Hebrew · H5927, G305 · unreviewed

Alah

To ascend , intransitively (be high ) or actively ( mount ); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative · to go up (literally or figuratively)

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

עָלָה H5927 to ascend , intransitively (be high ) or actively ( mount ); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
Pronunciation ʿālāh
Ascent movement governing sacrifice, offering, and spiritual elevation; foundational to covenantal worship language.
Open lexicon entry →
ἀναβαίνω G305 to go up (literally or figuratively)
Pronunciation anabaínō
Physical ascent or figurative rising; commonly used for journey to Jerusalem or prayers ascending to God.
Open lexicon entry →

What does alah (alah) mean in the Bible?

עָלָה · ἀναβαίνω is a Hebrew word meaning "to go up, ascend".

Full entry for alah (H5927, G305) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to go up, ascend
Grammatical Forms

How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.

Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 326×
Perfect 1Chr 27:24 · 1Kgs 9:16 · 1Kgs 14:25 · 1Kgs 18:42 · 1Sam 6:7 · 1Sam 15:34 · 2Chr 12:2 · 2Chr 16:1 · 2Chr 24:23 · 2Chr 35:20 · 2Chr 36:6 · 2Kgs 1:6 · 2Kgs 1:7 · 2Kgs 17:3 · 2Kgs 18:9 · 2Kgs 18:13 113×
Imperfect 1Chr 21:18 · 1Kgs 12:27 · 1Sam 1:11 · 1Sam 6:9 · 1Sam 6:20 · 1Sam 9:13 · 1Sam 29:9 · 2Chr 9:4 · 2Kgs 12:5 · 2Kgs 12:18 · 2Kgs 16:5 · Deut 28:43 · Deut 29:22 · Deut 30:12 · Exod 34:3 · Ezek 41:7 102×
Sequential imperfect 1Chr 14:10 · 1Kgs 18:41 · 1Kgs 18:43 · 1Kgs 18:44 · 1Kgs 22:6 · 1Kgs 22:12 · 1Kgs 22:15 · 1Sam 9:19 · 1Sam 14:12 · 2Chr 18:5 · 2Chr 18:11 · 2Kgs 1:3 · 2Kgs 2:23 · 2Kgs 16:7 · 2Kgs 18:25 · 2Kgs 22:4 61×
Participle active 1Kgs 18:44 · 1Kgs 20:22 · 1Sam 9:11 · 1Sam 10:3 · 1Sam 17:23 · 1Sam 17:25 · 1Sam 28:13 · 1Sam 28:14 · 2Chr 20:16 · 2Kgs 2:23 · 2Sam 15:30 · Dan 8:3 · Deut 1:28 · Deut 32:50 · Ezek 8:11 · Gen 28:12 33×
Infinitive construct 2Chr 36:16 · Amos 7:1 · Exod 19:12 · Gen 32:25 · Judg 19:30 · Neh 3:19
Jussive Gen 44:33 · Josh 7:3 · Hos 4:15 · Num 14:42 · Joel 4:9
Infinitive absolute 2Sam 15:30 · Gen 46:4 · Num 13:30
Cohortative Gen 50:5 · Song 7:9
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 85×
Perfect 1Kgs 9:15 · 1Sam 12:6 · 2Chr 1:4 · 2Chr 8:11 · 2Chr 8:12 · 2Kgs 17:4 · 2Kgs 17:36 · 2Sam 2:3 · Ezra 1:11 · Hab 1:15 · Hos 12:14 · Jer 16:14 · Jer 16:15 · Jer 23:7 · Jer 23:8 · Num 8:3 34×
Imperfect 1Kgs 3:4 · 1Kgs 10:5 · 1Kgs 10:16 · 1Kgs 10:17 · 1Sam 2:14 · 2Chr 9:15 · 2Chr 9:16 · Ezek 14:4 · Lev 17:8 · Prov 15:1 · 1Sam 28:11 · 2Sam 24:24 · Exod 3:17 · Jer 30:17 · Judg 2:1 · Ps 66:15 26×
Participle active 1Chr 15:28 · 1Sam 7:10 · 2Chr 24:14 · 2Sam 6:15 · Deut 14:6 · Deut 14:7 · Isa 8:7 · Isa 66:3 · Jer 33:6 · Jer 33:18 · Jer 48:35 · Lev 11:3 · Lev 11:4 · Lev 11:5 · Lev 11:6 · Lev 11:26 18×
Sequential imperfect 1Sam 6:21 · 1Sam 19:15 · Jer 51:27 · 1Sam 28:11 · Exod 33:12
Infinitive construct 1Chr 23:31
Infinitive absolute Ezek 23:46
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action
Perfect 2Sam 2:27 · Ezek 9:3 · Num 10:11 · Ps 47:10 · Ps 97:9
Infinitive construct Ezra 1:11 · Num 9:17
Imperfect Exod 40:37
Sequential imperfect Num 16:24
Hophal causative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action
Perfect 2Chr 20:34 · Judg 6:28 · Nah 2:8
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others
Jussive Jer 51:3
Hebrew Verb Forms

How this verb appears across 424 occurrences in the Hebrew OT (OSHB Leningrad Codex).

Aspect / Form
Perfect 155 Imperfect 136 Imperative 67 Participle 51 Infinitive construct 9 Infinitive absolute 4 Cohortative 2
Stem
Qal 326 Hiphil 85 Niphal 9 Hophal 3 Hithpael 1
Mood
Indicative 155 Indicative/jussive 99 Imperative 67 Indicative/cohortative 30 Jussive 7
OT Occurrences
Gen 2:6 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Gen 19:15 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 19:28 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 28:12 Qal · Participle Gen 32:25 Qal · Infinitive construct Gen 32:27 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 35:1 Qal · Imperative · Imperative Gen 38:13 Qal · Participle Gen 40:10 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 41:2 Qal · Participle Gen 41:3 Qal · Participle Gen 41:5 Qal · Participle Gen 41:18 Qal · Participle Gen 41:19 Qal · Participle Gen 41:22 Qal · Participle Gen 44:17 Qal · Imperative · Imperative Gen 44:24 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 44:33 Qal · Imperfect · Jussive Gen 44:34 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/cohortative Gen 46:4 Qal · Infinitive absolute Gen 46:31 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/cohortative Gen 49:4 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 49:4 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 49:9 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Gen 50:5 Qal · Cohortative Gen 50:6 Qal · Imperative · Imperative Exod 3:17 Hiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/cohortative Exod 7:29 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Exod 12:38 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Exod 13:18 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Exod 17:10 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Exod 19:3 Qal · Perfect · Indicative Exod 19:12 Qal · Infinitive construct Exod 19:13 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Exod 20:26 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Exod 24:1 Qal · Imperative · Imperative Exod 24:2 Qal · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Exod 24:12 Qal · Imperative · Imperative Exod 30:9 Hiphil · Imperfect · Indicative/jussive Exod 32:7 Hiphil · Perfect · Indicative +384 more occurrences

Aspect in Hebrew reflects grammatical form, not tense. "Perfect" (Perfective) typically denotes completed action; "Imperfect" (Imperfective) denotes incomplete or ongoing action. Stem modifies the action type (Qal=simple, Niphal=passive, Piel=intensive, etc.).

Morphology: OSHB WLC (Open Scriptures, CC BY 4.0) · STEPBible TEHMC (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0)

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources