מַדְרֵגָה
𐤌𐤃𐤓𐤂𐤄
madrêgâh
H4095 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A step or stair; a single level in a series of rises, particularly in constructed or natural contexts. The term most commonly denotes a literal step—part of a flight of stairs or a single rise on a stairway or ascent. In some contexts, it can refer to a steep (or stepped) place in the landscape, particularly where the terrain is marked by gradations resembling steps.
Semantic Range
step, stair, a level or rise in a series, stepped or terraced place, steep terrain resembling steps; in poetic contexts, any place marked by gradation or separation by steps
Root / Etymology
From the root דרג (drg), meaning 'to step' or 'to go up in steps'; the root itself is not used as a verb in the Hebrew Bible and is reconstructed based on derived nouns. מַדְרֵגָה (madrêgâh) is a noun formation (likely a feminine form from the mem-prefix noun pattern) depicting a place or thing characterized by steps or gradation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
מַדְרֵגָה is a rare term in Biblical Hebrew, appearing in poetic and descriptive passages (e.g., Psalm 84:6; Ezekiel 38:20). In ancient Israelite architectural or geographic contexts, it refers concretely to single steps or stepped places, not abstract or metaphorical progressions. English translations sometimes obscure the topographical nuance, occasionally rendering it 'steep place,' but the core sense is a physical step or stair. The related noun מַעֲלֶה (ma‘ăleh) refers more generally to an 'ascent' or 'going up,' not specifically to a single step. The term is not used in reference to religious or temple steps, which are typically designated with different vocabulary. In post-biblical and modern Hebrew, related forms are used for 'stair' or 'staircase,' but such usage arose after the biblical period.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from an unused root meaning to step; properly, a step; by implication, a steep or inaccessible place; stair, steep place.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דרג (d-r-g) — to step, to rise by steps, to ascend in gradations
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4095-01 |
הַ/מַּדְרֵגָ֔ה | hamaderegah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the cliff | the step | 1 |
H4095-02 |
הַ/מַּדְרֵג֔וֹת | hamaderegot | HTd/Ncfpa |
the steep places | the steps | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4095-02 |
Ezekiel 38:20 | הַ/מַּדְרֵג֔וֹת | hamaderegot | HTd/Ncfpa |
the steep places | the steps |
H4095-01 |
Song of Songs 2:14 | הַ/מַּדְרֵגָ֔ה | hamaderegah | HTd/Ncfsa |
of the cliff | the step |