לוּל (lul)
lul
stairs
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The noun lul refers to an opening in a wall that serves as a passage, typically described as a shaft or enclosure containing stairs or a ladder. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in 1 Kings 6:8, where it describes how access was gained to the side chambers of Solomon’s Temple.
While often translated simply as "stairs," the word carries a more structural sense, pointing to the vertical space or shaft itself rather than just the steps. This usage highlights the architectural ingenuity required to build multi-level rooms within the temple walls, allowing people to move between floors through these enclosed vertical passages.
The rarity of this term makes its single occurrence significant. By specifying lul, the text emphasizes the physical reality of the temple’s construction, showing how the builders created a functional interior space despite the constraints of the wall structure. This detail underscores the precision and care involved in erecting such a monumental religious building.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word lul describes the enclosed shaft or opening that made access to the upper levels of Solomon’s Temple possible. It reminds us that God’s dwelling place was not just a spiritual concept but a real, physical structure built with human hands and materials. The builders had to design winding stairs within the wall itself, showing great care and ingenuity in creating space for worship.
This detail invites us to see how God values the practical details of our lives. Just as the temple required precise engineering to connect its floors, our spiritual journey often involves navigating specific, sometimes complex, steps to reach deeper places of faith. The structure stood firm because every part was built with intention.
When we read about these architectural features, we are reminded that God is interested in the whole person—body and spirit. He meets us in the ordinary moments and structures of life, using them to draw us closer to Him. This verse highlights the beauty of a community gathered in a space designed for reverence and connection.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ by/ stairs1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וּ/בְ/לוּלִּ֗ים1×
Key Verses
-
I Kings 6:8
The door for the middle side rooms was in the right side of the house. They went up by winding stairs into the middle floor, and out of the middle into the third.
This is the only occurrence of the word, describing the specific winding stairs that allowed access to the middle floor of Solomon's Temple.