or (feminine) נַעֲלָה; from נָעַל; properly, a sandal tongue; by extension a sandal or slipper (sometimes as a symbol of occupancy, a refusal to marry, or of something valueless); dryshod, (pair of) shoe((-latchet), -s).
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
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.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
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]].
### Related Words & Concepts
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]].
### Theological Significance
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]].
### Summary
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