---
title: מַעֲלָה — step · The Tanakh dictionary
description: מַעֲלָה (4609), a word of Biblical Hebrew, used 47 times: step. BDB 1906: n.f. step, stair. With 2 verses in Hebrew, word for word and JPS 1917.
---

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# מַעֲלָה

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«מַעֲלָה» in the Tanakh dictionary: **step** — how often it is used, MACULA's glosses, its meanings in the printed dictionaries and why they were chosen, and 2 verses in layers.

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**Used:** 47 times · **Key:** 4609 · **BDB:** מַעֲלָה²

### Glosses

steps (23); the.ascents (14); the.steps (5)

### Meaning (OSHB)

step [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1502/4609/#m1)

### Meaning (BDB 1906)

n.f. step, stair [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1502/4609/#m2)

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**The whole BDB entry:** n.f. step, stair;—מ׳ Ezr 7:9; 1 Ch 17:17; pl. מַעֲלוֹת Is 38:8 +, sf. מַעֲלֹתָו֯ Am 9:6, etc.;— step, stair of temple Ez 40:6 + 5 times 40, and temple porch 40:49; of altar Ex 20:26 (E) (forbidden, cf. RSOTJC xii, n. 1; 2nd ed. 358) Ez 43:17 (prescribed); of house 2 K 9:13, of throne 1 K 10:19, 20; 2 Ch 9:18, 19; to the city of David Ne 3:15; 12:37. steps (forming sun-dial, cf. Di Is) 2 K 20:9(×2), 10(×2), 11(×3) = Is 38:8(×5). stories of heaven Am 9:6. ascent מִבָּבֶל Ezr 7:9. שִׁיר (ל)הַמַּעֲלוֹת song of ascents, to the three great pilgrim feasts, i.e. to be sung on way up to Jerusalem, titles of ψψ 120–134 + 84:6 We al.—כְּתוֹר הארם המעלה 1 Ch 17:17 is crpt., v. Comm.ad loc. (and on ‖ 2 S 7:19).

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Why these entries: BDB: headword, part of speech agrees, 17 of its verses cited, 0 words shared with the glosses, lists its Strong's number (4 candidates); OSHB: headword, part of speech agrees, 1 words shared with the BDB entry, 0 with the glosses (3 candidates)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every English meaning of «מַעֲלָה» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1502/4609/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.

### In the verses

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[Psalms 130:1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PSA.130.1/)

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שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֑וֹתמִמַּעֲמַקִּ֖ים קְרָאתִ֣יךָ יְהוָֽה׃

*Word for word:* the.song of the.ascents from.\[the\] depths I call.out.to.you O.Yahweh

*JPS 1917:* A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths have I called Thee, O LORD.

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[Psalms 132:1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PSA.132.1/)

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שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹתזְכוֹר־יְהוָ֥ה לְדָוִ֑ד אֵ֝ת כָּל־עֻנּוֹתֽוֹ׃

*Word for word:* the.song of the.ascents remember O.Yahweh to David (et) all his.being afflicted

*JPS 1917:* A Song of Ascents. LORD, remember unto David all his affliction;

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