מַעֲלָה
𐤌𐤏𐤋𐤄
maʻălâh
H4609 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A going up, ascent, or step upwards, used both in literal and figurative senses. Primarily denotes a physical step, stair, or upward movement (e.g., an architectural step or stage in a journey), but also describes a social or spiritual elevation, such as increase in status, rank, or spiritual condition. In particular contexts, denotes a stage in a process, a degree or measure of quality, or a thought or intention that arises. In the superscriptions of certain Psalms (Psalms of Ascents), refers specifically to songs associated with pilgrimage or gradual progression toward a holy place.
Semantic Range
step, stair, ascent, upward journey, stage, rank, degree of status, elevation in status, measure, song associated with ascent (especially in Psalms), proposal or intention arising, spiritual progress
Root / Etymology
From the root עלה ('alah), meaning 'to go up, ascend, rise.' The noun form is derived with the feminine ending and denotes the object or result of the action—i.e., 'that which is an ascent, something that rises or is ascended.' The core meaning of the root relates to upward movement, both literal and metaphorical.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Across the Hebrew Bible, מַעֲלָה is used for physical movements upward, such as climbing steps to a temple or moving to a higher ground. Metaphorically, it may refer to increased status (e.g., in Ezekiel's temple vision) or spiritual development. It occurs as a technical term in the titles of Psalms 120–134, commonly called 'Songs of Ascents,' which likely reference pilgrimages to Jerusalem for festivals or ritual approaches to the temple. Modern translations sometimes use terms like 'degree,' 'step,' or 'song of ascent,' but nuances around social, spiritual, and physical elevation should be considered. The noun is distinct from similar words related to journeying or progress (e.g., מסע, 'journey'), emphasizing the aspect of elevation or going up. Later Jewish tradition interpreted these 'songs of ascents' in both liturgical and mystical senses; however, in biblical context, the word is firmly rooted in the idea of ascending or being higher, both literally (steps, stories of a building) and figuratively.
Translation Consistency
“Ascent” best covers the full semantic range of מַעֲלָה — literal stair or upward step, a journey upward, and figurative elevation in rank or spiritual condition. It matches the majority P2 rendering (28/50 “ascents”), fits the established liturgical phrase “Psalms of Ascents,” and reads naturally for both concrete and metaphorical uses (stages, degrees, ranks).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of מַעֲלֶה; elevation, i.e. the act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step or grademark, figuratively, a superiority of station); specifically a climactic progression (in certain Psalms); things that come up, (high) degree, deal, go up, stair, step, story.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
עלה (Ilay) — to go up, ascend, rise
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4605 | מַעַל | upward |
| H4607 | מֹעַל | in hand-raising |
| H4608 | מַעֲלֶה | at the ascent |
| H5866 | עִילַי | Elevated-one |
| H5920 | עַל | upon, over |
Word Forms
16 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4609-05 |
הַֽ/מַּעֲל֖וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of ascents | the ascents | the ascents | 19 |
H4609-08 |
מַעֲל֣וֹת | maalot | HNcfpa |
steps | ascents | ascents | 12 |
H4609-11 |
וּ/מַעֲל֥וֹת | umaalot | HC/Ncfpc |
and-steps | and ascents of | and ascents of | 3 |
H4609-01 |
בַּֽ֠/מַּעֲלוֹת | bamaalot | HRd/Ncfpa |
on the steps | in the ascents | in the ascents | 2 |
H4609-04 |
הַֽ/מַּעֲלָ֖ה | hamaalah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of-high-degree | the ascent | the ascent | 2 |
H4609-15 |
בְ/מַעֲלֹ֖ת | vemaalot | HR/Ncfpa |
by steps | in ascents | in ascents | 2 |
H4609-02 |
בְּ/מַעֲל֥וֹת | bemaalot | HR/Ncfpc |
on the steps | in ascents of | on steps of | 1 |
H4609-03 |
בְּ/מַֽעֲלוֹתָ֑י/ו | bemaalotayv | HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms |
by its steps | in his ascents | by its steps | 1 |
H4609-06 |
לַֽ/מַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת | lamaalot | HRd/Ncfpa |
of ascents | to the ascents | of ascents | 1 |
H4609-07 |
מַעֲלֵ֣ה | maaleh | HNcfsc |
of the ascent | raiser of | the ascent | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
50 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4609-15 |
Exodus 20:26 | בְ/מַעֲלֹ֖ת | vemaalot | HR/Ncfpa |
by steps | in ascents | in ascents |
H4609-07 |
Joshua 10:10 | מַעֲלֵ֣ה | maaleh | HNcfsc |
of the ascent | raiser of | the ascent |
H4609-08 |
1 Kings 10:19 | מַעֲל֣וֹת | maalot | HNcfpa |
steps | ascents | ascents |
H4609-05 |
1 Kings 10:20 | הַֽ/מַּעֲל֖וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
steps | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-05 |
2 Kings 9:13 | הַֽ/מַּעֲל֑וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
steps | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-08 |
2 Kings 20:9 | מַֽעֲל֔וֹת | maalot | HNcfpa |
steps | ascents | ascents |
H4609-08 |
2 Kings 20:9 | מַעֲלֽוֹת | maalot-2 | HNcfpa |
