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מְסִלָּה

𐤌𐤎𐤋𐤄

mᵉçillâh

H4546 noun

SILEX Entry

Root סלל to raise, heap up, lift up, build high, pile up

Definition

An elevated road, highway, or raised pathway; in extended uses, a broad or significant route (literal or metaphorical), sometimes designating an engineered thoroughfare such as a raised causeway, embankment, or roadway prepared for travel. In figurative or poetic texts, may signify a prepared way, path, or course of action, often set apart from regular or unimproved paths.

Semantic Range

raised road, elevated causeway, highway, engineered pathway, route for travel or procession, viaduct, staircase (in rare architectural contexts), figurative way or course of action, ceremonial or royal route

Root / Etymology

Root: סָלַל (to lift up, heap up, pile up, raise). The noun מְסִלָּה is formed with the mem-prefix, indicating instrument or result, and refers to something raised or heaped up. Thus, the word denotes a structure that is elevated or built up, such as an embankment or causeway.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In earlier Israelite contexts (pre-monarchic and monarchic periods), מְסִלָּה primarily refers to a road or passage constructed above the natural grade—especially those intentionally built up for processions (royal, religious) or for more reliable travel, possibly with stones or packed earth. Occasionally, it signifies a road for travelers or armies, or a formal entranceway. In exilic and post-exilic texts, the term acquires more figurative dimensions: preparing a מְסִלָּה before a deity or dignitary becomes a metaphor for making a path open or accessible (e.g., Isa 40:3). Distinct from דֶּרֶךְ (which can mean any road, path, or way, without implication of elevation or construction), מְסִלָּה specifically emphasizes something built up and prominent. English translations that use 'highway,' 'causeway,' 'terrace,' or 'course' capture some of its nuances, but often miss its origin in construction and elevation, as well as its ceremonial or preparatory connotations. The word does not refer to modern highways but rather to ancient engineered roads, with both practical and symbolic significance in Israelite society.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from סָלַל; a thoroughfare (as turnpiked), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase; causeway, course, highway, path, terrace.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

סלל (s-l-l) — raise up, heap up, lift high, build up

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4547 מַסְלוּל raised roadway
H5536 סַל in the woven basket
H5538 סִלָּא Silla
H5549 סָלַל one lifting himself up
H5550 סֹלְלָה the piled-up siege ramps

Word Forms

15 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H4546-07 הַֽ/מְסִּלָּ֑ה hamesilah HTd/Ncfsa the highway the raised roadway 4
H4546-11 מְסִלָּ֔ה mesilah HNcfsa a highway raised roadway 3
H4546-13 מְסִלּ֔וֹת mesilot HNcfpa are the highways raised highways 3
H4546-12 מְסִלַּ֖ת mesilat HNcfsc highway raised causeway of 2
H4546-01 בַּֽ/מְסִלָּ֣ה bamesilah HRd/Ncfsa on the highway on the raised causeway 2
H4546-02 בַּֽ/מְסִלּוֹת֙ bamesilot HRd/Ncfpa in the highways in the raised causeways 2
H4546-04 בִּ/מְסִלַּ֖ת bimesilat HR/Ncfsc on highway in raised roadway of 2
H4546-09 לַֽ/מְסִלָּ֖ה lamesilah HRd/Ncfsa at the causeway to the raised highway 2
H4546-06 בִּ/מְסִלּוֹתָֽ/ם bimesilotam HR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp in their highways in their raised causeways 1
H4546-15 וּ/מְסִלֹּתַ֖/י umesilotay HC/Ncfpc/Sp1cs and-my-highways and my raised highways 1

Occurrences in Scripture

27 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H4546-01 Numbers 20:19 בַּֽ/מְסִלָּ֣ה bamesilah HRd/Ncfsa on the highway on the raised causeway
H4546-14 Judges 5:20 מִ/מְּסִלּוֹתָ֔/ם mimesilotam HR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp from their courses their raised causeways
H4546-02 Judges 20:31 בַּֽ/מְסִלּוֹת֙ bamesilot HRd/Ncfpa on the highways in the raised causeways
H4546-08 Judges 20:32 הַֽ/מְסִלּֽוֹת hamesilot HTd/Ncfpa the roads the raised highways
H4546-02 Judges 20:45 בַּֽ/מְסִלּ֔וֹת bamesilot HRd/Ncfpa in the highways in the raised causeways
H4546-10 Judges 21:19 לִ/מְסִלָּ֔ה limesilah HR/Ncfsa to the highway raised causeway
H4546-03 1 Samuel 6:12 בִּ/מְסִלָּ֣ה bimesilah HR/Ncfsa on the highway in a raised roadway
H4546-07 2 Samuel 20:12 הַֽ/מְסִּלָּ֑ה hamesilah HTd/Ncfsa the highway the raised roadway
H4546-07 2 Samuel 20:12 הַֽ/מְסִלָּ֤ה hamesilah-2 HTd/Ncfsa the highway the raised roadway
H4546-07 2 Samuel 20:13 הַֽ/מְסִלָּ֑ה hamesilah HTd/Ncfsa the highway the raised roadway
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