מַנְעוּל (man.ul)
man.ul
bolt
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun man‘ûl refers to a bolt used for locking a door. It appears six times in the Old Testament, with a notable concentration in Nehemiah and the Song of Solomon. In these contexts, it describes the physical mechanism that secures an entrance, keeping the outside world at bay.
In Nehemiah 3:3, the text mentions the sons of Hassenaah repairing the door with its bolts and bars, highlighting the word’s practical use in describing city defenses and home security. This concrete imagery grounds the term in daily life, where locking a door was a necessary act of protection for families and communities.
The Song of Solomon 5:4 offers a more intimate setting, where the beloved reaches for his bolt from within. Here, the word underscores the privacy and exclusivity of the relationship, turning a simple architectural feature into a symbol of personal connection and guarded intimacy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word man‘ûl refers to the bolt that secures a door, keeping what is precious safe from the chaos outside. In Nehemiah, this simple hardware was vital for rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, showing how God uses ordinary acts of diligence to restore community safety and order.
In Song of Solomon 5:5, the image shifts to something tender. The beloved reaches for the bolt inside, a gesture that speaks of mutual trust and the warmth of an open heart. This contrast reminds us that while we need protection from harm, we also long for the safe intimacy of being known and welcomed by those we love.
Whether in the busy work of rebuilding or the quiet moments of connection, this word highlights the value of security and the blessing of shared space. It invites us to consider how we guard our hearts and how we open them to others.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- bolts/ its4×
- the/ bolt1×
- and/ bolts/ its1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַנְעֻלָ֖י/ו3×
- מַנְעוּלָ֖י/ו1×
- וּ/מַנְעֻלָ֖י/ו1×
- הַ/מַּנְעֽוּל\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 3:3
The sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
This occurrence grounds the word in the practical, communal effort of restoring Jerusalem's defenses.
-
Nehemiah 3:15
Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the spring gate. He built it, covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars; and he repaired the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king’s garden, even to the stairs that go down from David’s city.
Here the bolt is part of a comprehensive repair that includes covering the gate and securing the king’s garden area.
-
Song of Solomon 5:5
I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock.
This verse uniquely places the bolt on the inside, symbolizing voluntary intimacy and trust between partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Hebrew word man‘ûl mean?
Why is man‘ûl mentioned in Nehemiah?
How is the word used in Song of Solomon?
Every Occurrence (6 verses across 2 books)
Nehemiah 5 verses
The sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
Nehemiah 3:6Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the old gate. They laid its beams and set up its…
Nehemiah 3:13Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its…
Nehemiah 3:14Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth Haccherem, repaired the dung gate. He built it, and set…
Nehemiah 3:15Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the spring gate. He built it, covered it,…