Lexical Summary
ma'alah: Ascent, step, stair, elevation, degree
Original Word:מַעֲלָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:ma`alah
Pronunciation:mah-ah-lah
Phonetic Spelling:(mah-al-aw')
KJV: things that come up, (high) degree, deal, go up, stair, step, story
Word Origin:[feminine ofH4608 (מַעֲלֶה - ascent)]
1. elevation
2. (literally, the act) a journey to a higher place
3. (figuratively, the act) a thought arising
4. (literally, the condition) a step or grade-mark
5. (figuratively, the condition) a superiority of station
6. (specifically) a climactic progression (in certain Psalms)
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
things that come up, high degree, deal, go up, stair, step, story
Feminine ofma'aleh; elevation, i.e. The act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step or grade-mark, figuratively, a superiority of station); specifically a climactic progression (in certain Psalms) -- things that come up, (high) degree, deal, go up, stair, step, story.
see HEBREWma'aleh
Brown-Driver-Briggs
I. [] ; — plural construct
Ezekiel 11:5, i.e. your thoughts.
II.46 ; —Ezra 7:9;1 Chronicles 17:17; pluralIsaiah 38:8 +, suffixAmos 9:6, etc.; —
step, stair of templeEzekiel 40:6 5t. 40, and temple porchEzekiel 40:49; of altarExodus 20:26 (E) (forbidden, compare RSOTJC xii, n. l; 2nd ed. 358)Ezekiel 43:17 (prescribed); of house2 Kings 9:13, of throne1 Kings 10:19,20; 2Chronicles 9:18,19; to the city of DavidNehemiah 3:15;Nehemiah 12:37.
steps (forming sun-dial, compare DiIs)2 Kings 20:9 (twice in verse);2 Kings 20:10 (twice in verse);2 Kings 20:11 (3 t. in verse) =Isaiah 38:8 (5 t. in verse)
stories of heavenAmos 9:6.
ascent,Ezra 7:9.
. song of ascents, to the three great pilgrim feasts, i.e. to be sung on way up to Jerusalem, titles ofPsalm 120-134 +Psalm 84:6 We and others —1 Chronicles 17:17 is corrupt, see Commentaries on the passage (and on ""2 Samuel 7:19).
Topical Lexicon
General ScopeThe word מַעֲלָה occurs about forty-seven times in the Hebrew Scriptures, describing any upward movement, grade, or elevation—whether in geography, architecture, worship, or spiritual progress. Its distribution stretches from the early monarchy through the post-exilic period and into prophetic vision, weaving the theme of ascent into Israel’s history and worship life.
Physical Ascents and Architectural Steps
1. Royal and civic architecture: Solomon’s throne rested on “six steps” (1 Kings 10:19;2 Chronicles 9:18), and the Queen of Sheba was awestruck by “the stairway by which he went up to the house of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 9:4). These references show that graded approaches to royal or sacred spaces served to magnify dignity and point hearts upward toward covenant authority.
2. City infrastructure: After the exile Nehemiah rebuilt “the steps of the City of David” (Nehemiah 3:15; 12:37), restoring both defensive function and the symbolic reminder that the capital of God’s people stood on a hill to which the tribes go up.
3. Temple vision: Ezekiel’s tour of the future sanctuary repeatedly notes graded approaches—“seven steps” at the outer gates and “eight steps” at the inner gates (Ezekiel 40:6, 22, 26, 31, 34, 37)—culminating in the altar platform that has “steps facing east” (Ezekiel 43:17). The carefully measured elevations emphasize ordered access into God’s presence.
The Miraculous Sign to Hezekiah
In response to King Hezekiah’s plea for assurance of healing, Isaiah called upon the LORD, and “He brought the shadow back the ten steps it had descended on the stairway of Ahaz” (2 Kings 20:11;Isaiah 38:8). Here מַעֲלָה is both literal (a physical stairway) and symbolic (God sovereign over time and nature). The reversal of the sun’s shadow prophetically affirmed God’s power to prolong life and, by extension, the Davidic dynasty.