steps | ascents | ascents |
H4609-08 |
2 Kings 20:10 | מַעֲל֑וֹת | maalot | HNcfpa |
steps | ascents | ascents |
H4609-08 |
2 Kings 20:10 | מַעֲלֽוֹת | maalot-2 | HNcfpa |
steps | ascents | ascents |
H4609-01 |
2 Kings 20:11 | בַּֽ֠/מַּעֲלוֹת | bamaalot | HRd/Ncfpa |
on the steps | in the ascents | in the ascents |
H4609-02 |
2 Kings 20:11 | בְּ/מַעֲל֥וֹת | bemaalot | HR/Ncfpc |
on the steps | in ascents of | on steps of |
H4609-08 |
2 Kings 20:11 | מַעֲלֽוֹת | maalot | HNcfpa |
steps | ascents | ascents |
H4609-05 |
Isaiah 38:8 | הַֽ/מַּעֲל֡וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of the steps | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-15 |
Isaiah 38:8 | בְ/מַעֲל֨וֹת | vemaalot | HR/Ncfpc |
on the steps | in ascents | in ascents |
H4609-08 |
Isaiah 38:8 | מַעֲל֑וֹת | maalot | HNcfpa |
steps | ascents | ascents |
H4609-08 |
Isaiah 38:8 | מַעֲל֔וֹת | maalot-2 | HNcfpa |
steps | ascents | ascents |
H4609-01 |
Isaiah 38:8 | בַּֽ/מַּעֲל֖וֹת | bamaalot | HRd/Ncfpa |
on the steps | in the ascents | in the ascents |
H4609-11 |
Ezekiel 11:5 | וּ/מַעֲל֥וֹת | umaalot | HC/Ncfpc |
and-ascents | and ascents of | and ascents of |
H4609-16 |
Ezekiel 40:6 | ב/מעלות/ו | vmlvtv | HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms |
by its steps | by his ascents | by its steps |
H4609-03 |
Ezekiel 40:6 | בְּ/מַֽעֲלוֹתָ֑י/ו | bemaalotayv | HR/Ncfpc/Sp3ms |
by its steps | in his ascents | by its steps |
H4609-14 |
Ezekiel 40:22 | וּ/בְ/מַעֲל֥וֹת | uvemaalot | HC/R/Ncfpa |
and-in-ascents | and in ascents | and in ascents |
H4609-11 |
Ezekiel 40:26 | וּ/מַעֲל֤וֹת | umaalot | HC/Ncfpa |
and-steps | and ascents of | and ascents of |
H4609-11 |
Ezekiel 40:31 | וּ/מַעֲל֥וֹת | umaalot | HC/Ncfpa |
and-steps | and ascents of | and ascents of |
H4609-08 |
Ezekiel 40:34 | מַעֲל֖וֹת | maalot | HNcfpa |
steps | ascents | ascents |
H4609-08 |
Ezekiel 40:37 | מַעֲל֖וֹת | maalot | HNcfpa |
steps | ascents | ascents |
H4609-13 |
Ezekiel 40:49 | וּ/בַֽ/מַּעֲל֔וֹת | uvamaalot | HC/Rd/Ncfpa |
and at the steps | and in ascents | and in the steps |
H4609-12 |
Ezekiel 43:17 | וּ/מַעֲלֹתֵ֖/הוּ | umaalotehu | HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms |
and-its-steps | and his ascents | and his ascents |
H4609-10 |
Amos 9:6 | מעלות/ו | mlvtv | HNcfpc/Sp3ms |
his-ascents | his ascents | his ascents |
H4609-09 |
Amos 9:6 | מַעֲלוֹתָ֔י/ו | maalotayv | HNcfpc/Sp3ms |
his-upper-chambers | his ascents | his upper chambers |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 120:1 | הַֽ/מַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of ascents | the ascents | of the ascents |
H4609-06 |
Psalms 121:1 | לַֽ/מַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת | lamaalot | HRd/Ncfpa |
of ascents | to the ascents | of ascents |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 122:1 | הַֽ/מַּעֲל֗וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of ascents | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 123:1 | הַֽ/מַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of ascents | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 124:1 | הַֽ/מַּעֲל֗וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of-ascents | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 125:1 | הַֽ/מַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of ascents | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 126:1 | הַֽ/מַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of ascents | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 127:1 | הַֽ/מַּֽעֲל֗וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of-ascents | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 128:1 | הַֽ/מַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of ascents | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 129:1 | הַֽ/מַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of ascents | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 130:1 | הַֽ/מַּעֲל֑וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of ascents | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 131:1 | הַֽ/מַּֽעֲל֗וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of Ascents | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 132:1 | הַֽ/מַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of-ascents | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 133:1 | הַֽ/מַּעֲל֗וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of ascents | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-05 |
Psalms 134:1 | הַֽ/מַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
of Ascents | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-04 |
Ezra 7:9 | הַֽ/מַּעֲלָ֖ה | hamaalah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the going up | the ascent | the ascent |
H4609-05 |
Nehemiah 3:15 | הַֽ/מַּעֲל֔וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
the stairs | the ascents | the ascents |
H4609-08 |
Nehemiah 12:37 | מַעֲלוֹת֙ | maalot | HNcfpc |
the steps | ascents | ascents |
H4609-04 |
1 Chronicles 17:17 | הַֽ/מַּעֲלָ֖ה | hamaalah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of-high-degree | the ascent | the ascent |
H4609-08 |
2 Chronicles 9:18 | מַעֲל֣וֹת | maalot | HNcfpa |
steps | ascents | ascents |
H4609-05 |
2 Chronicles 9:19 | הַֽ/מַּעֲל֖וֹת | hamaalot | HTd/Ncfpa |
steps | the ascents | the ascents |