מֹ֫עַל (mo.al)
mo.al
lifting
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun mo.al, meaning "lifting," appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Nehemiah 8:6. In this specific context, it describes the physical act of raising hands or perhaps lifting a structure, contributing to the scene of reverence and celebration as Ezra reads the Law before the assembled people.
While the root implies elevation, its singular usage here anchors the concept in a concrete moment of communal worship rather than abstract theology. The word highlights the tangible nature of their response, where physical gestures accompanied spiritual attention, marking a distinct instance of bodily expression within the restoration narrative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word mo.al describes a simple physical act: lifting. In Nehemiah 8:6, the people raised their hands as they answered Amen. This gesture was not just a formality but a natural response to hearing God’s Word read aloud. It shows how worship involves our whole selves—body and spirit together.
When we lift our hands in prayer or praise, we are joining a long tradition of believers expressing reverence. This act reminds us that faith is lived out in tangible ways. Whether you are standing, sitting, or kneeling, your physical posture can reflect your inner devotion to God.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- in/ [the] raising of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בְּ/מֹ֣עַל1×
Key Verses
-
Nehemiah 8:6
Then Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God. All the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground.
This verse captures the specific moment when the people’s physical act of lifting hands accompanied their verbal affirmation, linking bodily gesture with spiritual agreement.