What does מְסִלָּה (mĕsillāh) mean in the Bible?
מְסִלָּה (mĕsillāh): Engineered pathway suggesting intentional construction and preparation, often used metaphorically for God's way or moral course
Hebrew · H4546
מְסִלָּה
A thoroughfare (as turnpiked ), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct , a staircase
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מְסִלָּהH4546
Pronunciationmĕsillāh
What does מְסִלָּה (mĕsillāh) mean in the Bible?
מְסִלָּה (mĕsillāh): Engineered pathway suggesting intentional construction and preparation, often used metaphorically for God's way or moral course
Full entry for מְסִלָּה (H4546) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H4546?
The BSB source-word alignment has 27 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include highway (3), the road (3), a highway (2), of the road (2), on the road (2).
Where does מְסִלָּה (mĕsillāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Numbers 20:19. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (9), Judges (5), 2 Samuel (3), 1 Chronicles (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithighway3×1 Samuel 6:12, 1 Chronicles 26:16, Isaiah 40:3
the road3×2 Samuel 20:12, 2 Samuel 20:13, Isaiah 7:3
a highway2×Isaiah 11:16, Isaiah 19:23
of the road2×Judges 21:19, 2 Samuel 20:12
on the road2×2 Kings 18:17, Isaiah 36:2
The highway2×Proverbs 16:17, Isaiah 62:10
and My highways1×Isaiah 49:11
and on the roads1×Judges 20:31
are set on pilgrimage1×Psalms 84:5
at the highway1×1 Chronicles 26:18
from their courses1×Judges 5:20
in his path1×Joel 2:8
into steps1×2 Chronicles 9:11
Keep the highway1×Jeremiah 31:21
lie in their wake1×Isaiah 59:7
on the main road1×Numbers 20:19
on the roads1×Judges 20:45
The highways1×Isaiah 33:8
the roads1×Judges 20:32
Show sample aligned rows
Numbers 20:19בַּֽמְסִלָּ֣הtoon the main roadPreposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularJudges 5:20מִמְּסִלּוֹתָ֔םtofrom their coursesPreposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine pluralJudges 20:31בַּֽמְסִלּוֹת֙toand on the roadsPreposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine pluralJudges 20:32הַֽמְסִלּֽוֹת׃tothe roadsArticle | Noun - feminine pluralJudges 20:45בַּֽמְסִלּ֔וֹתtoon the roadsPreposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine pluralJudges 21:19לִמְסִלָּ֔הtoof the roadPreposition-l | Noun - feminine singular1 Samuel 6:12בִּמְסִלָּ֣הtohighwayPreposition-b | Noun - feminine singular2 Samuel 20:12הַֽמְסִּלָּ֑הtoof the roadArticle | Noun - feminine singular2 Samuel 20:12הַֽמְסִלָּ֤הtothe roadArticle | Noun - feminine singular2 Samuel 20:13הַֽמְסִלָּ֑הtothe roadArticle | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowNumbers 20:19
Aligned rows27
Books represented12
Numbers1Judges51 Samuel12 Samuel32 Kings11 Chronicles22 Chronicles1Psalms1Proverbs1Isaiah9Jeremiah1Joel1
Source forms
בִּמְסִלַּ֖ת2xbim·sil·laṯ2 Kings 18:17, Isaiah 36:2
בִּמְסִלָּ֣ה1xbim·sil·lāh1 Samuel 6:12
בַּֽמְסִלָּ֣ה1xbam·sil·lāhNumbers 20:19
בַּֽמְסִלָּ֖ה1xbam·sil·lāh1 Chronicles 26:16
בַּֽמְסִלּוֹת֙1xbam·sil·lō·wṯJudges 20:31
בַּֽמְסִלּ֔וֹת1xbam·sil·lō·wṯJudges 20:45
בִּמְסִלּוֹתָֽם׃1xbim·sil·lō·w·ṯāmIsaiah 59:7
בִּמְסִלָּת֖וֹ1xbim·sil·lā·ṯōwJoel 2:8
Parsing patterns
Article | Noun - feminine singular4x2 Samuel 20:12, 2 Samuel 20:13, Isaiah 62:10
Noun - feminine plural3x2 Chronicles 9:11, Psalms 84:5, Isaiah 33:8
Noun - feminine singular3xIsaiah 11:16, Isaiah 19:23, Isaiah 40:3
Noun - feminine singular construct2xProverbs 16:17, Isaiah 7:3
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct2x2 Kings 18:17, Isaiah 36:2
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine plural2xJudges 20:31, Judges 20:45
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular2xNumbers 20:19, 1 Chronicles 26:16
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular2x1 Chronicles 26:18, Jeremiah 31:21
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Engineered pathway suggesting intentional construction and preparation, often used metaphorically for God's way or moral course
Source Gloss
a thoroughfare (as turnpiked ), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct , a staircase
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Engineered pathway suggesting intentional construction and preparation, often used metaphorically for God's way or moral course
a thoroughfare (as turnpiked), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase BDB: highway Usage: causeway, course, highway, path, terrace.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Raised roadway prepared for travel.
Raised road or prepared way.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 27 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
מְסִלָּה is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
The highway imagery conveys unhindered return and covenant restoration.Isaiah 11:11-16
The highway symbolizes open access and reconciled movement between former enemies.Isaiah 19:23-25
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.