Pilgrimage and Worship: The Songs of Ascents
Fifteen psalms (Psalms 120–134) open with the superscription “A Song of Ascents.” These pilgrimage hymns prepared worshipers for the tri-annual feasts in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16). Themes of communal unity (Psalm 133), divine protection (Psalm 121), joyful anticipation (Psalm 122), and priestly blessing (Psalm 134) are framed by the notion of ascending:
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)
The gradual climb toward the Temple mirrored the heart’s upward movement toward the LORD.
Spiritual and Moral Elevation
Beyond physical ascent, מַעֲלָה becomes a metaphor for ethical and spiritual progress. Proverbs likens the path of the righteous to dawning light that “shines ever brighter till the full day” (Proverbs 4:18), an image resonating with upward orientation even when the term itself is absent. The physical motif of climbing steps invites reflection on sanctification—a steady, God-enabled rise from sin toward holiness.
Prophetic and Eschatological Resonance
Ezekiel’s stepped Temple anticipates a restored worship order in the messianic age, when nations will ascend to learn God’s ways (Isaiah 2:2-3). The New Testament continues the trajectory: believers are being “built together into a dwelling place for God” (Ephesians 2:22), an ever-increasing structure that culminates in the heavenly city where “its street was pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:21)—the ultimate, eternal מַעֲלָה.
Practical Ministry Implications
• Worship Planning: Incorporate liturgical journeys—from call to confession to benediction—mirroring the upward flow seen in the Songs of Ascents.
• Discipleship: Teach believers that growth is progressive; each obedient step is part of a divinely ordered stairway.
• Pastoral Care: Hezekiah’s sign encourages trust that God can reverse circumstances, renewing life and purpose.
• Preaching: Physical images of ascent provide concrete illustrations of justification, sanctification, and glorification.
Key References
Genesis 13:1;1 Kings 10:19;2 Kings 20:9-11;2 Chronicles 9:4, 9:18;Nehemiah 3:15;Nehemiah 12:37; Psalms 120–134 titles;Ezekiel 40:6-37;Ezekiel 43:17;Isaiah 38:8.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּמַעֲל֥וֹת בְמַעֲל֨וֹת בְמַעֲלֹ֖ת בַּֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת בְּמַֽעֲלֹותָ֑יו במעלות במעלותיו במעלת הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת הַֽמַּֽעֲל֗וֹת הַֽמַּעֲל֑וֹת הַֽמַּעֲל֔וֹת הַֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת הַֽמַּעֲל֗וֹת הַֽמַּעֲל֡וֹת הַֽמַּעֲלָ֖ה המעלה המעלות וּבְמַעֲל֥וֹת וּבַֽמַּעֲל֔וֹת וּמַעֲל֤וֹת וּמַעֲל֥וֹת וּמַעֲלֹתֵ֖הוּ ובמעלות ומעלות ומעלתהו לַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת למעלות מַֽעֲל֔וֹת מַעֲל֑וֹת מַעֲל֔וֹת מַעֲל֖וֹת מַעֲל֣וֹת מַעֲלֵ֣ה מַעֲלֹותָ֔יו מַעֲלֽוֹת׃ מַעֲלוֹת֙ מעלה מעלות מעלות׃ מעלותיו bam·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ bamma‘ălōwṯ bammaaLot bə·ma·‘ă·lō·w·ṯāw bə·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ ḇə·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ ḇə·ma·‘ă·lōṯ ḇəma‘ălōṯ bəma‘ălōwṯ ḇəma‘ălōwṯ bəma‘ălōwṯāw bemaaLot bemaaloTav ham·ma·‘ă·lāh ham·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ hamma‘ălāh hamma‘ălōwṯ hammaaLah hammaaLot lam·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ lamma‘ălōwṯ lamMaaLot ma‘ălêh ma‘ălōwṯ ma‘ălōwṯāw ma·‘ă·lêh ma·‘ă·lō·w·ṯāw ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ maaLeh maaLot maaloTav ū·ḇam·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ ū·ḇə·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ ū·ma·‘ă·lō·ṯê·hū ū·ma·‘ă·lō·wṯ ūḇamma‘ălōwṯ ūḇəma‘ălōwṯ ūma‘ălōṯêhū ūma‘ălōwṯ umaaLot umaaloTehu uvammaaLot uvemaaLot vemaaLot
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