דָּל (dal)
dal
door
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 69 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun dal is used almost exclusively in a figurative sense to describe a door or gate. While the standard word for a physical door is delet, dal appears primarily in poetic texts to evoke imagery where doors are not merely architectural features but living boundaries. This distinction allows the text to assign agency or personification to structures that would otherwise be inert objects.
One striking example occurs in Psalm 141:3, where David asks God to set a guard over his mouth and a door over his lips. Here, dal metaphorically frames speech as something that can be opened or closed, emphasizing the need for divine help in controlling words. Another vivid usage appears in Isaiah 26:20, where believers are told to hide in their doors, portraying the structure as a protective shelter during times of trouble.
The sources also note several unusual metaphorical applications. The lid of a chest is described with this term, suggesting a covering that conceals what lies within. In Job 41:30, the jaws of a crocodile are likened to doors, highlighting their formidable and impenetrable nature. These varied uses show how dal extends beyond simple architecture to represent any barrier or opening that controls access.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for 'door' in Hebrew often carries a weight of protection and boundary. When we read about shutting a door, it is not just an architectural detail; it is an act of creating safety. In the tense story of Lot in Genesis 19, the closing of the door becomes a literal barrier against chaos. It reminds us that there are times when drawing a line is necessary for our well-being.
Similarly, the image of doors in the temple or home speaks to intimacy and access. Solomon’s temple featured elaborate doors of olive wood, marking the transition from the common to the holy. This suggests that entering into God’s presence requires respect and preparation. The door is a threshold where we decide whether to step forward in faith or stay back.
Ultimately, this word invites us to consider what we are protecting and who we are letting in. It encourages a life where boundaries are respected and access to the divine is cherished. We can find comfort in knowing that God often uses these simple structures to teach us about safety, holiness, and the importance of our choices.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 69 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ door16×
- [the] doors of11×
- doors/ its7×
- doors5×
- doors of4×
- the/ doors3×
- for/ [the] doors of3×
- gates/ its2×
- from/ [the] doors of2×
- doors/ my2×
- and/ doors2×
- and/ [the] doors of2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- דַּלְת֣וֹת9×
- הַ/דֶּ֖לֶת5×
- דַּלְתֹתָ֔י/ו5×
- הַ/דֶּ֙לֶת֙3×
- הַ/דֶּ֔לֶת2×
- דַּלְת֥וֹת2×
- דְּלָתַ֥יִם2×
- דְּלָתַ֔יִם2×
- מִ/דַּלְתֵ֨י1×
- מִ/דַּלְתֵ֤י1×
- לְ/דַלְתוֹת֩1×
- לְ/דַלְתֵ֥י1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 19:6
Lot went out to them through the door, and shut the door after himself.
This verse shows the door as a final act of protection, where Lot shuts it to keep danger out.
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Judges 3:25
They waited until they were ashamed; and behold, he didn’t open the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them, and behold, their lord had fallen down dead on the floor.
Here the locked door becomes a source of confusion and delay for the servants, highlighting how barriers can obscure truth.
-
I Kings 6:31
For the entrance of the inner sanctuary, he made doors of olive wood. The lintel and door posts were a fifth part of the wall.
The description of olive wood doors in the temple emphasizes the care taken to mark the boundary between the holy and the common.
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II Kings 4:4
Go in and shut the door on you and on your sons, and pour oil into all those containers; and set aside those which are full.”
Elisha’s instruction to shut the door creates a private space for prayer and miracle, showing how boundaries can foster spiritual focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word dal mean?
How is dal different from delet?
Why are doors mentioned so often in these verses?
Every Occurrence (69 verses across 21 books)
Genesis 3 verses
Lot went out to them through the door, and shut the door after himself.
Genesis 19:9They said, “Stand back!” Then they said, “This one fellow came in to live as a foreigner, and he appoints himself a…
Genesis 19:10But the men reached out their hand, and brought Lot into the house to them, and shut the door.