Lexical Definition

‎מַעֲלָה‎ maʻălâh (mah-al-aw') thought ^H:N-F
feminine of ‎מַעֲלֶה‎

things that come up, (high) degree, deal, go up, stair, step, story.

• elevation, i.e. the act (literally, a journey to a higher place, figuratively, a thought arising), or (concretely) the condition (literally, a step or grademark, figuratively, a superiority of station)
• specifically a climactic progression (in certain Psalms)

1) what comes up, thoughts
2) step, stair
2a) step, stair
2b) steps (of sundial)
2c) stories (of heaven)
2d) ascent
2e) song of ascent
2e1) to the three great pilgrim feasts (Psalm titles)

See Greek: ἀναβαθμός · βαθμός · ἐπάνω

Brown-Driver-Briggs

I. [‎מַעֲלָה‎] noun feminine what comes up; — plural construct ‎מַעֲלוֺת רוּחֲכֶם‎ Ezek 11:5, i.e. your thoughts.

II. ‎מַעֲלָה‎₄₆ noun feminine step, stair; — ‎׳‎‎מ‎ Ezra 7:9; 1Chr 17:17 plural ‎מַעֲלוֺת‎ Isa 38:8 +, suffix ‎מַעֲלֹתָו֯‎ Amos 9:6, etc.; —

1. step, stair of temple Ezek 40:6 + 5 t. 40, and temple porch Ezek 40:49 of altar Exod 20:26 (E) (forbidden, compare RS^{OTJC xii, n. l; 2nd ed. 358}) Ezek 43:17 (prescribed); of house 2Kgs 9:13, of throne 1Kgs 10:19; 1Kgs 10:20; 2Chr 9:18; 2Chr 9:19 to the city of David Neh 3:15; Neh 12:37.

2. steps (forming sun-dial, compare Di^Is) 2Kgs 20:9 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 20:10 (twice in verse); 2Kgs 20:11 (3 t. in verse) = Isa 38:8 (5 t. in verse)

3. stories of heaven Amos 9:6.

4. ascent, ‎מִבָּבֶל‎ Ezra 7:9. 5. ‎(ל)הַמַּעֲלוֺת‎ ‎שִׁיר‎ song of ascents, to the three great pilgrim feasts, i.e. to be sung on way up to Jerusalem, titles of Psalms 120-134 + Ps 84:6* We and others — ‎כְּתוֺר האדם המעלה‎ 1Chr 17:17 is corrupt, see Commentaries on the passage (and on || 2Sam 7:19).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References