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)
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A step or an ascent is the central concrete picture carried by this Hebrew noun. The surrounding sentence determines whether the reader is looking at a stair, an upward journey or another use of elevation language.
Reader summary
Full entry for מַעֲלָה (H4609) · Open the biblical lexicon
A step or an ascent is the central concrete picture carried by this Hebrew noun. The surrounding sentence determines whether the reader is looking at a stair, an upward journey or another use of elevation language.
The BSB source-word alignment has 47 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include steps (17), of ascents (15), . . . (2), on the stairway (2), and [ten] steps (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 20:26. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (15), Ezekiel (9), 2 Kings (8), Isaiah (5).
A step or an ascent is the central concrete picture carried by this Hebrew noun. The surrounding sentence determines whether the reader is looking at a stair, an upward journey or another use of elevation language. First Kings 10:19 describes six steps belonging to Solomon's throne, and Ezekiel 40:26 describes seven steps leading to a gateway in the prophet's temple vision. These are features of particular structures before they are invitations to reflection. Their numbers and positions should not be turned into a universal sequence of spiritual achievements.
In Second Kings 20:9-11, the steps mark the movement of a shadow in the sign given to Hezekiah. Isaiah announces that the Lord will do what He has promised, and the shadow moves backward in response to the prophet's prayer. The scene concerns a specific divine promise and sign. The noun does not provide a rule for predicting how God will answer another person's request, nor does it explain the physical mechanism of the event. Ezra 7:9 uses ascent language for the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem and attributes Ezra's arrival to God's gracious hand.
The headings of Psalms 120 through 134 also contain this word, conventionally expressed as Songs of Ascents. That heading identifies a collection whose prayers must still be read individually. Psalm 120 begins with distress and a plea for deliverance from deceit, while other psalms in the group have their own concerns. The title by itself does not establish one detailed account of how every song was performed. Moving upward, climbing a stair and praying a song with an ascent heading are related settings to investigate, not interchangeable definitions of spiritual success. Attend first to what rises, where it goes and what the passage actually says about God.
A royal stairway, a promised sign, a visionary gateway, Ezra's journey and a psalm heading locate ascent language in different objects and literary settings.
The 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.
The six steps are part of Solomon's elaborate throne. The description identifies the structure and its splendor without making its elevation a measure of the king's faithfulness.
And 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?”
Isaiah offers a sign tied to the Lord's stated promise to Hezekiah. The steps describe the shadow's movement; the sign's meaning comes from that promise and the following narrative.
Seven steps led up to it, and its portico was opposite them; it had palm trees on its side pillars, one on each side.
Seven steps lead to a measured gateway within Ezekiel's vision. Keep this architectural description in its visionary setting instead of assigning a spiritual virtue to each step.
He had begun the journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was upon him.
Ezra's journey begins in Babylon and reaches Jerusalem under God's gracious hand. The itinerary and explanation belong together, without promising that every faithful person's journey will have the same course.
In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He answered me.
The tagged occurrence belongs to the psalm's ascent heading, rather than the displayed verse's prayer. The prayer itself begins with distress and God's answer; the heading does not replace those stated concerns.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Hebrew word. 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)
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) BDB: step Usage: things that come up, (high) degree, deal, go up, stair, step, story.
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
מַעֲלָה is built from this root:
Ezra 7:9 gives the journey a beginning, a destination and an explanation: God's gracious hand was upon Ezra. The following verse describes his settled commitment to study, practice and teach the Law. A teacher can hold those observations together without making travel success a reward formula or claiming that every interruption reveals deficient devotion. The account tells this particular story of grace and purposeful service.
Other occurrences prevent the image of ascent from becoming too easy. Solomon's steps display royal splendor, Ezekiel's steps belong to a measured vision, and Psalm 120's ascent heading introduces a cry from distress. Height alone cannot establish spiritual condition. The reader should resist promising a smooth upward trajectory and instead ask how each passage directs attention to God, human responsibility or the need for help. Even a song bearing an ascent heading can begin with a troubled voice.
Ezra.7.9
Concrete steps, the act of going up and uses in headings require contextual distinction. A shared noun does not make a royal structure, a journey and a psalm title one theological statement. The meaning of a heading also needs to be distinguished from the wording of the prayer below it.
Hebrews 10:19-22 supplies a thematic comparison concerning approach to God: confidence rests on Jesus' blood and His priesthood. This is not a claim that the Hebrew word for an ascent predicts that passage. It helps prevent an application in which people must climb a series of achievements to earn access to God.