Word Study · Strong's H4609 · Hebrew
מַעֲלָה
maalah
mah-al-aw'
Strong's 1890 spelling: maʻălâh
“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)”
Strong's Dictionary · 1890 · public domain
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)
Rendered in the KJV as
things that come up, (high) degree, deal, go up, stair, step, story.
- 32occurrencesin the Old Testament
- 10 of 39Old Testament bookswhere the word stands
- 25inflected formsdistinct spellings
Across 32 occurrences
The word itself
Inflected forms · 25
- הַֽמַּעֲלָ֖ה2
- הַֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת2
- וּמַעֲל֥וֹת2
- מַעֲל֣וֹת2
- מַעֲל֑וֹת2
- מַעֲל֖וֹת2
- מַעֲלֽוֹת׃2
- בְמַעֲל֨וֹת1
- בְּמַעֲל֥וֹת1
- בַּֽ֠מַּעֲלוֹת1
- בַּֽמַּעֲל֖וֹת1
- בְּמַֽעֲלוֹתָ֑יו1
and 13 more spellings in the ledger below.
How it is rendered · 14
- steps11
- the steps5
- and [was] steps2
- on [the] steps of2
- on the steps2
- the going up2
- [the] steps of1
- and [the] thoughts of1
- and by steps1
- and on the steps1
- and steps its1
- on steps1
The sense the word carries at each spot — how the translators read it there, not a fixed translation.
How it parses · 14
- noun · feminine plural11
- the definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine plural5
- conjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine plural2
- preposition + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)2
- preposition with the article + noun · feminine plural2
- the definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singular2
- conjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)1
- conjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular1
- conjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine plural1
- conjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · feminine plural1
- noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)1
- noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular1
Show the grammar codes as tagged
- HNcfpa · 11
- HTd/Ncfpa · 5
- HC/Ncfpa · 2
- HR/Ncfpc · 2
- HRd/Ncfpa · 2
- HTd/Ncfsa · 2
- HC/Ncfpc · 1
- HC/Ncfpc/Sp3ms · 1
- HC/R/Ncfpa · 1
- HC/Rd/Ncfpa · 1
- HNcfpc · 1
- HNcfpc/Sp3ms · 1
All 32, in canonical order
The ledger of occurrences
Where this word lives
- Ezekiel9 of 32 · 28%
- 2 Kings8 of 32 · 25%
- Isaiah5 of 32 · 16%
- 1 Kings2 of 32 · 6%
- 2 Chronicles2 of 32 · 6%
Ezekiel carries the most and opens below; every other book is one click.
1 Kings2 occurrences
- 1 Kings 10:19מַעֲל֣וֹתmaalotnoun · feminine pluralThe throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest.here: steps
- 1 Kings 10:20הַֽמַּעֲל֖וֹתhamaalotthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine pluralTwelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.here: the steps
2 Kings8 occurrences
- 2 Kings 9:13הַֽמַּעֲל֑וֹתhamaalotthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine pluralQuickly, each man took his garment and put it under Jehu on the bare steps. Then they blew the ram’s horn and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!”here: the steps
- 2 Kings 20:9מַֽעֲל֔וֹתmaalotnoun · feminine pluralAnd Isaiah had replied, “This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: Would you like the shadow to go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?”here: steps
- 2 Kings 20:9מַעֲלֽוֹת׃maalotnoun · feminine pluralAnd Isaiah had replied, “This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: Would you like the shadow to go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?”here: steps
- 2 Kings 20:10מַעֲל֑וֹתmaalotnoun · feminine plural“It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps,” answered Hezekiah, “but not for it to go back ten steps.”here: steps
- 2 Kings 20:10מַעֲלֽוֹת׃maalotnoun · feminine plural“It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps,” answered Hezekiah, “but not for it to go back ten steps.”here: steps
- 2 Kings 20:11בַּֽ֠מַּעֲלוֹתbamaalotpreposition with the article + noun · feminine pluralSo Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow back the ten steps it had descended on the stairway of Ahaz.here: on the steps
- 2 Kings 20:11בְּמַעֲל֥וֹתbemaalotpreposition + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)So Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow back the ten steps it had descended on the stairway of Ahaz.here: on [the] steps of
- 2 Kings 20:11מַעֲלֽוֹת׃ פmaalotnoun · feminine pluralSo Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow back the ten steps it had descended on the stairway of Ahaz.here: steps
2 Chronicles2 occurrences
- 2 Chronicles 9:18מַעֲל֣וֹתmaalotnoun · feminine pluralThe throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest.here: steps
- 2 Chronicles 9:19הַֽמַּעֲל֖וֹתhamaalotthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine pluralTwelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.here: the steps
Nehemiah2 occurrences
- Nehemiah 3:15הַֽמַּעֲל֔וֹתhamaalotthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine pluralThe Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofed it, and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Shelah near the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that descend from the City of David.here: the steps
- Nehemiah 12:37מַעֲלוֹת֙maalotnoun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)At the Fountain Gate they climbed the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east.here: [the] steps of
Isaiah5 occurrences
- Isaiah 38:8הַֽמַּעֲל֡וֹתhamaalotthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine pluralI will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.here: the steps
- Isaiah 38:8בְמַעֲל֨וֹתvemaalotpreposition + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)I will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.here: on [the] steps of
- Isaiah 38:8מַעֲל֑וֹתmaalotnoun · feminine pluralI will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.here: steps
- Isaiah 38:8מַעֲל֔וֹתmaalotnoun · feminine pluralI will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.here: steps
- Isaiah 38:8בַּֽמַּעֲל֖וֹתbamaalotpreposition with the article + noun · feminine pluralI will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had descended.here: on the steps
Ezekiel9 occurrences
- Ezekiel 11:5וּמַעֲל֥וֹתumaalotconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me and told me to declare that this is what the LORD says: “That is what you are thinking, O house of Israel; and I know the thoughts that arise in your minds.here: and [the] thoughts of
- Ezekiel 40:6בְּמַֽעֲלוֹתָ֑יוbemaalotovpreposition + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singularThen he came to the gate facing east and climbed its steps. He measured the threshold of the gate to be one rod deep.here: on steps its
- Ezekiel 40:22וּבְמַעֲל֥וֹתuvemaalotconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine pluralIts windows, portico, and palm trees had the same measurements as those of the gate facing east. Seven steps led up to it, with its portico opposite them.here: and by steps
- Ezekiel 40:26וּמַעֲל֤וֹתumaalotconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine pluralSeven steps led up to it, and its portico was opposite them; it had palm trees on its side pillars, one on each side.here: and [was] steps
- Ezekiel 40:31וּמַעֲל֥וֹתumaalotconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine pluralIts portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees. Eight steps led up to it.here: and [was] steps
- Ezekiel 40:34מַעֲל֖וֹתmaalotnoun · feminine pluralIts portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.here: steps
- Ezekiel 40:37מַעֲל֖וֹתmaalotnoun · feminine pluralIts portico faced the outer court, and its side pillars were decorated with palm trees on each side. Eight steps led up to it.here: steps
- Ezekiel 40:49וּבַֽמַּעֲל֔וֹתuvamaalotconjunction (“and”) + preposition with the article + noun · feminine pluralThe portico was twenty cubits wide and twelve cubits deep, and ten steps led up to it. There were columns by the side pillars, one on each side.here: and on the steps
- Ezekiel 43:17וּמַעֲלֹתֵ֖הוּumaalotehuconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singularThe ledge shall also be square, fourteen cubits long and fourteen cubits wide, with a rim of half a cubit and a gutter of a cubit all around it. The steps of the altar shall face east.”here: and steps its