מַ֫עַל
ma.al
above
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Hebrew word "ma'al" (H4605) is translated as "above" and appears 140 times in the Bible. This widespread usage suggests that the concept of being above something is a fundamental aspect of the Hebrew language and culture. The word can imply being physically superior, higher in position or status, or even being in a transcendent or elevated state. In its various occurrences, "ma'al" is used in a range of contexts, including geographical descriptions (e.g., mountains being above valleys), social hierarchies (e.g., royalty or leaders being above their subjects), and spiritual states (e.g., being above sin or worldly concerns). This versatility highlights the word's significance in conveying a sense of superiority, elevation, or transcendence. The fact that it is used so frequently in the Bible underscores its importance in the Hebrew worldview. The abundance of "ma'al" in the Bible may also indicate that the concept of being above was a key theme in the ancient Hebrew understanding of the world and their relationship with God. This could suggest that the idea of being elevated or superior played a significant role in their theology and spirituality, although this interpretation would require further analysis of the word's specific occurrences.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
140 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
The Levites, of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites, stood up to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel, with an exceedingly loud voice.
2 Chronicles 25:5Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and ordered them according to their fathers’ houses, under captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, even all Judah and Benjamin. He counted them from twenty years old and upward, and found that there were three hundred thousand chosen men, able to go out to war, who could handle spear and shield.
2 Chronicles 26:8The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah. His name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he grew exceedingly strong.
2 Chronicles 31:16in addition to those who were listed by genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone who entered into Yahweh’s house, as the duty of every day required, for their service in their offices according to their divisions;
2 Chronicles 31:17and those who were listed by genealogy of the priests by their fathers’ houses, and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their divisions;
2 Chronicles 34:4They broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; and he cut down the incense altars that were on high above them. He broke the Asherah poles, the engraved images, and the molten images in pieces, made dust of them, and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.
Ezra 3:8Now in the second year of their coming to God’s house at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of Yahweh’s house.
Ezra 9:6and I said, “My God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my God; for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the heavens.
Job 3:4Let that day be darkness. Don’t let God from above seek for it, neither let the light shine on it.
Job 18:16His roots will be dried up beneath. His branch will be cut off above.
Job 31:2For what is the portion from God above, and the heritage from the Almighty on high?
Job 31:28this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges; for I should have denied the God who is above.
Psalms 74:5They behaved like men wielding axes, cutting through a thicket of trees.
Psalms 78:23Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven.
Proverbs 8:28when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
Proverbs 15:24The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.
Numbers 14:29Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness; and all who were counted of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, who have complained against me,
Ecclesiastes 3:21Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, whether it goes downward to the earth?”
Isaiah 6:2Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With two he covered his feet. With two he flew.
Isaiah 45:8Rain, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open, that it may produce salvation, and let it cause righteousness to spring up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it.
Isaiah 8:21They will pass through it, very distressed and hungry. It will happen that when they are hungry, they will worry, and curse by their king and by their God. They will turn their faces upward,
Isaiah 14:13You said in your heart, “I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north!
Isaiah 37:31The remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah will again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
Jeremiah 4:28For this the earth will mourn, and the heavens above be black, because I have spoken it. I have planned it, and I have not repented, neither will I turn back from it.”
Jeremiah 31:37Yahweh says: “If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,” says Yahweh.
Jeremiah 35:4and I brought them into Yahweh’s house, into the room of the sons of Hanan the son of Igdaliah, the man of God, which was by the room of the princes, which was above the room of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the threshold.
Jeremiah 43:10and tell them, Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne on these stones that I have hidden; and he will spread his royal pavilion over them.
Jeremiah 52:32He spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings who were with him in Babylon,
Ezekiel 1:11Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and two covered their bodies.
Ezekiel 1:22Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like an awesome crystal to look at, stretched out over their heads above.
Ezekiel 1:26Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone. On the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.
Ezekiel 1:26Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone. On the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.
Ezekiel 1:27I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him.
Ezekiel 8:2Then I saw, and behold, a likeness as the appearance of fire; from the appearance of his waist and downward, fire; and from his waist and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as it were glowing metal.
Ezekiel 10:19The cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight when they went out, with the wheels beside them. Then they stood at the door of the east gate of Yahweh’s house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
Ezekiel 11:22Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, and the wheels were beside them. The glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
Ezekiel 37:8I saw, and, behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.
Ezekiel 41:7The side rooms were wider on the higher levels, because the walls were narrower at the higher levels. Therefore the width of the house increased upward; and so one went up from the lowest level to the highest through the middle level.
Ezekiel 41:7The side rooms were wider on the higher levels, because the walls were narrower at the higher levels. Therefore the width of the house increased upward; and so one went up from the lowest level to the highest through the middle level.
Ezekiel 41:7The side rooms were wider on the higher levels, because the walls were narrower at the higher levels. Therefore the width of the house increased upward; and so one went up from the lowest level to the highest through the middle level.
Ezekiel 41:7The side rooms were wider on the higher levels, because the walls were narrower at the higher levels. Therefore the width of the house increased upward; and so one went up from the lowest level to the highest through the middle level.
Ezekiel 41:7The side rooms were wider on the higher levels, because the walls were narrower at the higher levels. Therefore the width of the house increased upward; and so one went up from the lowest level to the highest through the middle level.
Ezekiel 43:15The upper altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth and upward there shall be four horns.
Daniel 12:6One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be to the end of these wonders?”
Daniel 12:7I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it will be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have finished breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things will be finished.
Amos 2:9Yet I destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.
Haggai 2:15Now, please consider from this day and backward, before a stone was laid on a stone in Yahweh’s temple.
Haggai 2:18‘Consider, please, from this day and backward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of Yahweh’s temple was laid, consider it.
Isaiah 7:11“Ask a sign of Yahweh your God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.”
Genesis 6:16You shall make a roof in the ship, and you shall finish it to a cubit upward. You shall set the door of the ship in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third levels.