H4609b H4609b
Step, stair; ascent; psalm title 'Song of Ascents' for the pilgrimage psalms (Pss 120-134); upper story
Refers to a physical step or stairway, such as those of the temple courts, an altar, a throne, or a city gate. The plural form appears famously in the superscriptions of Psalms 120-134 as shir hamma'alot, 'Song of Ascents,' likely denoting the pilgrimage songs sung by worshippers going up to Jerusalem for the great feasts. French 'degre' and German 'Stufen' consistently reflect the concrete architectural sense, while Spanish 'subidas' captures the pilgrimage ascent. In a unique cosmic image, Amos 9:6 uses it for the 'upper stories' of heaven, God's exalted dwelling place.
1. steps, stairs, stairway — Physical steps or stairs belonging to a structure such as the temple gates (Ezek 40:6, 22, 26), the altar (Exod 20:26; Ezek 43:17), Solomon's throne (1 Kgs 10:19-20), a royal house (2 Kgs 9:13), or the city of David (Neh 3:15; 12:37). Also the graduated steps of the sundial of Ahaz (2 Kgs 20:9-11 = Isa 38:8). French 'marches' and German 'Stufen' point clearly to architectural stairs, while English and Spanish shift between 'steps' and 'gradas.' 31×
AR["الدَّرَجاتِ","المَراقِي","دَرَجاتٍ","دَرَجَاتٍ","فِي-الدَّرَجَاتِ","فِي-دَرَجَاتِ","وَبِدَرَجَاتٍ","وَبِسَبْعِ","وَدَرَجَاتُ"]·ben["এবং-সিঁড়ি","এবং-সিঁড়িতে","ধাপ","ধাপগুলিতে","ধাপের","সিঁড়ি","সিঁড়িগুলি","সিঁড়িতে"]·DE["Stufen","[במעלות]","[המעלות]","[מעלות]","auf-der-steps","auf-steps-von","der-Stufen","steps","und-in-Stufen","und-von-Brandopfer"]·EN["and-by-steps","and-by-the-steps","and-returned","and-steps","of-Achaz","on-steps-of","on-the-steps","steps","the-stairs","the-steps"]·FR["degré","et-degré","marches","sur-le-marches","sur-marches-de"]·heb["ב-מעלות","ה-מעלות","ו-ב-מעלות","ו-מעלות","מַעֲלוֹת","מעלות"]·HI["और-सीढ़ियाँ","और-सीढ़ियों-से","बा-सीढ़ियों-पर","बे-सीढ़ियों-पर","सीढ़ियाँ","सीढ़ियां","सीढ़ियों-पर","सीढ़ियों-में"]·ID["anak-tangga","dan-dengan-tangga","dan-tangga","di-tangga","di-tangga-tangga","tangga","tangga-tangga"]·IT["da-olocausti","e-da-olocausti","e-gradino","gradini","gradino","su-gradini-di","su-il-gradini"]·jav["Ahas","ing-undhak-undhakan","lan-kanthi-undhak-undhakan","lan-undhak-undhakan","undakan","undhak-undhakan","undhakan","utawi-"]·KO["계단들","계단들-이","계단들이","그-계단들","그리고-계단들","그리고-계단들-에서","그리고-그-계단들-에서","단계","단계들에서","단을","해시계에"]·PT["E-degraus","as-escadas","degraus","e-degraus","e-pelos-degraus","nos-degraus","nos-degraus-de","os-degraus"]·RU["и-по-ступеням","и-ступени","на-ступенях","по-ступеням","ступеней","ступенях"]·ES["Y-gradas-de","en-grados-de","en-los-grados","escalones","gradas","grados","las-gradas","y-gradas-de","y-por-gradas-de","y-por-las-gradas"]·SW["Na-ngazi","hatua","katika-hatua","kwenye-ngazi","na-kwa-ngazi","na-ngazi","ngazi"]·TR["-basamaklarda","basamak","basamaklarinda","basamağı","merdivenlere","ve-basamaklar","ve-basamaklarla"]·urd["اور-سیڑھیاں","اور-سیڑھیوں-سے","درجے","سیڑھیاں","سیڑھیوں","سیڑھیوں-پر","سیڑھیوں-کی","میں-درجوں"]
