. Isaiah was commanded to walk naked and barefoot as a prophetic sign Isaiah 20:2.
- H8288 sᵉrôwk (a thong (as laced or tied); (shoe-)latchet): This refers to a part of the sandal and is used to signify something of negligible value. Abram refused to take anything from the king of Sodom, "even to a shoelatchet" Genesis 14:23.
The symbolic weight of H5275 is significant, representing a range of concepts from the sacred to the mundane.
- Legal Testimony: The removal of a shoe served as a public confirmation of a legal transaction or a refusal of duty. This is seen in the redemption of land Ruth 4:7 and the law concerning a brother's widow Deuteronomy 25:9-10.
- Symbol of Value: The term is used to represent something of very little worth. The sin of Israel is condemned because they "sold the poor for a pair of shoes" (Amos 2:6, Amos 8:6).
- Divine Provision and Ownership: God miraculously kept the Israelites' shoe from wearing out during their forty years in the wilderness Deuteronomy 29:5. In contrast, casting a shoe over a territory symbolized taking possession of it Psalms 60:8.
- Reverence and Mourning: Removing one's shoes was an act of humility and respect in a holy place Joshua 5:15. Conversely, Ezekiel was told not to mourn by keeping his shoes on his feet, a subversion of normal mourning practices Ezekiel 24:17.
In summary, H5275 is far more than a simple article of clothing. It is a word imbued with legal, social, and theological meaning. It functions as a tool for legal testimony, a benchmark for value, and a signifier of one's posture before God and man—whether in readiness for a journey, humility on holy ground, or the deep injustice of devaluing a human life to the price of a pair of shoes.
TRV