maala · step; ascent

What it means

maala (מַעֲלָה) is a Hebrew word of the Bible that means “step; ascent”.

Step, stair; going up.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. A step or stair of a stairway.
2. "Song of ascents", the title of psalms sung on the way up to Jerusalem.
3. What is above: a high place, or what rises in the mind.

From Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906)

Word study

Step, ascent: each step of a stairway and, more broadly, the act of going up. It comes from the verb עָלָה, ‘go up’ (H5927).

• The steps of the throne, of the altar, of the temple 1 Kings 10:19Exodus 20:26Ezekiel 40:6
• The shadow that goes back on the steps of Ahaz 2 Kings 20:11Isaiah 38:8
• “A song of the ascents” Psalms 120:1Psalms 122:1
• The going up from Babylon Ezra 7:9

Historical and cultural background

Psalms 120 to 134 bear the title “A song of the ascents”; a note in this edition says that the Hebrew does not explain what the ascents are, and that it may refer to the going up of the pilgrims to Jerusalem for the feasts.

How we translate it

“Steps” 26 times and “ascents” 15, almost all in the title of Psalms 120 to 134. Other contexts ask for another form: “the going up from Babylon” (Ezra 7:9), YHWH’s “upper chambers” in the heavens (Amos 9:6), and “a man of high degree” (1 Chronicles 17:17).

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• steps ×26
• ascents ×15
• stairs ×2
• ascent ×1
• going up ×1
• high degree ×1
• things that come up ×1
• upper chambers ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Exodus×1
• Joshua×1
• 1 Kings×2
• 2 Kings×8
• 1 Chronicles×1
• 2 Chronicles×2
• Ezra×1
• Nehemiah×2
• Psalms×15
• Isaiah×5
• Ezekiel×9
• Amos×1

• Exodus 20:26

  And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, so that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.’ ”

• Joshua 10:10

  And YHWH threw them into confusion before Israel, and he struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and as far as Makkedah.

• 1 Kings 10:19

  There were six steps to the throne, and the top of the throne was round at its back; and there were arms on this side and on that of the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms.

• 1 Kings 10:20

  And twelve lions stood there on the six steps, on this side and on that; nothing like it was made in any kingdom.

• 2 Kings 9:13

  They hurried, and each man took his garment and they put it under him on the bare steps; and they blew the shofar and said, “Jehu is king!”

• 2 Kings 20:9

  Isaiah said, “This shall be to you the sign from YHWH, that YHWH will do the thing that he has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?”

• 2 Kings 20:10

  Hezekiah said, “It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps; no, but let the shadow turn back ten steps backward.”

• 2 Kings 20:11

  Isaiah the prophet cried out to YHWH, and he brought back the shadow on the steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz, backward ten steps.

• 1 Chronicles 17:17

  And this was small in your eyes, Elohim; and you have spoken of the house of your servant for a long time to come; and you have regarded me according to the rank of a man of high degree, YHWH Elohim.

• 2 Chronicles 9:18

  There were six steps to the throne and a footstool of gold, attached to the throne, and arms on this side and on that side of the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms.

• 2 Chronicles 9:19

  Twelve lions stood there on the six steps, on this side and on that side; nothing like it was made for any kingdom.

• Ezra 7:9

  For on the first day of the first month was the beginning of the going up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his Elohim upon him.

• Nehemiah 3:15

  And the Fountain Gate Shallun the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired; he built it and roofed it and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah by the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David.

• Nehemiah 12:37

  And at the Fountain Gate, straight before them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, and as far as the Water Gate on the east.

• Psalms 120:1

  A song of the ascents. To YHWH in my distress I called, and he answered me.

• Psalms 121:1

  A song for the ascents. I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where will come my help?

• Psalms 122:1

  A song of the ascents. Of David. I was glad with those who said to me, “To the house of YHWH we will go.”

• Psalms 123:1

  A song of the ascents. To you I have lifted up my eyes, you who sit in the heavens.

• Psalms 124:1

  A song of the ascents. Of David. Had it not been YHWH who was for us— let Israel say now—

• Psalms 125:1

  A song of the ascents. Those who trust in YHWH are like Mount Zion, which will not be moved; forever it abides.

• Psalms 126:1

  A song of the ascents. When YHWH brought back the captives of Zion, we were like those who dream.

• Psalms 127:1

  A song of the ascents. Of Solomon. If YHWH does not build a house, in vain its builders toil on it; if YHWH does not keep a city, in vain the keeper stays awake.

• Psalms 128:1

  A song of the ascents. Happy is everyone who fears YHWH, who walks in his ways.

• Psalms 129:1

  A song of the ascents. Greatly they have attacked me from my youth— let Israel say now—

• Psalms 130:1

  A song of the ascents. From the depths I have called to you, YHWH.

• Psalms 131:1

  A song of the ascents. Of David. YHWH, my heart has not been lifted up, nor have my eyes been raised high, nor have I walked in great things or in things too wonderful for me.

• Psalms 132:1

  A song of the ascents. Remember, YHWH, for David all his afflictions,

• Psalms 133:1

  A song of the ascents. Of David. Look, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell also together.

• Psalms 134:1

  A song of the ascents. Look, bless YHWH, all you servants of YHWH, who stand in the house of YHWH in the nights.

• Isaiah 38:8

  Look, I am bringing back the shadow on the steps, which has gone down on the steps of Ahaz with the sun, backward ten steps.’” And the sun went back ten steps on the steps by which it had gone down.

• Ezekiel 11:5

  And the spirit of YHWH fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, ‘Thus says YHWH: So you have said, house of Israel; and the things that come up in your spirit, I know them.

• Ezekiel 40:6

  And he came to the gate that faced toward the east, and went up its steps, and measured the threshold of the gate, one reed wide, and the other threshold, one reed wide.

• Ezekiel 40:22

  And its windows and its porticoes and its palm trees were according to the measure of the gate that faced toward the east; and by seven steps they went up to it, and its porticoes were in front of them.

• Ezekiel 40:26

  And seven steps were its ascent, and its porticoes were in front of them; and it had palm trees, one on this side and one on that side, on its pilasters.

• Ezekiel 40:31

  And its porticoes faced the outer court, and palm trees were on its pilasters, and eight steps were its ascent.

• Ezekiel 40:34

  And its porticoes faced the outer court, and palm trees were on its pilasters, on this side and on that side, and eight steps were its ascent.

• Ezekiel 40:37

  And its pilasters faced the outer court, and palm trees were on its pilasters, on this side and on that side, and eight steps were its ascent.

• Ezekiel 40:49

  The length of the portico, twenty cubits, and the width, eleven cubits; and by the steps by which they went up to it; and there were pillars beside the pilasters, one on this side and one on that side.

• Ezekiel 43:17

  And the ledge, fourteen long by fourteen wide, on its four sides; and the border around it, half a cubit, and its base a cubit all around; and its steps face east.”

• Amos 9:6

  the one who builds in the heavens his upper chambers, and has founded his arch on the earth; the one who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth: YHWH is his name.

And 8 more times.