Exod 20:26, 1 Kgs 10:19, 1 Kgs 10:20, 2 Kgs 9:13, 2 Kgs 20:9, 2 Kgs 20:9, 2 Kgs 20:10, 2 Kgs 20:10, 2 Kgs 20:11, 2 Kgs 20:11, 2 Kgs 20:11, 2 Chr 9:18 (+19 more)
▼ 3 more senses below
Senses
2. song of ascents (psalm title) — A fixed liturgical heading, shir hamma'alot, introducing each of Psalms 120-134. The 'ascents' likely refer to the pilgrimage procession ascending to Jerusalem's temple mount for the three annual feasts. Spanish 'subidas' foregrounds the upward journey, while French 'degre' retains the step imagery, suggesting the tradition that Levitical singers stood on the fifteen temple steps. 15×
AR["الـمَصاعِد","المَصاعِد","لِـ-المَصَاعِدِ","لِلمَصاعِد"]·ben["-আরোহণের","আরোহণের-"]·DE["der-ascents","von-der-ascents"]·EN["of-the-ascents","the-ascents"]·FR["le-degré","à-degré"]·heb["ה-מעלות","ל-ה-מעלות"]·HI["-चढ़ावों-का","चढ़ावों-का"]·ID["Ziarah","ziarah"]·IT["delle-ascensioni"]·jav["kanggo-minggah","kanggé-munggah"]·KO["올라가는-노래","올라감-의"]·PT["das-subidas"]·RU["восхождений","восхождения"]·ES["de-las-subidas"]·SW["wa-kupanda"]·TR["çıkışların"]·urd["چڑھاؤ-کا"]
3. ascent, going up — The abstract act or route of going up, as in the ascent from Babylon to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:9) or the ascent of Beth-horon (Josh 10:10). Spanish 'la subida' and English 'the going up' both capture the sense of an upward geographical journey or road. 2×
AR["الصُّعُود","صُعودِ"]·ben["আরোহণের","যাত্রার"]·DE["[המעלה]","der-ascent-von"]·EN["the-ascent-of","the-going-up"]·FR["degré","le-ascent-de"]·heb["ה-מעלה","מעלה"]·HI["चढ़ाई"]·ID["keberangkatan","pendakian"]·IT["gradino","il-ascent-di"]·jav["kang-minggah","pendakian-"]·KO["그-올라감","오르막의"]·PT["a-subida","subida-de"]·RU["восхождение","подъёма"]·ES["la-subida","subida-de"]·SW["kupanda","mwpando-wa"]·TR["cikisinin","yokuşunun"]·urd["ال-چڑھنے-کی","چڑھائی"]
4. upper story, elevated place — An elevated or upper place, used uniquely in 1 Chronicles 17:17 where David speaks of God showing him things 'on high' or as pertaining to an exalted degree. Amos 9:6 similarly describes God's upper stories in heaven. The sense moves from physical steps to metaphorical height and divine exaltation. 1×
AR["الْعَالِي"]·ben["যেমন"]·DE["Stufe"]·EN["the-exalted"]·FR["degré"]·heb["ה-מעלה"]·HI["ऊँची"]·ID["yang-tinggi"]·IT["gradino"]·jav["inggil"]·KO["그-높은"]·PT["a-elevação"]·RU["·-высокого"]·ES["la-altura"]·SW["wa-juu"]·TR["yükselişin"]·urd["بلندی-کی"]
Related Senses
H5921a 1. upon, on, over (spatial) (5443×)H0413 1. directional: to, toward (5366×)H1121a 1. son, male offspring, descendant (4914×)H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)H4428 1. king, human ruler (2518×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)H6440 1. before, in front of (spatial) (1870×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H3027 1. physical hand (body part) (1596×)H1697 1. word, speech, utterance (1235×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
II. מַעֲלָה46 n.f. step, stair;—מ׳ Ezr 7:9; 1 Ch 17:17; pl. מַעֲלוֹת Is 38:8 +, sf. מַעֲלֹתָו֯ Am 9:6, etc.;— 1. 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. 2. steps (forming sun-dial,…