מַעֲלֶה (ma.a.leh)

ma.a.leh

ascent

H4608 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 15 verses

H:N-M

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 15 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:N-M

Definition

ascent, incline

Brown-Driver-Briggs

מַעֲלֶה 19 n.m. ascent ascent of hill or mt.; מ׳ עַקְרַבִּים = Scorpion-pass, on S. border of Pal. of stairs; to a wall

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

ascent, incline

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The Hebrew word ma'aleh describes an upward path, a physical climb that often mirrors our spiritual journey. In the ancient landscape of Israel, these ascents were not merely geographical features but significant markers of movement and transition. When we encounter this term in Scripture, it reminds us that faith frequently involves effort, progress, and a deliberate direction toward something higher.

Consider David’s ascent up the Mount of Olives in II Samuel 15:30. He climbed while weeping, his head covered and feet bare, carrying the heavy burden of betrayal and loss. This image shows that our spiritual climbs are not always triumphant marches; often, they are quiet, painful journeys where we bring our sorrow directly to God. The ascent becomes a place of honest prayer and reliance on divine presence amidst turmoil.

Similarly, the prophets use this concept to describe both judgment and hope. The people of Moab fled up these steep paths in grief, yet the very act of moving upward suggests that no situation is static. Our lives involve many such ascents—moments where we must keep climbing despite fatigue or fear. These passages invite us to trust that God meets us on the way, sustaining our steps even when the path is steep and uncertain.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 15 verses where it appears, by frequency.

[the] ascent of4×
on/ [the] ascent of3×
at/ [the] ascent of2×
to/ [the] ascent of1×
of/ [the] ascent of1×
from/ to/ [the] ascent of1×
at the/ ascent1×
[was] from/ [the] ascent of1×
[the] platform of1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

מַעֲלֵ֣ה4×
בְּ/מַעֲלֵ֣ה2×
מַֽעֲלֵ֣ה1×
מִֽ/מַּעֲלֵ֖ה1×
מִֽ/לְ/מַעֲלֵ֖ה1×
לְ/מַעֲלֵ֤ה1×
לְ/מַעֲלֵ֣ה1×
בַּֽ/מַּעֲלֶ֖ה1×
בְּֽ/מַעֲלֵה֮1×
בְּ/מַֽעֲלֵה\־1×
בְ/מַעֲלֵ֨ה1×

Key Verses

II Samuel 15:30
David went up by the ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. All the people who were with him each covered his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

This verse captures the emotional weight of David's exile, showing how ma'aleh frames a moment of profound grief and vulnerability during his flight from Absalom.
Joshua 10:10
Yahweh confused them before Israel. He killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth Horon, and struck them to Azekah and to Makkedah.

Here the ascent serves as a strategic location where divine intervention turns a military retreat into a decisive victory for Israel.
Isaiah 15:5
My heart cries out for Moab! Her nobles flee to Zoar, to Eglath Shelishiyah; for they go up by the ascent of Luhith with weeping; for on the way to Horonaim, they raise up a cry of destruction.

The prophet uses the ascent of Luhith to depict the desperate flight and weeping of Moab's nobles, highlighting the path as one of sorrow and destruction.
Nehemiah 12:37
By the spring gate, and straight before them, they went up by the stairs of David’s city, at the ascent of the wall, above David’s house, even to the water gate eastward.

In this celebratory context, the ascent marks a processional route during the dedication of Jerusalem's walls, symbolizing communal restoration and joy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does ma'aleh mean in the Bible?

Ma'aleh translates to 'ascent' or 'upward path.' It refers to a physical slope or road leading upward, often used to describe specific geographical locations in Israel. Beyond geography, it can symbolize spiritual elevation or the act of moving toward God.

Why is David's ascent significant in II Samuel 15?

In II Samuel 15:30, David’s ascent up the Mount of Olives occurs while he flees from his son Absalom. The text emphasizes his weeping and barefoot state, using the physical climb to mirror his emotional descent into grief and his reliance on God during exile.

How is ma'aleh different from other words for 'up'?

While general verbs like alah mean 'to go up,' ma'aleh specifically denotes the path or place of ascent itself. It is a noun that often functions as a proper name for specific roads or slopes, grounding abstract spiritual concepts in tangible historical locations.

Does this word appear in prophetic books?

Yes, it appears in Isaiah and Jeremiah (e.g., Isaiah 15:5). The prophets use the ascent of Luhith to describe the path taken by fleeing refugees, linking the physical geography of judgment with the emotional reality of weeping and distress.

Every Occurrence (15 verses across 9 books)

Joshua 4 verses

Joshua 10:10

Yahweh confused them before Israel. He killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the…

Joshua 15:3

and it went out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and went up by the south of Kadesh…

Joshua 15:7

The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that faces the ascent of…

Joshua 18:17

It extended northward, went out at En Shemesh, and went out to Geliloth, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim. It…

Judges 2 verses

I Samuel 1 verse

II Samuel 1 verse

II Kings 1 verse

II Chronicles 2 verses

Nehemiah 2 verses

Isaiah 1 verse

Jeremiah 1 verse